Companion Planting

Companion planting is the art and science of laying out a vegetable garden so that
complementary types of vegetables are planted in the same bed. Unlike crop rotation, which
means successively planting vegetables from different plant families in the same garden area
season after season or year after year to minimize insect and disease problems, companion
planting aims to create a harmonious garden by allowing nature to share her strengths.

Rules of a Green Thumb

The rule of (green) thumb for companion planting is to note which family the vegetables come
from, and think about planting vegetables from complementary families together. Vegetables
from the cabbage family, for example, like to be planted with beets and members of the green
leafy vegetable family. Certain herbs will help them by deterring pests. Mint will also improve
the flavor of cabbages. You could plant any member of the cabbage family such as cabbage,
broccoli, kale, and others alongside these plants and see a higher yield and improved disease
resistance.

Avoid Planting Some Vegetables Near Each Other

Just like people have likes and dislikes, vegetables actually have likes and dislikes as well,
particularly for their "next door neighbors" planted alongside them in the garden. Some
vegetables will stunt the growth and yield from other vegetables. Consult a companion
planting chart, such as the one provided below, to make sure you plant vegetables next to each
other that do well together.

Easy Reference of Which Vegetables Grow Well Together

The chart below provides quick and easy references for not only which vegetables grow well
together, but which to avoid planting together.

Which Vegetables Grow Well Together

Vegetable Companion Plant Don't Plant
Together
Asparagus Tomatoes None
Beans (Bush or Pole) Celery, corn, cucumbers, Garlic and
radish, strawberries and onion
summer savory
Beets Bush beans (not pole beans), Pole beans
cabbage, broccoli, kale,
lettuce, onions, garlic
Cabbage Family Beets, celery, dill, Swiss Pole beans
(cabbage, broccoli, chard, lettuce, spinach,
kale, Brussels sprouts) onions, potatoes
Carrots Beans, tomatoes None
Celery Beans, tomatoes, cabbages None
Corn Cucumber, melons, squash, Tomatoes
peas, beans, pumpkin
Cucumber Beans, corn, peas, cabbage None
Eggplant Beans, pepper None
Melons Corn, pumpkin, radish, squash None
Onions Beets, carrots, Swiss chard, All beans and
lettuce, peppers peas
Peas Beans, carrots, corn, Garlic,
cucumbers, radish, turnip onions
Potatoes Beans, corn, peas Tomatoes
Squash Corn, melons, pumpkins None
Tomatoes Carrots, celery, cucumbers, Corn,
onions, peppers potatoes,
kohlrabi

Other Companions for Vegetables

Many old-fashioned vegetable gardens, which are also called kitchen gardens, mixed
vegetables, herbs and flowers together. Not only does this type of garden look beautiful, but it
also harnesses the power of nature to create an organic garden that naturally repels pests.

Marigolds
Marigolds repel many species of insects. You can plant marigolds around tomatoes to inhibit
the ugly green hornworms. These big insects can devour an entire tomato plant in one night.
Plant marigolds around your entire vegetable garden to add bright color and keep the insect
predators at bay.

Herbs
Herbs add flavor to foods, and they can also discourage harmful insects.

 Nasturtium and rosemary deter beetles that attack beans.

 Thyme repels the cabbage worm.
 Chives and garlic deter aphids.
 Oregano, like marigolds, is a good all-purpose plant for the organic gardener who wants
to deter most insect pests.
Plant herbs freely among vegetables, tucking basil, oregano, rosemary and chives in among
the tomato and pepper plants. You can harvest the entire crop and make one great tasting
dinner.

Reap the Benefits

Companion planting offers every gardener the chance to harness the power of nature for
higher yields as well as natural, organic insect control. By tucking a few carefully chosen extra
plants among the vegetables, you increase the garden yield and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Amaranth should be planted with corn to shade the soil and retain water. It also helps
attract predatory ground beetles. 

Asparagus can be planted with basil, cilantro, dill, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano,

parsley, peppers, sage, thyme and tomatoes. Asparagus actually repels nematodes that
attack tomato plants, and tomatoes repel asparagus beetles. 

Apples and Apricots surprisingly love to be planted next to garlic, but it makes sense.
Garlic helps repel pests like the fruit tree bore, aphids and mites. The tree roots also
absorb sulfur produced by the garlic, making the tree more resistant to fungus, mold and
black spot. Marigolds are another winner for fruit trees, as they help attract pollinators
(which then pollinate the flowers of the fruit trees). These flowers also help discourage
nematodes in the soil, which beneficial for fruit trees. 

Basil is a great herb to plant next to tomatoes to help improve their flavor. It also helps
repel aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, flies, mosquitoes and tomato horn worm. For this
reason, it should also be planted next to asparagus. Basil also works good when planted
next to oregano and peppers.

