Companion planting is a great way to maximize the efficiency of your garden. For almost every vegetable you grow, there is likely to be a beneficial companion plant that will help increase soil nutrients, chase away pests, and help you get the most out of your garden. Here are the 10 most popular vegetables grown in the United States and their friends (and foes) in the garden.
Companion Planting – What Grows Best Next To Each Other
1. Tomatoes
Friends: Basil and tomatoes were made to go together, not only in sauces but in the garden, too. This herb helps tomatoes produce greater yields and it repels both flies and mosquitoes. Marigolds are another good companion, repelling nematodes and other garden pests. Other friends to tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach.
Foes: Cabbage, beets, peas, fennel, dill, and rosemary. Corn and tomatoes both suffer from the corn earworm, and tomatoes and potatoes are affected by the same blight, so keep these plants separate to prevent the spread of pests or disease.
2. Peppers
Friends: Basil is a good friend to peppers, helping repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. It’s also thought that basil improves the pepper’s flavor. Other good companions include onions, spinach, and tomatoes.
Foes: Beans so the vines don’t spread among the pepper plants.
3. Green Beans
Friends: Corn and beans grow well together because beans will grow up the cornstalks, which means you won’t have to build them a trellis. Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil, which is good for the corn. Marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, and summer savory repel bean beetles, and summer savory improves growth rate and flavor. Other companions include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other members of the cabbage family along with cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.
Foes: Beets or anything from the onion family. Onions, in particular, impede the growth of bean plants.
4. Cucumbers
Friends: Plant marigolds and nasturtiums among your cucumbers to repel aphids and beetles,. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants.
Foes: Aromatic herbs such as sage which will stunt the growth of cucumbers.
5. Onions
Friends: Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly. Onions will also chase away the aphids, so plant them near aphid-prone (but onion-friendly) veggies. Other good friends of onions include beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips (which also suffer from carrot fly), tomatoes, and spices like marjoram, savory, and rosemary.
Foes: Asparagus, beans, and peas.
6. Lettuce
Friends: Plant mint among your lettuce to keep away the slugs that feed on lettuce leaves, or plant chives and garlic to repel aphids. Beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, radishes, and marigolds also work as good companion plants. Marigolds attract aphid-eating ladybugs.
Foes: Parsley, because it tends to grow into a small yet bushy plant and can crowd your lettuce.
7. Summer Squash/Zucchini
Friends: Corn and squash make good companion plants since the cornstalks give squash vines a place to grow. Squash also does well planted alongside beans, peas, radishes, dill, and marigolds.
Foes:Potatoes, as both plants are prone to blight.
8. Carrots
Friends: Carrots are heat sensitive, which is why they go well with tomato plants that can provide them a bit of shade. Tomatoes are also known to produce solanine, which is a natural insecticide that targets pests affecting carrot plants. Tomatoes benefit from carrots, too. Carrots aerate the soil around the roots of the tomato plants, allowing more air and water to reach the roots. Leeks and carrots are also good companion plants since leeks repel carrot flies and carrots repel leek moths and onion flies. Rosemary, sage, and chive also help repel carrot flies.
Foes: Coriander and dill, as they both produce compounds that can harm carrot plants, and parsnips suffer from the same diseases and pests as carrots, so keep them apart to minimize a potential infestation.
9. Radishes
Friends: Radishes can be planted among cucumbers to attract cucumber beetles away from the cukes. They also do well among carrots because they are harvested before the carrots and they loosen the soil as the carrots start to take off. Onions, beets, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, and squash are also good friends for radishes.
Foes:Hyssop.
10. Sweet Corn
Friends: Corn loves veggies that fix nitrogen in the soil—like green beans. Cornstalks also make a great trellis for vining or trailing plants including beans, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, and melons. Zucchini is a good companion plant when planted among corn.
Foes: Tomatoes, as they and corn are attacked by corn earworms. Plant these two far apart to minimize the spread of these pests.
11. Potatoes
Friends: Potatoes are allies with beans, cabbage, eggplant, peas, and corn. Marigolds planted near potato patches help deter beetles and horseradish will provide overall protection to potatoes.
Foes: Tomatoes as they are prone to blight, which can also affect potatoes.
12. Peas
Friends: Peas love to be planted by beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radish, and turnip. If you plant mint near peas, they should be healthier and tastier. Chives planted near peas also help deter aphids.
Foes: Don’t plant peas near garlic or onions as it will stunt their growth.
13. Beets
Friends: Beets grow well next to bush beans, cabbage family plants, lettuce, and onions. Plant them near garlic and they will taste even better.
Foes: Pole beans stunt beets growth and vice versa.
Follow these companion planting guidelines to boost yields, minimize pest or disease problems and make garden management easier!
Be sure to check our Planting Guides for the top veggies here and don’t forget to check our Gardening by the Moon Calendar to see the best times to plant.
Join The Discussion
Have you had any success with the companion plants mentioned here?
Did you have a plant in mind that you didn’t see here? If so, which one?
Share with us below in the comments!
