If you haven’t heard of companion planting, it’s a method of growing certain plants together which benefit each other. Some help improve a vegetable’s flavour, some help the plants to provide a larger yield or crop and some repel pests.
Other plants and flowers are grown to attract pollinators, while some are grown purely as sacrificial plants to lure pests away from your edibles.
Bear in mind that as well as beneficial companions, there are also plants that shouldn’t be grown together because they have a negative effect on each other.
Other factors to think about are light and water. Tall plants can put smaller ones in the shade if grown closely, so you need to ensure that you are planting only shade-tolerant plants near them.
It isn’t a good idea to grow vegetables that need a lot of moisture close to those who can’t tolerate much of it. Doing this would leave you with two types of plant struggling or one dying and the other thriving.
Gardening is all about creating a healthy balance and although it may seem complicated, you just need to know what to grow together for the best yield of healthy plants that aren’t plagued by pests.
It is possible with the right know-how and a bit of experimenting!
Companion Planting for Vegetables:
What is the first thing we need to do for successful companion planting for vegetables?
Decide which vegetables you want to grow
There isn’t any point in going through all of the companions without focusing on the vegetables you actually want to eat.
Start with a list and then work around those particular plants, taking note of what they need to grow well.
Soil type, amount of water, and sunlight are all important factors to think about before growing vegetables together, especially if you only have a small space.
A good example of companion planting is the ‘three sisters’ method which has been used for over three hundred years:
Corn, Beans and Squash are grown together in the same space. The plants all benefit each other:
- The corn is the eldest sister. She grows tall and strong, serving as a support for the beans to grow up.
- Squash is the second sister, whose foliage covers the ground, keeping moisture inside, providing shade for the soil and prevents weeds spreading.
- Beans are the third sister which grow up the corn stems. Their roots fix nitrogen into the soil to be used as food. They also stabilise the corn by wrapping around it as they grow.
Vegetable Companions
These plants benefit each other in some way. There are also examples of plants that should not be grown with each vegetable.
| Plant: | Companions: | Don't Plant With: |
|---|---|---|
|
Asparagus |
Parsley, Tomatoes, Dill, Carrots, Coriander, Basil, Marigold, Beans, Peas, Spinach, Tarragon, Thyme, Peppers |
Onion, Potatoes, Garlic, Mint |
|
Aubergine (Eggplant) |
Beans, Catnip, Marigolds, Peas, Peppers |
Fennel, Broccoli |
|
Beetroot |
Broccoli, Cabbage, Lettuce, Onions, Brassicas, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Mint |
Runner Beans, Pole Beans, Mustard |
|
Broad Beans |
Corn, Potatoes, Celery, Cucumber |
Fennel, Soybeans, Dry Beans, Chives, Onions, Garlic, Shallots |
|
Broccoli |
Onions, Beetroot, Potatoes, Oregano, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Basil, Bush Beans, Dill, Cucumber, Garlic, Marigold, Mint, Radish, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Tomatoes |
Peppers, Beans, Strawberries, Grapes, Mustard |
|
Brussels Sprouts |
Sage, Thyme, Basil, Beans, Beetroot, Carrots, Garlic, Mint, Nasturtiums, Onions, Peas |
Mustard, Nightshades |
|
Cabbage |
Rosemary, Celery, Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Kohlrabi, Swede, Turnips, Onions, Potatoes, Garlic, Lettuce, Dill, Chamomile |
Grapes, Strawberries, Mustard |
|
Carrots |
Radishes, Peas, Sage, Onions, Leeks, Rosemary, Tomatoes, Chives, Lettuce, Cabbage, Beans |
Fennel, Anise, Dill, Parsnips, Radishes, Potatoes |
|
Cauliflower |
Celery, Spinach, Peas, Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Corn, Onions, Radish, Spinach, Cucumber |
Dill, Parsnips, Radishes |
|
Celeriac |
Brassicas, Cucumbers, Bush Beans |
Aster Flowers |
Tomatoes and Basil
This is an example of good companion planting.
Basil repels pests that like tomatoes but it has been proven that growing it with tomatoes actually improves their flavour.
Marigolds are another pest deterrent in the garden and grows well with tomatoes.
My tomatoes were all delicious when I grew basil in their pots, and in between the containers, I placed potted marigolds.
I noticed pollinators in my polytunnel, but not many pests, so I definitely viewed this as a success and would use the same technique again.