Beans are all nitrogen fixers of the soil, so they should be planted next to plants of the
Brassica family, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish
and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks and onion (they don’t like
them!). Beets and beans should also be avoided next to one another as they can stunt
each others growth. 

Beets can be planted next to bush beans, Brassicas, corn, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce,
mint and potatoes. Avoid planting beets next to pole beans. 

Borage is a wonderful flower and companion too many plants. It deters tomato hornworm
and cabbage moth caterpillars – so make sure you plant them next to tomatoes and
cabbages! Borage also attracts pollinators, so plant it around plants that need pollinating
like squash, melons, and cucumbers. It is also great for the soil and compost. 

Bok Choy may experience improved growth and health if it is planted alongside beets,
bush beans, carrots, chamomile, chard, cucumbers, dill, kale, lettuce mint, nasturtiums,
potatoes, sage and spinach. 

Brassicas like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi

and turnip all benefit from chamomile, cilantro, dill, mint, rosemary and sage. Broccoli
particularly likes being planted next to potatoes for improved flavor (however, some
websites note that the two prefer different soil pH – so try this combination yourself to see
how it works!). Cauliflower also likes to be planted next to celery, because the strong
scent of celery helps repel Brassica butterflies that can often destroy an entire cauliflower
crop!

Carrots plant well with beans, Brassicas, chives, leeks, lettuce, onions, peppers, pole
beans, radish, rosemary, sage, and tomatoes (quite the companion plant!). Avoid
planting next to dill, parsnips and potatoes, though. Tomatoes will bring out the flavor in
carrots, but your carrots might be smaller as tomatoes and carrots compete for soil
nutrients. 

Cherries love garlic just like apples and apricots (and for the same reasons). Garlic helps
repel pests like the fruit tree bore, aphids and mites. The tree roots also absorb sulfur
produced by the garlic, making the tree more resistant to fungus, mold and black spot.
Marigolds also plant well with cherries, helping to attract pollinators.

Chives do great when planted next to tomatoes and carrots, as it helps bring out their
flavors. Also works well when planted next to Brassicas. Chives repel aphids, carrot rust
flies and Japanese beetles. They should not be planted next to beans and peas. 

Cilantro repels aphids, potato beetles, and spider mites.

Corn is a companion to beans, beets, cucumber, dill, melons, parsley, peas, potato,
squash and sunflower. It should not be planted next to celery or tomatoes. Amaranth can
also be planted between corn rows to increase mulching (conserve soil moisture) and
reduce weeds.

Cucumber loves to be planted next to asparagus, beans, Brassicas, celery, corn, dill,

kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, and radishes. They shouldn’t be planted next to potatoes
or sage, however. Corn and sunflowers work like a trellis for cucumbers to attach on and
grow upward. Dill will help cucumbers by attracting predatory insects, and nasturtiums
improve the flavor and growth of cucumbers.

Dill improves the health of cabbages and other Brassicas like cauliflower and kale. It is a
great companion for corn, cucumbers, lettuce and onions. Avoid planting next to carrots
and tomatoes! Dill attracts ladybugs, parasitoid wasps, hoverflies, bees, and garden
spiders (making it a very beneficial garden herb). 

Eggplant is a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach
and thyme. Do not plant next to fennel!

Garlic is a great companion plant for roses to help repel aphids. It is high in sulfur, so it
also helps get rid of pests like whiteflies, Japanese beetles, root maggots, carrot rust fly
and other non-beneficial bugs. It is a great companion for beets, Brassicas, celery, fruit
trees (like apricots, apples and cherries), lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Do not plant next to peas.

Lettuce like arugula, radicchio, green leaf lettuce, romaine, you name it, like to be
planted next to beets, Brassicas, carrots, celery, chervil, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions,
radish, spinach, squash and strawberries. 

Marigolds produce chemicals that repel whiteflies, Mexican bean beetles, root knot
nematodes, and root lesion nematodes. They are great for planting around fruit trees, but
should not be planted around beans. 

Marjoram grows well next to all plants, and is believed to stimulate the growth of plants
around it. Asparagus particularly loves asparagus. It is very attractive to bees and other
pollinators, so it is great planted next to plants that need pollinating like cucumbers and
squash. 

Mint helps attract earthworms, overflies, and predatory wasps. It also repels cabbage
moths, aphids, and flea beetles. Mint is invasive, so it is best planted on its own in
containers around a garden. Do not plant near parsley. 

Nasturtiums act as a great trap crop for aphids, and they also help get rid of whiteflies,
cucumber beetles, squash beetles, Colorado potato beetles and Mexican bean beetles. It
is a great companion flower for Brassicas, cucumbers, melons, radishes and tomatoes.
They provide good cover for ground beetles and spiders, and help attract many different
pollinators like bees and butterflies. 

