Each plant in your garden contributes to a thriving space, from the humble herb to the towering cornstalk. Companion planting orchestrates this natural interplay to create a garden that is not only productive but also vibrant and healthy.
Our guide and companion planting chart explore the art and science of companion planting to help you understand how to maximize the benefits of what you grow in your garden.
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is planting different crops close to each other to enhance growth, deter pests, and increase crop production.
For example, some plants may enrich the soil with nutrients that others need. Some attract beneficial insects that prey on pests threatening their neighbors, while others may grow better when they’re side by side.
Companion planting isn’t a new concept. Farmers and gardeners have used it for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations like the Native Americans implemented a system called “The Three Sisters,” consisting of corn, beans, and squash.
Corn provides a natural pole for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for artificial poles. Beans, in turn, fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, enriching the soil squash needs to grow. Squash spreads along the ground, blocking the sunlight and preventing weeds. Its spiky leaves also deter pests. This ancient system is a beautiful illustration of companion planting.
What are the benefits of companion planting?
Companion planting can transform your garden from natural pest control to improved soil health. Let’s explore some of these benefits in more detail.
Natural Pest Control
One of the most significant benefits of companion planting is its ability to manage pests naturally. Certain plants can repel harmful insects and reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
For example, herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage are natural pest repellents when planted among your vegetables. Similarly, marigolds are renowned for their ability to deter nematodes and other garden pests.
Improved Soil Health and Nutrient Management
Companion planting plays a pivotal role in improving soil health. Some plants, like beans, can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil to enrich it for other plants that need this essential nutrient.
Companion planting also allows you to tap into the benefits of having different root systems throughout your garden to promote better nutrient uptake.
Enhanced Pollination and Crop Yield
Companion planting can enhance pollination, leading to increased crop yield. Certain plant combinations attract beneficial insects, including pollinators, which can lead to higher productivity in your vegetable and herb gardens.
Moreover, planting companion plants is an efficient gardening method that maximizes garden space and increases overall harvest.
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Favorite Companion Plant Groups
There are lots of companion plant pairings you can bring to your vegetable garden, but check out a few of our favorites from our companion planting chart:
Carrots, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Onions
This grouping leverages natural pest deterrents and soil benefits to help your garden’s overall health and productivity.
- Carrots enhance tomato flavor and benefit from tomato shade.
- Onions repel pests that could harm peppers.
- Onions deter carrot flies, protecting carrots.
- Tomatoes and peppers share similar growing requirements.
- Carrots improve soil structure for peppers.
Herbs, Corn, Peas, and Potatoes
This group utilizes herbs for pest control, peas for nitrogen fixation, and strategic plant interactions to support healthier growth and yield.
- Certain herbs can repel corn pests.
- Peas can use corn stalks as natural trellises.
- Peas also fix nitrogen in the soil for nitrogen-hungry corn and potatoes.
- Many herbs, like chives or marigolds, can deter potato pests.
- Certain herbs can enhance pea growth and deter pests.
Celery, Asparagus, Tomatoes, and Carrots
This grouping supports a symbiotic relationship through pest control, shade provision, and improved flavor and plant health.
- Celery repels certain pests that affect tomatoes.
- Tomato plants provide the partial shade celery needs in hot conditions.
- Tomatoes repel asparagus beetles.
- Asparagus can deter some root nematodes that affect tomatoes.
- Carrots benefit from the shade provided by tomato plants.
Lettuce, Spinach, Cucumbers, and Beets
This grouping promotes a harmonious vegetable garden layout, optimizing space and environmental conditions for growing leafy greens alongside root vegetables and vines.
- Lettuce and spinach thrive in similar cool conditions.
- As a lower-growing plant, lettuce benefits from the shade of taller cucumber plants.
- Lettuce can be planted with beets since their root systems occupy different soil levels.
- Spinach can grow in the partial shade offered by cucumber vines.
- Spinach’s quick harvest cycle complements the longer growth period of beets.
Companion Plants for Popular Vegetables
Understanding the best vegetable companion plants can significantly enhance your garden’s productivity and health. Let’s explore some compatible companions for popular vegetables.
| Companion Plants for Asparagus | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Asparagus | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Basil and parsley enhance the growth and flavor of asparagus spears and repel pests.
- Marigolds and nasturtiums are natural deterrents for beetles and other pests.
- Tomatoes are particularly beneficial because they naturally repel asparagus beetles.
- Garlic, onions, and potatoes can compete with asparagus for nutrients, potentially stunting its growth.
| Companion Plants for Beans | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Beans | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Corn acts as a natural trellis for climbing beans.
- Radishes and cucumbers can help deter pests and improve bean health.
