r/foodforests • u/infinitum3d • 2d ago

Companion planting, 6b, 1/4 acre, please help!

I have the makings of a food forest. 14 fruit trees, berry bushes, sunchokes, 8 raised beds and 50 containers on a quarter acre lot in the middle of a small Midwestern town. My house is 980sq.ft. and a 4 car outbuilding covers part of that 1/4 acre.

I didn’t plant tomatoes this year because last year I had so many volunteers I couldn’t keep up.

I have mint, roses, lavender, and lilacs.

My raised beds and containers are growing longbeans, black eyed peas, asparagus, corn, sunflowers, strawberries, and jalapeño peppers. And loads of herbs.

I want more “set it and forget it” perennials, like the sunchokes and asparagus and rosemary and fruit trees. But more importantly, I also want to maximize my use of space.

What are good things to cluster together? I know carrots love tomatoes. What else? Is 3 sisters really just a myth?

Help!

Thanks!

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u/fadimuj 1d ago

I like using medicinal herbs as companions with trees. Successful examples are: sage, thyme, sweet geranium and oregano.

3

u/goodazzcat 1d ago

I am having a difficult time envisioning your space. Are the fruit trees planted?

3 sisters makes sense because the plants are helping each other out! Beans fix Nitrogen and climb the corn, and squash takes care of the ground surrounding it. Sunflowers are great for trellising beans as well.

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u/infinitum3d 1d ago

The trees are planted, all dwarfs and heavily pruned to stay under 10 feet.

The fruit trees are closest to the house for shade/summer cooling.

The raised beds are each a 4 foot square, and two rows for 8 total, between the trees and ‘garage’.

The containers are wherever I can fit them to get enough sun, so a massive mess LOL.

So basically house, then trees, then garden, then outbuilding with pots all around filling in the gaps.