posted 1 year ago
Alliums seem to be a go to for companions.
I find that onion sets and starts do poorly when left to their own devices, but as long as you plan on weeding and watering, they might be fine.
I often plant onions I find in dumpsters and they thrive on neglect,producing both green onions and big flowers.
I would suggest beans or greens but either of these is liable to tower over the cuttings pretty quickly.
A crop of daikon could provide greens, seed pods and soil improvement.
A crop of sweet potatoes can be used the same way, but they might climb.
I planted squash with my cuttings but I can't recommend it.
My cuttings have mostly died, as has most of the squash, but there are many variables that could account for that.
For the borders of your beds, comfrey is a natural choice.
I'm also gonna suggest Illinois bundleflower also known as prairie mimosa.
They make tiny edible beans, fluffy flowers, lacy foliage and dappled shade.
They never grow very big and they leaf out late, so they won't suppress your elderberries.
They wont suppress anything else either, so maybe add some alfalfa.