- Garlic, onions, and peppers may inhibit the growth of beans due to allelopathic substances that can affect bean seed germination and growth.
- Sunflowers may compete with beans for light and nutrients due to their large size and root system.
| Companion Plants for Beets | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Beets | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Bush beans can enhance beet growth without the competitive nature of pole beans.
- Garlic and onions help deter pests.
- Lettuce and radishes share similar soil and water needs.
- Mustard and beets should be avoided as they can hinder each other’s growth.
| Companion Plants for Broccoli | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Broccoli | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- The aromatic herbs help repel pests that typically bother broccoli.
- Beets and onions deter pests and help improve soil health.
- Strawberries and tomatoes can hinder broccoli’s growth.
| Companion Plants for Carrots | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Carrots | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Leeks, onions, rosemary, and sage repel carrot flies and other pests.
- Leafy vegetables can cover the ground and keep carrots cool.
- Tomato plants provide carrots with shade.
- Dill and celery can attract pests (like carrot flies) that harm carrots and stunt their growth.
| Companion Plants for Celery | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Celery | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Celery grows well alongside beans, which can enrich the soil with nitrogen.
- Cabbage, leeks, and spinach offer protection against pests.
- Tomatoes can provide shade for celery in the hotter months.
- Potatoes’ growth habits interfere with celery’s root system.
| Companion Plants for Corn | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Corn | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Beans fix nitrogen, which corn heavily consumes, in the soil.
- Corn provides shade for cucumbers, lettuce, and peas.
- Pumpkins and squash spread beneath corn, conserving moisture and deterring weeds.
- Tomatoes should be avoided due to the common pests they attract, such as the tomato hornworm and corn earworm.
| Companion Plants for Cucumbers | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Cucumbers | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Radishes help deter cucumber beetles.
- Sunflowers provide a sturdy structure for cucumber vines to climb.
- Some aromatic herbs (like sage) can stunt cucumber growth.
| Companion Plants for Eggplant | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Eggplant | ||
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Planting Notes:
- These companions improve soil quality, deter pests, and provide shade for eggplant.
- Marigold helps deter nematodes, a pest that likes eggplant.
- Fennel can inhibit the growth of eggplants and other vegetables in its vicinity.
| Companion Plants for Garlic | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Garlic | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Garlic is a natural pest deterrent that keeps away aphids and other pests.
- Garlic can stunt the growth of beans and peas with its allelopathic properties.
- Read Planting Garlic in the Western USA and Caring for Garlic in Early Spring for more information.
| Companion Plants for Lettuce | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Lettuce | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Cucumbers and strawberries can provide partial shade to lettuce.
- Garlic and onions can help repel pests like aphids with their strong scents.
- Avoid cabbage due to potential increased pest attraction and competition for space.
| Companion Plants for Onions | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Onions | ||
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Planting Notes:
- These companion plants help deter a variety of pests while encouraging healthy growth.
- Onions can inhibit the growth of beans and peas with their intense aroma.
- Read Tips & Tricks for Planting Onions for more help with onions.
| Companion Plants for Peas | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Peas | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Corn can serve as a natural support for climbing pea varieties.
- Cucumbers, radishes, and turnips share space efficiently and benefit from the nitrogen peas fixes in the soil.
- Avoid planting peas near garlic, onions, leeks, and shallots since these plants can inhibit the growth of peas by releasing certain chemicals in the soil.
| Companion Plants for Peppers | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Peppers | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Basil repels pests (including mosquitoes and spider mites) and improves the flavor of pepper plants.
- Onions can help to repel certain pests and enhance the overall health of peppers.
- Beans and kohlrabi can inhibit the growth of peppers.
| Companion Plants for Potatoes | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Potatoes | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Beans fix nitrogen in the soil to make it available to your potatoes.
- Corn is a windbreak and support, while marigolds deter potato beetles.
- Avoid planting potatoes with tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers to prevent disease spread and competition for nutrients.
- Read Why Everyone Should Plant Potatoes and Spud Magic for more about potatoes.
| Companion Plants for Spinach | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Spinach | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Strawberries can help deter slugs and other pests that target spinach leaves.
- Peas and beans improve soil quality.
- Radishes can be grown among spinach to act as a trap crop for leaf miners.
- Potatoes compete for space and nutrients and may increase the risk of blight disease.
| Companion Plants for Squash | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Squash | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen that benefits their squash neighbors.
- Corn offers a natural trellis for squash vines.
- Planting nasturtiums and marigolds wards off squash bugs and beetles.
- Potatoes can compete for resources and increase the risk of blight in squash.
| Companion Plants for Tomatoes | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Tomatoes | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Basil is known to improve the flavor of tomatoes and repel pests.
