Companion Planting

In our garden, as in nature, most plants play a role. Some bring in pollinators and beneficial insects, some attract predatory insects to fight off pests and some naturally repel insects and pests on their own. Other plants work the soil adding nutrients that other plants need, or helping build good soil structure with their roots. Working together, in cooperation, these plants can be woven together to create an overall advantageous environment for a successful garden. Not all plants play well together though. Some plants don’t get along with others. Some fight over nutrients, or can stunt growth or ruin flavor if planted together. Having an idea of which plants do well together, and which plants don’t, is the key to Companion Planting. The following is a quick and simple guide to common garden plants and how they work with other plants in the garden.

• Amaranth – Great companion to sweet corn as it’s leaves shade the corm. It’s also a host to predatory ground beetles.
• Anise – Good host for predatory wasps which prey on aphids. Anise may also repel aphids (and we ALWAYS want to repel aphids). Improves the vigor of plants growing near it. Good to plant with coriander.
• Basil – Companion to tomatoes; dislikes sage and rue intensely. Improves growth and flavor of tomatoes. Repels flies, thripes and mosquitoes. Also does well with peppers, oregano, asparagus and petunias. Attracts pollinators when in bloom.
• Beans – All beans enrich the soil with nitrogen so they make good companions for carrots, celery, chards, corn, eggplant, peas, potatoes, beets, radish, strawberries and cucumbers. Keep beans away from alliums (onions and garlic) as they will alter the taste of the beans.
• Beebalm – Companion to tomatoes; improves growth and flavor. Also attracts beneficials and bees to improve pollination.
• Borage – Companion to tomatoes, squash and strawberries; deters tomato worm; improves growth and flavor.
• Cabbage – Good companion for celery, dill, onions and potatoes, but do not get along with strawberries, tomatoes and pole beans. Can be a big aphid attractor.
• Caraway – Plant here and there; loosens soil. Especially good with strawberries. Keep away from dill and fennel.
• Carrots – Go well with leaf lettuce, onions and tomatoes. Plant away from dill and parsnips. Flax produces oils that may protect root vegetables from some pests.
• Castor Bean – Deters moles and mice. Very poisonous plant, but also very pretty.
• Catnip – Plant in borders; deters flea beetles, aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants and weevils and possibly mice as well.
• Celery – Good with beans, cabbage, leeks, onions, spinach and tomatoes. Do not plant with corn.
• Chamomile – Companion to cabbages, cucumbers and onions; improves growth and flavor. Also a host plant for hover flies and predatory wasps.
• Chervil – Companion to radishes, lettuce and broccoli; improves growth and flavor. Also said to deter slugs.
• Chives – Companion to carrots and tomatoes; improves growth and flavor. They also repel aphids. Avoid beans and peas.
• Chrysanthemums – Kills root nematodes. White flowering ones repel Japanese beetles.
• Clover – Excellent ground cover that improves the soil. Attracts many beneficials. Plant with fruit bearing plants to increase pollination.
• Coriander – Repels aphids, spider mites and potato beetle. A good partner with anise.
• Dahlias – Repel nematodes.
• Dead nettle – Companion to potatoes; deters potato bug; improves growth and flavor.
• Dill – Companion to cabbage and lettuce. Plant away from carrots, caraway and tomatoes; improves growth and health of cabbage
• Elderberry – Leaves added to the compost pile speeds up the decomposing process.
• Fennel – Plant away from gardens, does well in deep containers. Most plants dislike it.
• Flax – Companion to carrots, potatoes, deters potato bug; improves growth and flavor
• Four O’Clocks – Attracts Japanese beetles and kills them as the foliage is poisonous to them. Also poisonous to humans and animals so be careful where they are planted.
• Garlic – Plant near roses and raspberries; deters Japanese beetles and aphids; improves growth and flavor
• Geranium – Repels cabbage worms and Japanese beetles
• Horseradish – Plant at corners of potato patch to deter potato bug. Plant in pots to keep it contained.
• Henbit – General insect repellant.
• Hyssop – Deters cabbage moth and flea beetles; companion to cabbage and grapes. Keep away from radishes.
• Lambs-quarters – This edible weed should be allowed to grow in moderate amounts in the garden, especially in corn.
• Lamium – Repels potato bugs.
• Larkspur – Attracts Japanese beetles. They feed on the foliage and die. Also poisonous to humans.
• Lavender – Repels fleas and moths. Attracts beneficials.
• Leeks – Plant near apple trees, carrots, celery and onions to improve growth. Repels carrot flies. Avoid planting near legumes.
• Lemon Balm – Sprinkle throughout garden to deter many bugs.
• Lovage – Improves flavor and health of plants if planted here and there.
• Marigolds – The workhorse of the pest deterrents. Plant throughout garden; it discourages Mexican bean beetles, nematodes, and other insects.
• Marjoram – Improves growth and flavor of many vegetables and herbs.
• Mint – Companion to cabbage and tomatoes; improves health and flavor; deters white cabbage moth, ants, rodents, flea beetles, fleas, and aphids.
• Nasturtium – Companion to radishes, cabbage, and curcubits; plant under fruit trees. Deters aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles; improves growth and flavor.
• Onions – Good with chamomile and summer savory to improve their flavor. Also good with carrots, leeks, beets, strawberries, dill, lettuce, and tomatoes. Keep away from peas and beans.
• Oregano – Especially good with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumber, but a good companion to most crops.
• Parsley – Increases fragrance of roses. Do not plant with mint.
• Peas – Good for adding nitrogen to the soil. Do not plant with onions.
• Peppermint – Planted among cabbages, it repels the white cabbage butterfly.
• Peppers, Bell (Sweet) – Good with tomatoes, parsley, basil, onions and carrots. Do not plant with fennel, kohlrabi or apricot trees. Grow well with ornamental plants if space is limited.
• Petunia – Repels asparagus beetle, leaf hoppers, certain aphids, tomato worm, Mexican been beetles and other garden pests. Leaves are good to make a bug spray.
• Pigweed – One of the best weeds for pumping nutrients from the subsoil, it is especially beneficial to potatoes, onions, and corn. Keep weeds thinned.
• Purslane – This edible weed makes good ground cover in the corn. If you have this growing naturally in your garden it means you have healthy, fertile soil.
• Radish – Repels cucumber beetles, rust flies and may also repel squash borers.
• Rosemary – Companion to cabbage, bean, carrots, and sage; deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly.
• Rue – Keep it far away from sweet basil; plant near roses and raspberries; deters Japanese beetles, aphids, fish moths, flea beetles, onion maggot, slugs, and snails. May also repel cats. Crush leaves and spread in garden for added benefit. Keep away from cucumber, cabbage, basil and sage. May cause skin irritation in some individuals.
• Sage – Plant with broccoli, rosemary, cabbage, and carrots; keep away from cucumbers, onions and rue. Deters cabbage moth, carrot fly.
• Southernwood – Plant here and there in garden; companion to cabbage, improves growth and flavor; deters cabbage moth. Does not like fertilizer.
• Sowthistle – This weed in moderate amounts can help tomatoes, onions and corn.
• Summer savory – Plant with beans and onions; improves growth and flavor. Deters bean beetle.
• Tansy – Plant under fruit trees; companion to roses and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, ants.
• Tarragon – Good throughout garden.
• Thyme – Plant here and there in garden. Deters cabbage worm.
• Valerian – Good anywhere in garden.
• Wild morning glory – Allow it to grow in corn.
• Wormwood – As a border, it keeps animals from the garden.
• Yarrow – Plant along borders, paths, near aromatic herbs; enhances essential oil production.