When two plants grow beside each other, whether they work well together depends on how they use the same resources. Plants may overlap in their need for light, water, rooting space, nutrients, physical support, and growing time. The more those needs overlap, the greater the potential for competition. A tall plant may shade a shorter one. Roots may compete for the same water and nutrients, or occupy different soil zones. A vine may use another plant for support without causing trouble, or eventually overwhelm it. Timing matters too. An annual may use resources early and disappear before a perennial reaches peak growth. Plants that grow well together during a wet spring may compete much more strongly during a dry summer. Plant compatibility emerges from how plants use resources across space and time. When we look at two neighboring plants, we can ask: - How much do their canopies overlap? - Are they drawing from the same soil space? - Do they need the same resources at the same time? - Is one plant physically affecting the other? We do not have to rely only on lists of “good” and “bad” companions. We can learn to read the relationship. This week, look at two plants growing beside each other and ask: Where are their needs overlapping, and where are they using the space differently? When two plants begin competing, what do you usually notice first?

We typically look at the 4th of July as the planning date with starting several plants indoors to be transplanted in late August or September when the heat breaks. That being said, there are several cool weather crops that with a little early frost protection can easily reach maturity and some leave in the ground for a winter harvest like carrots. Frost protection does not need to be expensive and can be used in the autumn and the spring. We can make another post about cost effective frost protection if anyone is interested. To begin planning the autumn garden, first check your average first frost date and count backward to find expected days for maturity. We will then use these days to select seed that has the best potential to mature. Remember that growth slows as the days become shorter, so allow a little extra time. Also for me, I can eat anything from a sprout with first true leaves to maturity, so as long as I do not let the frost take it out, I'm good. Next, how much bed area is available to plant now? For me in TN, I am planting soaked lettuce seed under my tomatoes. Will your bed area receive enough sunlight as the sun moves lower in the southern sky? Everything south of me is deciduous so soon to loose there leaves. Will you sow seeds directly or use transplants to save time? Probably by August you are looking to direct seed although many cold weather crops will have poor germination with soil over 75 degrees F. Are you ok using short maturity hybrid seed or do you want to stick with open pollinated seed? Once we know the answers to these questions, we can make a seed list that has the highest potential for success. Cool-season crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, carrots, beets, turnips, and Asian greens may all have a place, depending on your climate and remaining growing season. Fall gardening is not about filling every empty space. It is about choosing crops that fit the season, the household, and the care we can realistically provide.

Welcome to all the new community members. We try to be family here so all guestions relating to self relience and sustainability from gardening to growing life in the soil to herbal tea blends for common ails to emergency preparedness. The vision is to have your and your families back in the first 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, and then 6 months. Each skill we learn along the way brings us one step closer to being prepared. If you would like some garden planning thoughts, just ask. There is a wealth of information among our community. Once again, Thank you for joining; You are greatly appreciated.

Just wanted to drop a quick post and thank @Jim Flach for welcoming me into the Oasis! Lookong forward to watching this community grow (no pun intended) ☺️!!

@Larry Baracco What will you be growing this year? What do you have in the ground now?