Companion Planting Gardening Guide for Beginners by Ninon McKeon What a hoot of a read! Ninon McKeon’s book on companion planting is a prize-winner as he takes us through the quirks of plant relationships with a delightful touch of humor. Who would’ve thought that sunflowers and corn make terrible neighbors? Not only do sunflowers gobble up resources, stifling smaller plants, but they’re also guilty of releasing toxic chemicals that throw potato growth off balance.