How to Plant a Polyculture

Plan the layout for the physical aspects of the garden. Once everything starts growing, it is difficult to install trellises and tomato cages without damaging the surrounding plants. Choose where you want the vertical growth supports, birdbath, statues, irrigation and other garden essentials located, and put them in the garden first. While a garden can be any length you choose, keep it narrow enough so you can work with the plants without straining muscles or compacting the soil.

Separate the plants into two groups: those that thrive in alkaline soil, pH 7.0 and above, and those that require more acidic soil to blossom and produce. These plants must go in separate garden beds, to prevent the roots of alkaline plants from burning in acidic soil.

Group the plants by their nutritional requirements. Plants that are nitrogen hogs, such as tomatoes, are placed with plants that do not require much nitrogen. Neighboring plants should each pull something different from the soil to avoid competing for the same nutrients.

Research the mature height of each species so you will know how much shade it casts on other plants. For example, a sun-loving short vegetable should not be placed within a group of tall corn or tomato plants, as the latter group will cast too much shade. Place tall plants where they do not block afternoon sun from fruits and vegetables.

Assign a location for each plant species in your garden plan. Intercropping involves growing different species of plants in close proximity to each other, such as ground-level Bibb lettuce beside trellised sweet peppers. Additionally, intercropping includes flowers that repel pests, such as marigolds. This way, the garden is ecologically balanced while providing organic pest control.

Design a chart for succession planting, also called multiple cropping, which is growing a second crop as soon as the first one is harvested. Consider the level of nutrients absorbed by the first crop when selecting what to plant in the same space. Moreover, the successive crop must not be in competition with surrounding plants for space, height or root development. If you live in a region with a long growing season, such as Florida, then chart a third succession planting to increase garden yield.

Develop a crop rotation plan for the following growing season. Some crops are not grown in the same garden bed in succession to prevent garden pests from multiplying to unmanageable levels. For example, the plants grown in the first garden bed this year will grow in the second garden bed next year.