how we do it at mfk-gardens farm growing seedlings organically:

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COMPANION PLANTING

​Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, and to otherwise increase crop productivity.

Companion Planting for vegetables, herbs and flowers is the idea that some plants have a beneficial effect on others growing nearby and other plants have a detrimental influence. This is an ancient idea that was seen during the times of the Romans, and perhaps even before then.

One only has to look at the old-age tradition of North American agriculture of planting corn, beans and squash together. Corn grows tall, trying to steal as much sun as possible and taking out a lot of nitrogen from the soil. Beans grow up the stalks of the corn looking for the sun too, but putting nitrogen back into the soil.

Planting squash at the same time does well on the conditions and grows and spreads on the ground growing and harvested long after the harvest of the beans and the corn. Therefore, by inter-cropping, or companion planting, you have been able to grow 3 different vegetables in the same space as you would one.

Companion Planting for Deterring Insects
Although many will disregard companion planting and see it as old wives' tales, many plants, flowers and herbs do defend themselves against insects by being poisonous to them or developing a strong scent that frightens them away, and it is possible that a plant growing close by might benefit from being in this bug-free zone. So, although companion planting is also mixed up in folklore, there is also an element of fact and this method can be happily adopted by those who practice organic gardening.

For example, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) secrete an enzyme or a hormone into the soil that deters nematodes from infesting their roots, and it does seem that tomatoes or other nematode susceptible plants growing as neighbors will be protected. It may be significant that most of these beneficent plants are strongly aromatic.

Planting dill with your tomatoes will attract the tomato worm for you. Interplanting your tomatoes with basil is done because basil will help repel the tomato hornworm.

Planting nasturtiums will take care of cabbage white butterfly caterpillars and great for repelling white fly. They are also good for planting under apple trees to get rid of colding moth .

Nasturtiums are planted among cucumbers for protection against the cucumber beetle and the Mexican bean beetle. Planting tansy among your cucumbers will also send the cucumber beetles packing!

Nasturtiums and tansy help get rid of the Colorado potato beetle, and catnip and nasturtiums for repelling the green peach aphids.

If you want to get rid of aphids then you will need to interplant with sow thistle , stinging nettles or broad beans . Planting chives will also repel aphids.

Sunflowers will help trap harlequin bugs, and potatoes, calendula daisies are good for earwigs.

Rue is good for Japanese beetles as is white geraniums.

Herbs too have been known to repel certain insects. Southernwood is good for repelling the cabbage butterfly and tobacco for flea beetles.

Companion Planting for Benefiting other Plants
Many times, planting certain plants together is also for practical reasons. Planting lettuce next to corn means that the lettuces can be shaded during hot summers.

When you plant cabbages in the late summer, at the same time, and in the same bed, you can also plant garlic. Where cabbages will use of a lot of nutrients, and where the cabbages will be harvested in the autumn, the garlic will continue growing until the following summer resulting in good crops for both.

Planting mint with your cabbages will protect them against the cabbage worm

Chives and onions planted near carrots will help also deter the presence of carrot rust flies.

Radishes when planted next to Chervil benefit from the shade the herb casts, and the result is lovely juicy radishes that are not woody at all.

Beans are heavy feeders and therefore it is advisable to companion plant it with something less greedy. Therefore mustard is a perfect companion.

Companion Planting for Attracting good Insects
You may be surprised to learn that companion herbs can be planted with good effect.  The common dandelion that some see as a scourge in the garden should think again. It is now known that dandelions attract pollinating insects.

Furthermore, they also release ethylene which is a gas that encourages fruit setting and fruit ripening.

Daisies, dill, corriander and parsley are all good for attracting beneficial insects into the garden. The pollen they provide make them wonderful bee plants, but in addition they also attract parasitic wasps that prey on insect pests. These plants should be planted throughout the garden at regular intervals as many of these wasps are tiny and fly only over short distances.

Corriander also known as cilantro is will attract beneficial insects like baraconid wasps, hover flies and lacewings.

Mint attracts hover flies and spiders.  Fennel attracts braconid wasps, hover flies, lacewings, ladybirds.

Tansy attracts insidious flower flies, lacewings, ladybirds, and parasitic waspsp.

Yarrow attracts bees, hover flies, ladybirds and parasitic wasps.

Larger predatorial insects like lacewings and hoverflies also feed on pollen. By allowing these plants to go to seed, not only are you keeping the insect population in check, but you can save seeds at the same time for next planting season.

Other Good Companion Plants:
Queen Anne's lace attracts hover flies, ladybirds and spiders.
Flowering buckwheat attracts a whole host of good bugs; hover flies, lacewings, ladybirds, minute pirate bugs, predatory wasps and tachinid flies.

Sweet alyssum attracts braconid wasps, chalcids and hover flies.

planting by MOON SIGNS:

The moon has a powerful effect on the tides.  We will also attest that the moon can also adversely affect people and their behavior.  People weren't called "lunatics' for nothing!  It is also believed that the moon affects the earth's vegetation in different ways depending on the phase of the moon at any one time of the month, with the moon completing a cycle every 29 1/2 days, and although there are 8 phases of the moon, for gardening purposes the moon phases are divided into 4 quarters; new moon, 1st quarter, full moon, 3rd quarter, new moon. The new moon will actually be a dark period where you will not see any moon at all.