Onions love the herbs chamomile and summer savory to improve their flavor. They also
work great alongside beets, Brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries
and tomatoes. Do not plant near asparagus or peas. Onions help repel the carrot rust fly,
hence why they should be planted next to carrots.
Parsley likes to be grown next to asparagus, carrots, chives, corn, lettuce, onions and
tomatoes. Allowing some parsley to go to bloom will help attract hoverflies and predatory
wasps. 

Parsnips are great when grown next to green peas, bush beans, peppers, tomatoes,
lettuce, rosemary and sage. Some vegetables and herbs do not like parsnip, however,
and that includes carrots, celery, dill and fennel. 

Peas are wonderful companions for beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant,
parsley, parsnip, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, strawberries and tulips. Avoid
planting next to onions. 

Peppers make good companion plants for asparagus, basil, carrots, cucumbers,

eggplant, endive, oregano, parsley, rosemary, squash, Swiss chard and tomatoes. Do
not plant next to beans, Brassicas or fennel. 

Potatoes like to be planted next to beets, bush beans, celery, corn, garlic, marigolds,
onions, and peas. Avoid planting next to asparagus, cucumber, Kohlrabi, melons,
parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower and turnips. 

Radishes make good neighbors for beans, beets, carrots, celeriac, chervil, cucumber,
lettuce, mint, parsnip, peas, spinach, squash, and tomatoes. Avoid planting right next to
potatoes. Planting radishes around your squashes will allow them to grow better and
bloom, and will also prevent most pests of squash and cucumber.

Rosemary loves to be planted next to beans, Brassicas, spinach and carrots. Rosemary

helps repel cabbage moths, Mexican bean beetles, and carrot rust flies. 

Sage repels cabbage moths and carrot rust flies, and also helps improve the health of
parsnips. Do not plant next to cucumbers, which dislike aromatic herbs. 

Spinach is a great companion for Brassicas, eggplants, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes
and particularly strawberries. Do not plant near potatoes. 

Squash doesn’t only love to be planted next to corn, but it also works great next to
lettuce, melons, peas and radish. Avoid planting next to Brassicas or potatoes. Borage is
said to improve the growth and flavor of squash. Marigolds and nasturtium help repel
many different squash pests. 

Strawberries respond well when coupled with beans, borage, garlic, lettuce, onions,
peas, spinach and thyme. Avoid planting next to Brassicas, fennel and kohlrabi. 

Sunflowers are said to increase corn yields when planted next to corn rows. Use
sunflowers as a means to attract pollinators to other crops, particularly squash and
pumpkins, and any other crop that requires pollinating insects. 

Tomatoes are sensitive when it comes to companion planting, but they mostly benefit
from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, garlic, lettuce,
marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley and peppers. Do not plant next to dill,
Brassicas, corn or kohlrabi. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so do not plant
nearby. Tomatoes aren’t the best of friends with cucumbers either, as they are both
require lots of resources in the soil. While some people have success planting them
together, others do not. Try to avoid planting them in the same space.

A companion planting guide such as this one will show you which vegetables and flowers support
or inhibit the growth of other plants and/or which pests they deter.

Basil
Plant near: most garden crops
Keep away from: rue
Comments: improves the flavor and growth of garden crops, especially tomatoes and lettuce.
Repels mosquitoes.

Beans, Bush
Plant near: beets, cabbage, carrots, catnip, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, marigolds, potatoes,
savory, strawberries
Keep away from: fennel, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots
Comments: potatoes and marigolds repel Mexican bean beetles. Catnip repels flea beetles.

Beans, Pole
Plant near: corn, marigolds, potatoes, radishes
Keep away from: beets, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, shallots
Comments: same as for bush beans.

Beets
Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, onions
Keep away from: charlock, field mustard, pole beans
Comments:

Borage
Plant near:  squash, strawberries, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: repels tomato worms. Improves flavor and growth of companions.

Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts

Plant near: beets, buckwheat, calendula, carrots, chamomile, dill, hyssop, marigolds, mints,
nasturtiums, onions, rosemary, sage, thyme, wormwood.
Keep away from: strawberries
Comments: marigolds repel cabbage moths. Nasturtiums repel aphids.

Cabbage and Cauliflower
Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, celery, chard, spinach, tomatoes.
Keep away from: strawberries
Comments: tomatoes and celery repel cabbage worms.
Cantaloupe
Plant near: corn
Keep away from:
Comments:

Carrots
Plant near: cabbage, chives, early potatoes, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, rosemary,
sage, salsify, wormwood.
Keep away from:
Comments: onions, leeks, and wormwood repel carrot flies

Chives
Plant near: apples, berries, carrots, grapes, peas, roses, tomatoes.
Keep away from:
Comments: Improves flavor and growth of companions. Deters aphids and Japanese beetles.

