The benefits of companion planting your vegetable gardens is endless. If planned right you can boost your harvest and overall crop health significantly. Companion planting is great for your plants, soil and can even be good for wildlife if done correctly.
You can keep away pests, welcome in pollinators, improve overall crop tastes and even encourage a more bountiful growth just by “pairing” up certain vegetables. By that, I mean your vegetable gardens so particular plants are nearby to one another.
“Vegetable Garden Growing” by James P. Mann is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Make sure to do your research, however, because some pairs can actually do more harm than good. Be sure to plant those pesky pairs a distance from one another.
Here is a list to help you in getting started with companion planting your vegetable gardens…
“Carrots – Carota – Wortels – Geze – 胡萝卜- zanahoria – carotte – ニンジン” by color line is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Carrots
Companion plant with…
- Tomatoes: These will provide shade to your carrots. Root vegetables, like carrots, don’t require a ton of direct sunlight daily and good shade will actually help in less weed production.
- Beans and Peas: Both of these vegetables produce just the right amount of nitrogen rich soil, without being over abundant in it. Perfect for carrots.
- Lettuce: This vegetable provides shade and less weed production. Lettuce has shallow roots so it can be planted with carrots in smaller areas.
- Onions and chive: Deters pests from their strong odors.
- Do not companion plant: dill, celery or potatoes that will compete and steal phosphorus.
“Cauliflower” by Nick Saltmarsh is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Cauliflower
Companion plant with…
- Beans: They will help deter pests and also attract beneficial plant insects that help in keeping pest insects at bay.
- Sage or Thyme: Deters pests with their strong scents and also attracts bees for pollination with their aromatic flower blossoms.
- Celery: Being a water hog plant will help enrich the soil with nutrients.
- Do not companion plant: Peas that will stunt cauliflower growth or tomatoes that could steal nutrients.
“Beets – Beta vulgaris” by Scott 97006 is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Beets
Companion plant with…
- Garlic: Known to improve beet flavor and lesson the dirt smell or geosmin (an organic compound in the soil)
- Onion or allium family – scallions, chives, leeks: Pungent smell will repel mammals and deter pest insects.
- Bush Bean: Provides nitrogen rich soil and leafy growth protects and shades.
- Lettuce: Nutrients are pulled from top of the soil the beets will pull from the bottom soil, causing no interference.
- Thyme, rosemary and mint: All put out an oil scent that will deter pests.
- Do not companion plant: Pole beans will stunt beets growth and chard will bring in unwanted pests.
“Brussels sprouts” by Nick Saltmarsh is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Brussels Sprouts
Companion plant with…
- Celery stalks, rosemary, sage and peppermint: Will lure away unwanted pests.
- Garlic and sage: Helps improve flavor.
- Beets: Improve soil to contribute minerals to plants.
- Do not companion plant: Strawberries, eggplant or peppers as they will stunt plant growth.
“Cucumbers” by larryjh1234 is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Cucumbers
Companion plant with…
- Peas, corn and beans: These vegetables all have root systems that help increase and provide nitrogen rich soil.
- Marigolds and sunflowers: Help in deterring Thrips and other unwanted insects.
- Oregano and dill: Both repel pests.
- Do not companion plant: Potatoes will steal nutrients away from cucumbers and sage will stunt plant growth.
“Zucchini flower” by allispossible.org.uk is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Zucchini
Companion plant with…
- Radishes and garlic: Both of these will aide in repelling pests.
- Beans and peas: Contribute to a healthy nitrogen rich soil production.
- Peppermint, dill and oregano: Pungent scents will help in keeping pests away.
- Do not companion plant: Fennel with stunt growth and potatoes are known to steal nutrients from zucchini.
Using some of these companion planting techniques might be just what you need to help in keeping your harvest plentiful this growing season. You’ll even help in giving back to wildlife and pollinators, which in turn helps the entire system keep going round!
Happy planting!
Get your garden started with our free garden planner…
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Love, light and a little grace…
-Olivia
Olivia Whalen is mama to three young girls who is devoted to creative learning, exploration and free range imagination. Olivia enjoys thinking outside of the box when it comes to preparing homemade baby food or meals for her family. She most enjoys allowing the little minds in her life to flourish and with that you will see her write about creative kid crafts, recipes that fit a family budget and keep everyone asking for more, tips and tricks for a tiny babe, and beginner homesteader fun! Some of her hobbies include gardening, hiking, reading, cooking or just basking in motherhood.