To make moon planting really simple, when the moon is a new moon, this is not the time to plant anything. However, just after you see the first crescent you can start planting as this is when there is a surge of energy through the plants and the sap begins to rise through the stems. The best zodiac signs to plant during the first quarter is when the moon is in a water sign, such as Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

When the moon is waxing towards the first quarter, that is when the light of the moon is increasing from a new to a full moon, this is the time to plant leafy crops, cereals, grains and other crops and flowers that produce growth above the ground. You can start to sow seeds, transplant seedlings and graft plants when the moon is waxing. When the moon is in the first quarter and is moving towards a full moon you can also plant ground crops that have inside seeds such as tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers etc. It is also the time to plant annuals and flowers that you want to produce showy and fragrant flowers such as roses. The last two days of the first quarter, just before the full moon is considered an ideal time for grafting fruit trees. Again the best zodiac signs for sowing and planting your moon garden are during the first quarter when the moon is in a water sign, such as Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

When the moon is a full moon all plants are at their peak. However, over the next two weeks as the moon loses its light it also loses its energy and the moon is waning to the third quarter. This is the time to harvest your crops, your herbs, especially medicinal herbs which will be more potent if picked at this time, mushrooms, grapes and of course it is the time to prune. This is the time to plant crops and flowers that produce growth below the ground such as root crops, tubers and bulbs and for flowers, your biennials and perennials, and the perennials can be divided now too. Therefore it is time to plant onions, potatoes, carrots, swedes, turnips, beets, parsnips and radishes. It is also the time to plant trees, fruit trees and saplings towards the end of the waning period and any spraying of fruit trees should be done during this period of the moon phase. You can also plant strawberries and their runners out now and if you have any vegetables or fruit that will have to be stored for a long period of time, such as apples, potatoes, pumpkins etc. if you pick them now they won't rot as quickly.

During the last or fourth quarter this is a barren phase for moon gardening where it more prudent to do some tidying up in your garden, pull the weeds, see to the compost heap, spread the manure and turn over the beds. Now wait for the first crescent of the new moon to plant new seeds.

When you are looking at the moon from the Northern Hemisphere, you will see the phases as below. However, if you are looking at the phases of the moon from the Southern Hemisphere, you will see the reverse. That is the waxing 1st quarter will will remind us of the letter "C" and the waning 3rd quarter will remind us of the letter "D".

This planting calendar helps you pick the best dates for popular garden tasks—starting seeds, pruning shrubs, harvesting, weeding, and much more—according to our 200-year-old formula that relies on phases and position of the Moon.
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​PLANTING BY THE CONSTELLATIONS:

In its lunar cycle the moon passes through 12 unequal sectors derived from the stellar constellations, referenced by zodiac signs. Each constellation is associated with one of 4 categories, representing the 4 Elements; Air, Water, Fire and Earth.

In addition, it is believed that as the moon spends time in each zodiac sign, these astrological signs of the zodiac are also influential. When gardening by the moon, planting seeds for annuals are best when planted when the moon is in a fire sign. Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Wheat, corn, squash, peas, beans, tomatoes and all fruit are best planted here.

The best time to plant flowering plants is when the moon is in an Air sign. Flowers planted when the moon is in Gemini, Libra or Aquarius will result in showy, fragrant blooms. Root crops should be planted when the moon is in an Earth sign. Therefore when the moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn carrots, turnips, swedes, beetroots, potatoes etc. will benefit from being grown during this moon phase.

Finally, when the moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Virgo this is the time to plant leafy vegetables. Cabbage, lettuce, spinach, silver beet, grasses and cress will do best when planted during this time.

Gardening Moon and Constellation Calendar

PLANTING spatial GUIDE FOR MFK seedlings:

CROP	PLANTING DEPTH	ROWS APART	PLANT APART	NUTRIENT ​FEEDINGS	FREQ (WKS)	PLANTS PER HECTARE	TIME TO HARVEST
WINTER:	​	Value	Value	Value	Value	Value
Broccolli	1..4 cm	50 cm	50 cm	Broccoli is a medium to heavy feeder.		​30-40K
CABBAGE Star 3301 Star 3316 ​Sapphire Kilimo (summer) Megastar (large-head)	1.4 cm	70 cm	40 cm	Cabbage is a heavy feeder.	Value	40-50K
Cauliflower	1.25 cm	45 cm	45-55 cm	It is best to plant cauliflower in sandy loam soil that is rich in organic content and that drains well.		32-39K	​
Lettuce​	​​	50-60 cm	​20-30 cm	Lettuce does best in sandy loam soils that drain well and have a high level of organic composition.  Thrives in soil rich in nitrogen and humus.	Value	50K 20-40 tons	60-90 days
Value	Value			Value	Value		Value
SUMMER:		Value
​Beans
Beetroot
Chillies (Galapeno)	Value
Chillies (Long)
Chillies (Thai)
Cucumber
Garlic
GREEN PEPPER Star 6657 Lyra California Wonder ​Jupiter (Sweet Blocky Red)​ Diva	-	45-50 cm	40 cm		Value	30-35k per hectare	25-30 tonnes
Okra
Swiss Chard
TOMATOES​ Determinate (bush/one large harvest) Star 9001 Star 9006 Star 9008 Star 9009 Star 9011 ​Zandra Domino F1 Indeterminate (bigger fruits) (harvests  Star 9030 Star 9037 Trinity	-	75-120 cm	10-15 cm	Plant in rich organic soil. pH 6.0-6.8	90 days	40k per hectare 1 tonnage output 1 plant 5-6 kg	Comparison with  ​Star 9008