Gardening - Planting Multiple Species

QUESTION: I have a garden where I plant vegetables and beans. I would like to plant other items as well. What are the rules of planting different species together?

ANSWER: The Torah forbids planting different items together in a one of three ways:

   A. Kalei Zera’im - Planting two species of vegetables or grains together. This is only forbidden in Eretz Yisroel. In the rest of the world, one may plant these two species together.

   B. Harkavah - Grafting two species of trees together. This includes the prohibition of grafting a tree with a vegetable plant as well. This is forbidden everywhere, even outside of Eretz Yisroel. 

   C. Kalei Hakerem – Planting vegetables or grains in a vineyard. This is not allowed as per the Torah in Eretz Yisroel and in certain cases it was extended by Rabbinic prohibition to the rest of the world.

Each of these topics will be discussed in greater detail in the coming days.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.