Japanese Style Companion Planting

Japanese Style Companion Planting brings the techniques of a master farmer in Japan to home gardeners all over the world, with over 175 easy-to-follow color illustrations and detailed texts. Japanese gardeners typically work with small plots and are experts at making the most efficient use of available garden space. They have long understood that when compatible vegetables and fruits are grown together, the result is increased yields, healthier plants, fewer pest problems and better taste. Vegetables from small gardens are the mainstay of Japan's famously healthy cuisine and movement towards farm-to-table dining tradition. Author Toshio Kijima is head of the Biotechnology Department at Tochigi Agricultural Station in Japan and principal of the Nogyo Daigakko School of Natural Farming.

In this book, he provides 88 different plant pairings, including common favourites such as:

• Tomato with basil
• Eggplant with green beans
• Carrots with edamame
• Iceberg lettuce with broccoli
• Strawberries with garlic
• Green beans with arugula
• Blueberry bushes with mint

and dozens of other pairings that yield tasty, nutritious vegetables and fruits, all grown without the need for pesticides or chemical fertilisers. This book also covers excellent combinations for relay planting, such as watermelon followed by spinach, spinach followed by broccoli, broccoli followed by potato, and many more. Clear and precise instructions are given for each combination-from planning and preparing your plot to planting depths and spacing-all accompanied by detailed colour drawings and photographs. Information on the theory and basics of companion planting will ensure a smooth transition to sustainable gardening techniques that millions of home gardeners are using!

About the Author

Dr. Toshio Kijima is an agriculturalist, author and university professor. He served as the head of the Biotechnology Department at the Tochigi Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station and as principal of the Nogyo Daigakko (School of Natural Farming) in Shizuoka Prefecture. He has served on numerous agricultural and environmental boards and has been honored for his work in promoting natural farming and environmental health. His work was featured in the 1990 short documentary Life in the Soil. His passion is to bring effective natural farming methods to home gardeners everywhere.