Companion Planting

Companion planting is the practice of planting two different plants in close proximity to each other on the theory that they may help each other in some way. Some plants complement each other, giving off byproducts that the other plant needs. Those byproducts may be chemicals and micronutrients that the other plant may benefit from.

Other beneficial plants provide some protection against insects and planting a few of them near a desired plant may help to keep certain insects away. For example, I always plant some marigolds in amongst my pepper plants. This helps repel aphids from my plants and it kind of looks pretty as well. The bright splashes of color are fun amongst the green.

Here is a list of vegetables that you may plant or have planted in your garden and what goes well together and what does not:

Vegetables

• Asparagus—Good Companions: Tomatoes, Parsley, Basil–Bad Companions: None

• Beans (Bush)—Good Companions: Cauliflower, Carrots, Beets, Cabbage, Cucumbers, and Potatoes–Bad Companions: Onions

• Beans (Pole)—Good Companions: Corn and Radishes– Bad Companions: Kohlrabi, Beets, and Sunflowers

• Beets—Good Companions: Bush Beans, Onions and Kohlrabi–Bad Companions: Pole Beans

• Broccoli—Good Companions: Dill, Celery, Sage, Potatoes, Beets, and Onions– Bad Companions: Tomatoes, Pole Beans, Strawberries

• Cabbage—Good Companions: Dill, Celery, Sage, Onions, and Potatoes– Bad Companions: Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pole Beans

• Carrots—Good Companions: Lettuce, Tomatoes, and Peas– Bad Companions: Dill

• Cauliflower—Good Companions: Celery– Bad Companions: Tomatoes, Strawberries
• Celery—Good Companions: Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Leeks–Bad Companions: None

• Corn—Good Companions: Potatoes, Peas, Bean, Cucumbers, Squash and Pumpkins– Bad Companions: Tomatoes

• Dill—Good Companions: Cabbage—Bad Companions: Carrots

• Eggplant—Good Companions: Beans—Bad Companions: None

• Garlic—Good Companions: Roses—Bad Companions: Peas and Beans

• Kale—Good Companions: Late Cabbage and Potatoes—Bad Companions: None

• Kohlrabi—Good Companions: Onions, Beets and Cucumbers—Bad Companions: Strawberries, Tomatoes, and Pole Beans

• Leeks—Good Companions: Celery, Onions, and Carrots—Bad Companions: None

• Lettuce—Good Companions: Onions, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Carrots, and Radishes—Bad Companions: None

• Melons—Good Companions: Corn and Sunflowers—Bad Companions: Potatoes

• Onions—Good Companions: Beets, Carrots, Lettuce, Garlic, Summer Savory—Bad Companions: Peas, Beans

• Peas—Good Companions: Radishes, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Beans, Turnips—Bad Companions: Onions

• Potatoes—Good Companions: Beans, Corn, Peas, Cabbage, Cucumbers—Bad Companions: Hyssop

• Radishes—Good Companions: Peas, Lettuce, Nasturtium, Cucumbers—Bad Companions: Hyssop

• Spinach—Good Companions: Strawberries—Bad Companions: None

• Squash, Pumpkin—Good Companions: Nasturtium, Corn—Bad Companions: Potatoes

• Tomatoes—Good Companions: Asparagus, Parsley, Chives, Onions, Carrots, Marigold, Nasturtium—Bad Companions: Dill, Cabbage, Fennel

• Turnips—Good Companions: Peas, Beans—Bad Companions—None

If you have already planted your garden and you have inadvertently planted bad companions, you will at least have some answers why things may not be going as planned. And if all else fails, grab some marigolds for your peppers and tomatoes. You won’t be sorry!

What plants do you like to plant together and why? Leave me a comment and let me know what you like to plant together.