Corn
Plant near: beans, cucumbers, early potatoes, melons, peas, pumpkins, soybeans, squash.
Keep away from:
Comments: soybeans deter chinch bugs.

Cucumbers
Plant near: beans, cabbage, corn, early potatoes, radishes, sunflowers.
Keep away from: late potatoes
Comments: Radishes deter cucumber beetles. Cucumbers encourage blight in late potatoes.

Dill
Plant near: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, onions
Keep away from: carrots
Comments: Improves flavor and growth of cabbage family plants.

Eggplant
Plant near: green beans, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: green beans deter Colorado potato beetles.

Garlic
Plant near: cabbage, cane fruits, fruit trees, roses, tomatoes
Keep away from: peas, beans
Comments: deters Japanese beetles and aphids. A garlic oil spray deters onion flies, aphids, and
ermine moths. A garlic tea helps repel late potato blight.

Kale
Plant near: aromatic herbs, buckwheat, cabbage family, marigolds, nasturtiums
Keep away from: pole beans, strawberries
Comments:

Kohlrabi
Plant near: cabbage/cauliflower companions (except tomatoes)
Keep away from: fennel, pole beans, tomatoes
Comments: kohlrabi stunts tomatoes

Lettuce
Plant near: beets, carrotsparsnips, radishes, strawberries
Keep away from: cabbage family
Comments: lettuce tenderizes summer radishes.

Marigolds
Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates vegetable growth and deters bean beetles, aphids, potato bugs, squash
bugs, nematodes, and maggots.

Marjoram
Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates vegetable growth.

Mustard
Plant near: alfalfa cover crops, fruit trees, grapes, legumes
Keep away from:
Comments: stimulates growth of companion plants.

Nasturtiums
Plant near: apples, beans, cabbage family, greenhouse crops, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes,
squash
Keep away from:
Comments: repels aphids, potato bugs, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, and Mexican bean
beetles and destroys white flies in greenhouses.

Onions
Plant near: beets, cabbage family, carrots, chamomile, lettuce, parsnips
Keep away from: beans, peas
Comments: deters most pests, especially maggots.

Oregano
Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: deters many insect pests.
Parsley
Plant near: corn, roses, tomatoes
Keep away from:
Comments:

Parsnips
Plant near: onions, radishes, wormwood
Keep away from:
Comments: onions and wormwood help keep root maggots from parsnips.

Peas
Plant near: beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, early potatoes, radishes, turnips
Keep away from: garlic leeks, onions, shallots
Comments:

Peppers
Plant near: basil, carrots, eggplant, onions, parsley, tomatoes
Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi
Comments:

Potatoes
Plant near: basil, beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, flax, hemp, marigolds, peas, squash
Keep away from: apples, birch, cherries, cucumbers, pumpkins, raspberries, sunflowers, tomatoes,
walnuts
Comments: hemp deters phytophthora infestans. Basil deters potato beetles. Marigolds (dug into
crop soil) deter nematodes.

Radishes
Plant near: chervil, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, nasturtiums, root crops
Keep away from: hyssop
Comments: radishes deter cucumber beetles. Chervil makes radishes hot. Lettuce helps make
radishes tender. Nasturtiums improve radishes' flavor.

Rosemary
Plant near: beans, cabbage, carrots
Keep away from:
Comments: repels bean beetles, cabbage moths, and carrot flies.

Sage
Plant near: cabbage family, carrots, tomatoes
Keep away from: cucumbers
Comments: deters cabbage moths and carrot flies. Invigorates tomato plants.

Soybeans
Plant near: corn, potatoes
Keep away from:
Comments: chokes weeds and enriches soil.

Spinach
Plant near: celery, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries
Keep away from:
Comments:

Strawberries
Plant near: borage, bush beans, lettuce, pyrethrum, spinach
Keep away from: cabbage family
Comments:

Sunflowers
Plant near: cucumbers
Keep away from: potatoes
Comments: can provide a trellis and shelter for shade-loving cucumbers.

Swiss Chard
Plant near: bush beans, kohlrabi, onions
Keep away from: pole beans
Comments:

Tarragon
Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: improves vegetables' flavor and growth.

Thyme
Plant near: all garden crops
Keep away from:
Comments: deters cabbage moths.

Tomatoes
Plant near: asparagus, basil, cabbage family, carrots, gooseberries, mustard, parsley, onions,
rosemary, sage, stinging nettles
Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi, potatoes, walnuts
Comments:

Turnips and Rutabagas

Plant near: peas
Keep away from: knotweed, mustard
Comments: mustard and knotweed inhibit the growth of turnips and rutabagas.

For more information on how-to set up your ow