Not all veggies make great neighbors. Get the scoop on companion planting and the veggies that should and shouldn't be planted together.
ByMichele Zipp
Contributor:Donna Cosmato
Donna Cosmato
Donna is a freelance writer with over 2,000 published works in various digital editorials. After twenty-five years as a beauty consultant, she hopes to educate and empower her readers to look and feel their best through her writing.
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Updated February 20, 2024
The secret to getting abountiful garden isn't blasting Bach throughout the night but creating harmony. We're not talking about the vocal kind but the symbiosis that comes fromcompanion planting. Companion planting focuses on figuring out what vegetables, herbs, and flowersgrow well together. It's all about nurturing symbiotic relationships to create the healthiest, hardiest plants you possibly can.
An Easy Guide to Which Vegetables Grow Well Together
There is a science behind which veggies you shouldplant together in your garden. Every gardener needs to knowwho makes the best bedfellows and who the undesirable roommates are. Thankfully for you, we've laid it all out.
Vegetable | Companion Plant | Don't Plant Together |
Asparagus | Tomatoes | None |
Beans (Bush or Pole) | Celery, corn, cucumbers, radish, strawberries, summer savory | Garlic and onion |
Beets | Bush beans (not pole beans), cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, onions, garlic | Pole beans |
Cabbage Family (cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts) | Beets, celery, dill, Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, onions, potatoes | Pole beans |
Carrots | Beans, tomatoes | None |
Celery | Beans, tomatoes, cabbages | None |
Corn | Cucumber, melons, squash, peas, beans, pumpkin | Tomatoes |
Cucumber | Beans, corn, peas, cabbage | None |
Eggplant | Beans, pepper | None |
Melons | Corn, pumpkin, radish, squash | None |
Onions | Beets, carrots, Swiss chard, lettuce, peppers | All beans and peas |
Peas | Beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radish, turnip | Garlic, onions |
Potatoes | Beans, corn, peas | Tomatoes |
Squash | Corn, melons, pumpkins | None |
Tomatoes | Carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, peppers | Corn, potatoes, kohlrabi |
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Companion Planting Basics
Companion planting is the art and science of laying out a vegetable garden so that complementary types of veggies thrive in the same bed. It's a bit different from crop rotation, which means successively planting vegetables from different plant families in the same garden area season after seasonto minimize insect and disease problems. With companion planting, you're striving to create a harmonious ecosystem so Mother Nature can share her successes with you.
Fast Fact
Want to get some thriving asparagus this decade?Plant eggplant and asparagus together. The asparagus wards off undesirable root conditions for eggplant, while eggplant doesn't compete for nutrients in the soil.
The Science BehindComplementary Planting
The rule of (green) thumb for companion planting is to note which family each vegetable comes from and planting complementary families together. Vegetables from the cabbage family, for example, like to be planted with beets and members of the leafy green family.
Herbs end up joining the group because manyhelpdeterpests. Sometimes they even add a bit of zest likemint, which does double duty byalso improving thecabbages' flavor. You could plant any member of the cabbage family — which includesbroccoli and kale — with mint and see a higher yield and improved disease resistance.
Related: 10 Unbeetable Beets Companion Plants for a Healthy Harvest
Avoid Planting Some Vegetables Near Each Other
Just like people have their likes and dislikes when it comes to food,vegetables can be pretty persnickety too. They've got no problem voicing their preferences for who theirnext-door neighbors should be. Make sure you listen and match veggies well to encourage growth and high yields. For example, you'll want to keep corn and garlic separate, as well as tomatoes and peas. Although most gardeners want to jump straight into the dirt-digging portion of planting, this research phase isn't something you want to skip.
Other Flora Companions for Various Veggies
Veggies aren't the only companion plants.When you have a kitchen garden, you'll want your vegetables, herbs, and flowers to work well together. Not only is this super convenient,but it harnesses the power of nature to create an organic garden that naturally repels pests. You don't want the field mice chomping up your red-leaf lettuce. Marigolds are a gold-standard flower companion to most vegetables, but many herbs do great as well.
Fast Fact
Love pickles? Cucumbers and dill love each other, too. Planted together they help each other grow — cukes provide shade and dill attracts pollinators for cucumber blossoms.
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Marigold
It's a drag thatMarigoldsare annuals, but they're worth planting because theyrepel many insect species. You can plant the red, yellow, and orangebeautiesaround tomatoes to inhibit ugly green hornworms. These big buggers can devour an entire tomato plant in one night. Plant marigoldsaround your entire vegetable garden each year to add some bright color and keep the insect predators away.
Herbs
As mentioned, mint is a winning herb companion but other herbs also keep creatures out of your garden. Tuckbasil, oregano, rosemary, and chives in among your tomato and pepper plants. You can harvest the entire crop and make one great-tasting dinner in one fell swoop.
These herbs that do double-dutypack a lot of flavor, making your recipes that much tastier.
- Nasturtium and rosemary deter beetles that attack beans.
- Thyme repels the cabbage worm.
- Chives and garlic keep the aphids away.
- Oregano doesn't mesh well withinsects, so it's a sure bet.
Reap the Benefits of Your Strategic Planting
Gardening truly is an art — if it's carefully curated, you can create a synergetic system that nourishes your body and produces the tastiest treats. Companion planting allows you to harness the power of science and nature for higher yields and built-inpest control. Like any parent taking care of their babies, you want all of your kids to get along, and following companion planting guidelines will ensure that they do.
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