Planting a garden can be a great hobby and one that is more than just an aesthetic detail. Gardening can also be done for vegetables and be a great way for you to grow your own food if you know what you are doing.
Our customers include homeowners, business owners, contractors, demolition crews, cleaning crews, construction firms, corporations, municipal organizations, schools, property management companies, and all other clients needing affordable waste management solutions in and around Butler, Pennsylvania.
Being able to plant a successful and healthy garden is down to planning. You need to think about what to plant next to each other and how that will affect the growth.
This is companion planting, and we are going to provide you with a great guide to it.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the strategic practice of planting vegetables, herbs, or other plants next to one another in a way that will organically encourage growth, prevent pests or promote pollination.
Instead of grouping plants by species, they can be grouped in a new way that supports their health and growth.
There are some ideal plants to be used in companion planting, based on what you have in your garden and the results you are looking for.
10 Popular Plants For Companion Planting
The following is a list of the 10 most popular plants for companion planting and what they work well with.
- Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a vulnerable soft fruit that can attract pests and diseases, but they can grow healthily with help from:
- Basil: This repels flies and tomato worms as well as improves the flavor of the fruit
- Asparagus, Marigolds: Repels nematodes
- Borage: Encourages growth of the tomato plant and also repels tomato worms
- Chives: Repels aphids
- Garlic: Repels spider mites
- Asparagus
This vitamin-rich, robust plant is one of the first to be harvested in the spring, so companion planting is vital to ensure it is healthy and ready for this time.
- Beans, Peas: Repels asparagus beetles
- Corn: Repels spider mites
- Mint: Allows for different root depths for healthier growth
- Spinach: Encourages growth of the plant before harvest
- Borage: Repels aphids
- Zucchini
This squash plant grows quickly and is one that can do well in most gardens with the right conditions, although it is vulnerable to various pests.
- Beans, Peas: Release nitrogen into the soil to promote healthy growth
- Corn: Repels squash vine borers
- Mint: Repels aphids from plant
- Spinach: The leaves provide nutrients for zucchini to help with growth
- Borage: Attracts bees that help with the pollination of zucchini
- Melons
There is not a lot of issues associated with melons because they typically work well with other plants and vegetables. However, they do attract a lot of pests that companion gardening can help with.
- Catnip: Repels flies and aphids
- Radishes, Lettuce: These will be harvested before the melon vines spread, causing no issues
- Beans, Corn: Provides shade
- Marigolds: Repels beetles from the plant
- Tansy: Repels flies and beetles
- Broccoli
Broccoli and other plants in the family are considered to be heavy feeders because they absorb a lot of calcium and can overtake other plants with the same needs. However, there are still some plants that can be good companions for this vegetable.
- Celery: Repels cabbage flies which can also damage broccoli
- Onions: Improves the flavor of broccoli when it is harvested
- Garlic: Repels flies and can also improve the flavor
- Beets: Balance’s the calcium requirements of broccoli
- Nasturtiums: Repels a lot of pests from broccoli and also balances the calcium requirements
- Spinach
This leafy plant can get along with almost any other vegetable, making it a great addition to your garden. It is a heavy feeder, like broccoli, so it should be kept away from other calcium-heavy plants. Growth can also be supported with the following:
- Tansy: Repels cutworms
- Cilantro: Repels aphids
- Beets, Chard: Works with similar soil pH requirements
- Dill: Repels spider mites
- Corns, Beans: Provides shade to spinach which prevents a bitter taste when harvested
- Radishes: Repels leaf miners
- Peas
Like beans, peas can be a great companion to a range of other plants because they release nitrogen into the soil, which supports growth.
- Beans: Increases nitrogen in the soil to support growth
- Carrots, Cucumbers: Encourages growth of peas
- Dill: Repels spider mites
- Radishes: Repels leaf miners and beetles
- Asparagus, Marigolds: Repels nematodes
- Onions
This is a wonderful companion plant that has a range of benefits for others in your garden, such as repelling pests. However, not everything works with onions.
- Carrots: Supports different root depths
- Chamomile: Improves the flavor of onions
- Leeks: Repels onion flies
- Cabbage, Kale: Onions repel pests from these plants
- Corn
This is one of the most famous companion plants because it works with a range of things in the garden.
- Winter Squash: The leaves shade the soil and keep it cool for corn roots
- Dry Beans: Produces nitrogen to support corn growth
- Melons: Provides shade for corn roots
- Sunflowers: Can increase corn yields
- Cucumbers: Promotes corn growth and promotes yields
- Potatoes
These are extremely easy to grow, but potatoes only work with a select few companion plants.
- Beans: Releases nitrogen into the soil
- Eggplant: Supports potatoes need for sunlight
- Catnip: Repels Colorado potato beetles
- Peppermint: Repels flea beetles
- Petunias: Repels aphids