| Plant: | Companions: | Don't Plant With: |
|---|---|---|
|
Celery |
Beans, Cucumbers, Brassicas, Cabbage, Leeks, Onions, Spinach, Tomatoes |
Corn, Aster Flowers, Potatoes |
|
Corn |
Beans, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash, Peas, Melons, Parsley |
Tomatoes, Celery |
|
Courgette (Zucchini) |
Nasturtiums, Sweetcorn, Cucumbers, Borage, Beans, Peas, Marigolds, Radish, Oregano |
Potatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkins, Melons |
|
Cucumber |
Radishes, Beans, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Dill, Peas, Beetroot, Onions, Peas, Carrots |
Sage, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs |
|
French Beans |
Tomatoes, Corn, Marigolds, Rosemary, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Aubergine (Eggplant), Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Squash, Strawberries |
Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Chives, Fennel, Soybeans |
|
Garlic |
Letuce, Celery, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Beetroot, Carrots, Aubergine, Peppers, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Spinach, Cabbage |
Cabbages, Grapes, Beans, Peas |
|
Kale |
Cabbage, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Beetroot, Beans, Celery, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Lettuce, Mint, Onion, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach |
Peppers |
|
Kolhrabi |
Beetroot, Cucumber, Mint, Onion, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Thyme |
Pole Beans, Peppers, Strawberries, Tomatoes |
|
Leeks |
Carrots, Celery, Strawberries, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Beetroot, Lettuce, Parsnips |
Swiss Chard, Beans, Peas |
|
Lettuce |
Strawberries, Carrots, Cucumbers, Radishes, Beetroot, Garlic, Chives, Corn, Pumpkins, Squash, Onions, Broccoli, Cabbage, Bush Beans, Pole Beans |
Cabbages, Celery, Parsley |
Carrots and Leeks
Carrots and Parsnips grow well together with Alliums like onions, garlic and leeks. Pairing carrots and leeks is a great combination because they both benefit each other.
Carrot flies are repelled by the smell of leeks, but leek moth are repelled by the smell of carrots.
Small space gardeners can grow chives instead of leeks, which don’t take up as much room.
The photo is of one of my containers on my allotment plot where I grew carrots next to leeks. They were miniature leeks so they only took up a small row.
Both vegetables grew to a good size and tasted as they should so I had no complaints with this method.
| Plant: | Companions: | Don't Plant With: |
|---|---|---|
|
Onions |
Cabbage, Beetroot, Strawberries, Carrots, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leek, Dill, Kohlrabi, Brassicas, Tomatoes |
Beans, Peas, Sage, Lentils, Asparagus |
|
Pak Choi |
Beans, Peas, Onions, Garlic |
Peas |
|
Parsnips |
Bush Beans, Garlic, Marigold, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes |
Lettuce, Onions, Carrots, Leeks |
|
Peas |
Beans, Celery, Chicory, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Radishes, Carrots, Turnips, Cucumber, Cauliflower, Brassicas, Aubergine, Peppers, Spinach, Parsley, Strawberries |
Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Chives, Pak Choi |
|
Peppers |
Basil, Tomatoes, Parsley, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, Peas |
Beans, Kale, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Fennel |
|
Potatoes |
Beans, Corn, Brassicas |
Carrots, Cucumber, Pumpkins |
|
Radishes |
Aubergine (Eggplant), Cucumbers, Lettuce, Peas, Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Beetroot, Carrots, Melons, Parsnips, Spinach, Squash |
Grapes, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips |
|
Runner Beans |
Strawberries, Radish, Celery, Corn, Marigolds, Rosemary |
Grapes, Chives, Onions, Shallots |
|
Spinach |
Cauliflower, Brassicas, Garlic, Peas, Beans, Cabbage, Celery, Aubergine, Onion, Strawberries, Broad Beans, Squash |
Leeks |
|
Squash |
Nasturtiums, Radishes, Corn, Mint, Marigold, Aromatic herbs, Beans, Okra, Cucumber, Melon, Onion |
Potatoes |
Parsnips and Onions
I grew parsnips and onions together in the same container and they both did really well.
Because the parsnips would need a lot of space, I grew small silverskin onions which didn’t need as much room.
I harvested enough to make my own pickles and they were delicious. The parsnips didn’t take on any onion flavour (which for some reason, I was worried about!) and I didn’t notice any pests on them.
There was a spider who lived in the corner of the container but he kept to himself so I left him alone!
| Plant: | Companions: | Don't Plant With: |
|---|---|---|
|
Strawberries |
Beans, Lettuce, Onions, Spinach, Garlic, Borage, Thyme |
Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi |
|
Sweet Potatoes |
French Beans, Corn, Peas, Dill, Thyme, Oregano, Beetroot, Parsnip, Bush Beans, Potatoes |
Cabbage, Corn, Cauliflower, Squash |
|
Tomatoes |
Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrot, Basil, Cucumber, Marigold, Parsley, Garlic, Borage, Nasturtium, Rosemary, Broccoli, Asparagus, Beans, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Mint, Chives, Lemon Balm, Celery, Peppers |
Walnut trees, Corn, Potatoes, Beetroot, Brassicas, Rosemary, Dill, Aubergine, Fennel, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower |
|
Turnips |
Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage |
Potatoes, Fennel, other root vegetables, Radishes |
My experiments with companion planting for vegetables have mostly been successful, but I had one failure and that was turnips.
I grew them in the same container as the carrots and leeks but they were riddled with little beetles (which left the carrots and leeks alone) and they were much smaller than they should have been.
After doing some research, I’ve found that root vegetables shouldn’t be planted together because they compete for nutrients and this causes their growth to be stunted. At least I know that for next time!
I also learned that Cabbages and other Brassicas don’t grow well with Strawberries. So, if you’re looking for something to plant with them, try Borage instead which is said to improve the strawberries flavour.
Mint goes well with Brassicas, but it can be invasive, so it’s probably best to keep it in a container.
Garlic shouldn’t be planted with peas or beans because it will stunt their growth, so that’s another pairing to avoid.
There are many more combinations of companion plants and I would recommend doing some research of your own based on the vegetables you want to grow and like to eat.
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