For those who have a home garden or are planning to start the cultivation of tomatoes, there is an agricultural practice that can significantly enhance the development of these plants. This method does not involve the use of chemicals or complex techniques. It is a simple approach based on the proximity between cultures that helps improve the natural resistance of plants and promotes a more balanced environment.
Cultivation of calêndles with tomatoes is a practice recommended by gardening and horticulture specialists, as written the. This plant, also known as “Marigold”, stands out for its intense aroma, which acts as a natural repellent against pests.
Among the main enemies removed by this flower are the Afidos and the nematodes, both causing severe damage to the tomatoes. The smell released by the calves interferes with the behavior of insects, making it difficult to locate the tomato.
Attractiveness for auxiliary insects
In addition to repeling pests, callands also have the ability to attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, which play an important role in biological pest control. The presence of these natural predators contributes to the reduction of pesticide use, creating a more sustainable ecosystem. These flowers are also easy to maintain, adapting to various types of soil and weather conditions. Thus, they combine themselves with a practical cultivation with obvious ecological benefits.
It is also known that planting calves with tomato can improve soil quality, thanks to beneficial interactions between plant roots. Calênds are also known for freeing compounds that can inhibit harmful organisms in the ground.
This type of plant association also helps maintain the structure and fertility of the terrain. In addition to their practical function, these flowers add color and diversity to the garden, reinforcing the balance of space.
Light needs and flowering cycles
Calênds are classified as long days plants, which means they need more hours of light to flourish. Typically, they only flowering in the summer when the number of sun hours exceeds their critical photoperiod. These plants require at least seven hours of daily sunlight to maintain regular flower production. Your inflorescences can be simple or folded, with shades between yellow and orange.
An additional aspect of the calrands is that their flowers are edible and can be included in culinary dishes. This reinforces the multifunctional value of the plant in the domestic garden. In addition, due to their strong odor and natural properties, they are often used as a pest repellent in agricultural environments. Its presence is common in gardens seeking sustainable alternatives to pesticide use.
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Culture Consociation in Agricultural Practice
Explains the portal “The Agricultural Scientist” that the culture consumption technique is to cultivate different plant species in the same space, with the aim of obtaining mutual benefits. In the case of Calênds, these are often used in consumption with cultures such as tomatoes, strawberries, beans, potatoes and leeks. The correct choice of species involves considering factors such as nutritional needs, root depth, plant height and growth cycle. This strategic combination can increase culture productivity and resistance.
Plant consumption of different botanical families reduces the likelihood of pests and diseases. This is due to the fact that pathogenic agents find greater difficulty in propagating between distinct species. The diversity in the garden makes it difficult to install specific pests, which have fewer hosts available. This approach thus becomes a viable and sustainable alternative for small and medium producers.
Practical example with leeks
One of the effective associations with Calêndules is made with the leeks, a culture often attacked by the garlic fly. When these flowers are planted nearby, they release volatile compounds that help to ward off this plague. This type of integration demonstrates how the correct choice of companion plants can avoid production losses. The natural protection offered by the calrands also reduces the need for chemical interventions.
Calênds are effective against various ordinary agricultural threats, including the white fly, soil neatodes, spurse scarab, and pests that affect cabbage. The search for natural control methods has led to increased use of these flowers in domestic and professional gardens. Its use is part of a growing trend of biological and regenerative agriculture. The implementation of simple and natural solutions is increasingly relevant in agricultural production models.
Advantages for environmental agriculture
The role of calênds as a protective barrier contributes to an agricultural practice more friendly with the environment. “Culture consumption allows you to significantly reduce the use of pesticides, while promoting biodiversity,” says the same source Carla Mendes, an agronomist engineer. The adoption of these practices makes cultivation systems more resilient and sustainable.
Keeping a biodiverse garden helps stabilize ecosystems and prevent detrimental imbalances to cultivation. Plant diversity attracts different insect species, contributing to more effective natural control. Flower planting as callands reinforces this diversity, while providing other functional benefits. This strategy can be easily replicated, even in small urban gardens.
Accessible and effective practice
Plantation of calves next to the tomatoes is an affordable, easy -to -implement and multiple advantage solution. For those cultivating at home, this technique represents a practical way to improve the quality of crops without resorting to chemicals. Its effectiveness is widely documented by studies and agricultural practices.
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