- Marigolds deter nematodes and other pests.
- Cabbage family vegetables can inhibit tomato plant growth.
- Read Tomato Issues & How To Fix Them and How to Grow Great Tomatoes for more on tomatoes.
| Companion Plants for Zucchini | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Zucchini | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Nasturtiums and marigolds act as trap crops for pests.
- Peas improve the soil for the zucchini’s benefit.
- Spinach and lettuce provide ground cover.
- Potatoes can overshadow and compete with zucchini for nutrients.
Companion Plants for Herbs
Herbs play a significant role in companion planting. Not only do they add flavor to your meals, but they can also enhance the growth of other plants and repel pests.
Let’s explore some specific pairings and benefits for common garden herbs.
| Companion Plant for Basil | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Basil | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Basil can deter pests like asparagus beetles, flies, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworms.
- It can also improve the flavor of tomatoes and peppers.
- If planted too close together, basil may compete with cucumbers for light and nutrients.
| Companion Plants for Chives | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Chives | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Chives can deter pests and enhance the growth of their companion plants.
- Chives can disrupt beans and peas’ ability to release nitrogen and inhibit their growth.
| Companion Plants for Dill | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Dill | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Dill attracts beneficial insects like honeybees and butterflies while deterring pests like aphids and spider mites.
- It should be planted away from carrots and tomatoes, as it can attract pests that harm or inhibit their growth.
| Companion Plants for Mint | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Mint | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Mint wards off cabbage moths and ants.
- Mint’s aggressive growth means it’s best kept in containers to prevent it from overtaking other plants.
- Read Mint Family Herbs for more on mint.
| Companion Plants for Parsley | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Parsley | ||
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Planting Notes:
- Parsley can attract beneficial insects and deter harmful ones for its companions.
- Parsley and lettuce can compete for similar nutrients and space, potentially reducing growth for both.
| Companion Plants for Rosemary | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Rosemary | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Rosemary’s strong scent repels cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.
- The strong scent of rosemary might deter pollinators from visiting cucumber flowers.
- The essential oils present in rosemary could affect the growth of potatoes.
| Companion Plants for Sage | ||
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| Avoid Planting with Sage | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Sage is a great companion for beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots since it repels cabbage moths, black flea beetles, and carrot flies.
- It’s also known to enhance the flavor of these vegetables.
- The strong aroma of sage can deter pollinators, which cucumbers rely on for fruit production.
| Companion Plants for Thyme | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Avoid Planting with Thyme | ||
|---|---|---|
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Planting Notes:
- Thyme serves as a deterrent to cabbage worms and other pests.
- Its ground-covering nature also helps reduce weed growth.
- Thyme thrives in dry, well-drained soil conditions, contrasting with cucumbers’ water needs.
Companion Planting Tips and Best Practices
Here are some practical tips for planning and implementing a successful companion planting strategy and advice on avoiding common mistakes.
Planning Your Garden
Diversity: Avoid planting all of the same plants together or in rows. This encourages pests to spread quickly from plant to plant. Instead, intermingle different types of plants to confuse pests and attract beneficial insects.
Spacing: Ensure that your plants have adequate space to grow. Overcrowding can lead to resource competition and increase the likelihood of disease transmission.
Rotation: Rotate your crops each year to prevent the buildup of pests and diseases in the soil.
Implementing Your Strategy
Plant companion plants simultaneously: Whenever possible, plant your companions at the same time. This allows them to establish beneficial relationships early on.
Consider growth rates and sizes: Plant faster-growing or larger plants so they don’t overshadow smaller or slower-growing companions.
Use companion plants as a natural barrier: Some plants, like marigolds and garlic, can deter pests. Plant these around the perimeter of your garden or interspersed among your crops for added protection.
Integrate flowers and herbs: Incorporate flowers like marigolds and herbs such as basil around your vegetables. They attract beneficial insects and repel pests, enhancing your garden’s ecosystem.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Ignoring soil needs: Different plants have different soil needs. Make sure the companions you choose are compatible regarding soil pH and nutrient requirements.
Overlooking water and sunlight requirements: Like soil needs, different plants require different amounts of water and sunlight. It’s important to pair plants with similar needs together.
Planting invasive species: Some plants (like mint) can quickly take over a garden. Be cautious when incorporating these into your planting strategy.
Forgetting about pollinators: Companion planting isn’t just about repelling pests; it’s also about attracting pollinators. Include plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to ensure your plants are well-pollinated.
Harmonizing Your Garden with Companion Planting
Companion planting balances your garden by fostering an environment where each plant contributes to collective productivity. These natural alliances enhance pest control and soil health and boost pollination, leading to a flourishing garden ecosystem.
Happy planting!
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