The secret to getting a bountiful garden isn't blasting Bach throughout the night but creating harmony. We're not talking about the vocal kind but the symbiosis that comes from companion planting. Companion planting focuses on figuring out what vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow 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 should plant together in your garden. Every gardener needs to know who 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 |
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 season to 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.
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 Behind Complementary 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 many help deter pests. Sometimes they even add a bit of zest like mint, which does double duty by also improving the cabbages' flavor. You could plant any member of the cabbage family — which includes broccoli 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 their next-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.
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.
Marigold
It's a drag that Marigolds are annuals, but they're worth planting because they repel many insect species. You can plant the red, yellow, and orange beauties around tomatoes to inhibit ugly green hornworms. These big buggers can devour an entire tomato plant in one night. Plant marigolds around 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. Tuck basil, 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-duty pack 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 with insects, 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-in pest 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.
