Gardening Jargon – Inter-Cropping

What is Inter-cropping

It is a multiple cropping practice, which involves growing two or more crops in same proximity. This can be achieve by planting Deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop OR Tall crop with a shorter crop that requires partial shade. Care must be taken that inter cropping plants are not competing for resources with each other (Companion Planting).

Why

• Higher yields
• Utilize maximum resources available
• Increase Bio-Diversity , help attracting natural predators for pest

Example

• Chili pepper with coffee
• Coconut with Maxican Marigold (Tagetes erecta)
• Sunflower with Soybeans

Can we say, Square foot gardening is implementation of  Inter cropping for home gardeners?  Share you views on this with us.

Happy Gardening!