Vine Crop Companion Planting

Not sure if this should be in the Biointensive forum or not.

I came to permaculture last fall and I am going to be redoing my raised by taking out the soil and putting in wood and then covering the wood up with my soil. My bed is currently 4' x 16' and I am going to expand it to 4' x 24'. I use a cattle panel on the north side setup so that it stands on edge the whole length of the bed.

I want to plant the following to take advantage of this vertical growing space: Tomatoes, Pole Beans, Cucumber, and Pumpkin (my 6 year old son wanted these).

What would be the best order to plant these?

ex. Cucumbers, Pole Beans, Tomato, Pumpkin

Any recommendation on how many plants and spacing would be great.

You've gone all week without a response?! This needs some more attention (adds 3 flags).

I've set up an 8' tall arbor, (12' long and 4' wide), so like you, I am most interested to see what combinations are going to succeed. Today I planted scarlet runner beans, 2 types of cucumber, and nasturtium. I soaked the seeds overnight, and put a lot of biochar in the top 2" of soil. I've read where biochar reduces the soil albedo so that all that black on the surface raises the soil temperature. When I water it this week, I'm going to grind up some biochar in the water. Soil temperature here is just creeping up over 60, so I hope I'm not pushing it too much to start this early and my biochar additions will help warm it up.

Later on, I plan to add some vining tomatoes, but those starts are still in the greenhouse, and about 2" tall. I figure in a couple of weeks, when the other seeds are up, I can add in the tomato plants.

We have a problem with squash bugs in the spring time, so my plan is to wait until summer to add the squash (pumpkin) companion and use that as an opportunity to fill in any holes. I have some butternut squash seeds that have no problem sending out 10' vines, and now I have just the place for them.

Oh, and about spacing, I planted the seeds 6" apart and we will see how much thinning I need to do.

I had pretty good luck with jalapeno peppers planted along side (about a foot away, at the main stem) some indeterminate Bradley tomatoes. The peppers seemed to like the shade & protection from the larger vine like tomatoes, although my wife didn't like them planted so close because it was more difficult to harvest from the bushiness of the closely planted plants. The same watering requirement seemed to suit both plants equally. The jalapenos never needed any attention they eventually grew to 3' tall X 3' wide, the tomatoes sprawled to 8' long vines & had usual problems with tomato worms, and continued stake/supporting. Staking/supporting can harm the plants by breaking the stems accidentally while tending the things, and the more cramped the area, the more things you have to be careful about...trying not to accidentally break/kink stems. Watermelon or cucumber vines are easily damaged if carelessly tended/moved, I find my carelessness everytime I hear that quiet snap. Snow peas are also easily damaged while fiddling with the vines.

Have fun with your garden this year, I change mine from one year to the next, trying new things I think might be fun.

james beam

Thanks for sharing! I will try to post pics of what I plant.