Can I grow anything in between potato drills?

[ChickenGrass]

Hi there.
I will be growing potatoes and I was wondering,
Is there anything I can grow in between the potato drills?
Thank you,
Fionn.

 

[digitS']

I think you can, ChickenGrass. I have transplanted my volunteer orach in the potatoes the last few years and have set lettuce plants with them a few times. Neither of these appear on the following lists.. For sure, you can plant something in the bed following early potato harvest. I do that with Asian greens and peas.

Mother Earth News says of Potatoes: "Plant near: basil, beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, flax, hemp, marigolds, peas, squash"

Planet Natural says: "Bush beans and potatoes appear on many companion lists in part because the former, a flowering, fruit-producing plant, draws heavily on the phosphorus in the soil, while potatoes need a great deal of potassium."

I can't remember using beans in the potatoes but I would think that should work okay. Peas might be an even better choice but if the vines shade the potato plants, I don't think that would be so good in cloudy climates. Pole beans would also need to be widely spaced not to cast too much shade so bush beans may be a better choice. That shade issue doesn't suggest that squash would be a very good idea, either. It would be good if there was a direct benefit to both crops but that might be too much to hope for. Rather, it's more likely that one may benefit while the other isn't greatly inconvenienced.

Steve

 

[ChickenGrass]

Hi Steve,
Thank you very much for your help.
Fionn.