Pepper Companions
 

I've been thinking of planting Okra with my peppers this year. Okra grows tall and provides shade. Here in Texas, I have to shade my pepper plants starting in mid July.

I looked it up and found this helpful website: [URL]http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/companion-plants-grow-your-peppers.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=AlittleSalt;462628]I've been thinking of planting Okra with my peppers this year. Okra grows tall and provides shade. Here in Texas, I have to shade my pepper plants starting in mid July.

I looked it up and found this helpful website: [URL]http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/companion-plants-grow-your-peppers.html[/URL][/QUOTE]

I have had the best results from oregano, dill and cilantro.

Cilantro, cool - I have three packs of seed. Now I know where to plant it.

[QUOTE=AlittleSalt;462675]Cilantro, cool - I have three packs of seed. Now I know where to plant it.[/QUOTE]Cilantro bolts once it gets hot. But the bolting foliage is quite lacy. (same with dill) This lets the perfect amount of light through in my mind. Just enough shade to keep the peppers from burning, but lets enough sun through not to shade out the peppers. Oregano makes a great ground cover understory below. Combined it is a about as perfect as one could expect in my mind. Of course it is well proven my mind is missing a few brain cells and tends towards crazy.:twisted: So you are on your own there. ;)

Cilantro not work in TX, will just bolt. Oregano and basil will work well, although basil will stay small if too shaded.
I let radishes and nastituriums go to seed and replace them with basil.

I've read that too Tracydr. I cannot completely describe how I have planted my peppers because I have only planted 2/3 of them.

In one round bed, 14 x 14', I made 8 ...hmm I need to make pie chart. It has been a long - long time since I've done that. It is a challenge I am interested in. It may take a day or two.

Tracy, it's wonderful seeing you posting :)

I'd go with the cilantro Scott. It won't be worth eating the leaves but you will get the seed pods (also culinary). But since all you want is shade for your peppers it makes total sense to me. :yes: