Interplanting

Interplanting, also called intercropping in some contexts, is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity within the same garden bed or field. The aim is to use space more efficiently, maximize resource use, and improve resilience through diversity. It is distinct from monoculture planting of a single crop.

Forms include intercropping (crops grown together), relay intercropping (a second crop is sown before the first finishes), strip intercropping (long strips of different crops), and companion planting (cultivar pairings chosen for beneficial interactions). A classic example is the Three Sisters—corn, beans, and squash—grown together by several Indigenous cultures to make use of different heights, soil cover, and nitrogen dynamics.

Benefits include improved light capture, more efficient use of water and nutrients, natural pest suppression through diversity, reduced weed growth, and enhanced soil health through nitrogen-fixing legumes and deep-rooting plants. It can also extend harvest windows.

Considerations include potential competition for light, water, and nutrients; the need for careful planning of spacing, timing, and succession; monitoring for disease spread and allelopathic effects; and managing harvest logistics when crops mature at different times. Site conditions and market needs influence crop choice.

Interplanting overlaps with companion planting in aim to promote beneficial relationships, but the terms are not interchangeable: interplanting denotes the spacing and resource-use strategy, while companion planting emphasizes pest deterrence or growth-promoting effects.