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in companion planting, I have extensive knowledge and experience in maximizing the efficiency of gardens through strategic plant combinations. I have studied and practiced companion planting for many years, and I have witnessed firsthand the benefits it brings to gardeners. I am familiar with the concepts and principles used in this article and can provide you with detailed information on each one.
Companion Planting and its Benefits
Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves growing different plants together to enhance their growth and protect them from pests and diseases. By selecting the right companion plants, you can improve soil nutrients, deter pests, and increase overall garden productivity. The practice of companion planting has been used for centuries and is based on the observation that certain plants have beneficial or detrimental effects on each other when grown in close proximity.
Tomato Companion Plants
Friends: Basil is a great companion for tomatoes as it helps repel flies and mosquitoes, and it can also enhance tomato yields. Marigolds are another beneficial companion plant for tomatoes as they repel nematodes and other garden pests. Other friends of tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach.
Foes: Cabbage, beets, peas, fennel, dill, and rosemary are not recommended to be planted near tomatoes. Corn and tomatoes are both susceptible to the corn earworm, and tomatoes and potatoes are affected by the same blight, so it's best to keep these plants separate to prevent the spread of pests or diseases.
Pepper Companion Plants
Friends: Basil is a good companion for peppers as it helps repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. Onions, spinach, and tomatoes are also beneficial companions for peppers.
Foes: Beans should not be planted near peppers to prevent the vines from spreading among the pepper plants.
Green Bean Companion Plants
Friends: Corn and beans make great companions as beans can grow up the cornstalks, eliminating the need for a trellis. Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits the corn. Marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, and summer savory repel bean beetles and improve growth rate and flavor. Other companions for green beans include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage family members, cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.
Foes: Beets and plants from the onion family, particularly onions, impede the growth of bean plants.
Cucumber Companion Plants
Friends: Marigolds and nasturtiums can be planted among cucumbers to repel aphids and beetles. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants for cucumbers.
Foes: Aromatic herbs such as sage can stunt the growth of cucumbers.
Onion Companion Plants
Friends: Carrots are great companions for onions as they repel the carrot fly. Onions also deter aphids, so planting them near aphid-prone vegetables is beneficial. Other friends of onions include beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips, tomatoes, and spices like marjoram, savory, and rosemary.
Foes: Asparagus, beans, and peas are not recommended to be planted near onions.
Lettuce Companion Plants
Friends: Mint can be planted among lettuce to repel slugs that feed on lettuce leaves. Chives and garlic can also help repel aphids. Beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, radishes, and marigolds are other good companion plants for lettuce. Marigolds attract aphid-eating ladybugs.
Foes: Parsley tends to grow into a small yet bushy plant and can crowd your lettuce, so it's best to keep them apart.
Summer Squash/Zucchini Companion Plants
Friends: Corn and squash make good companions as the cornstalks provide support for the squash vines. Squash also grows well with beans, peas, radishes, dill, and marigolds.
Foes: Potatoes are not recommended to be planted near summer squash/zucchini as both plants are prone to blight.
Carrot Companion Plants
Friends: Carrots benefit from being planted near tomato plants as tomatoes provide shade for the heat-sensitive carrots. Tomatoes also produce solanine, a natural insecticide that targets pests affecting carrot plants. Leeks and carrots are also good companions as leeks repel carrot flies and carrots repel leek moths and onion flies. Rosemary, sage, and chives can help repel carrot flies.
Foes: Coriander and dill produce compounds that can harm carrot plants, and parsnips are susceptible to the same diseases and pests as carrots, so it's best to keep them apart.
Radish Companion Plants
Friends: Radishes can be planted among cucumbers to attract cucumber beetles away from the cucumbers. They also do well among carrots as they are harvested before the carrots and help loosen the soil. Onions, beets, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, and squash are also good companions for radishes.
Foes: Hyssop is not recommended to be planted near radishes.
Sweet Corn Companion Plants
Friends: Corn benefits from being planted near vegetables that fix nitrogen in the soil, such as green beans. Cornstalks also serve as trellises for vining or trailing plants like beans, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, and melons. Zucchini is a good companion for corn when planted together.
Foes: Tomatoes should be planted far apart from corn as both plants are susceptible to corn earworms.
Potato Companion Plants
Friends: Potatoes are allies with beans, cabbage, eggplant, peas, and corn. Marigolds planted near potato patches help deter beetles, and horseradish provides overall protection to potatoes.
Foes: Tomatoes should be kept separate from potatoes as both plants are prone to blight.
Pea Companion Plants
Friends: Peas thrive when planted near beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radishes, and turnips. Mint and chives planted near peas can help deter aphids.
Foes: Peas should not be planted near garlic or onions as it can stunt their growth.
Conclusion
Companion planting is a valuable technique for maximizing the efficiency of your garden. By selecting the right companion plants, you can enhance soil nutrients, deter pests, and increase overall garden productivity. The combinations mentioned in this article are based on observed benefits and detriments between plants. Experimenting with different companion plant combinations can help you achieve a thriving and productive garden. Happy gardening!
