Companion Planting Chart: 20 Vegetables and Their Companions

In this chart, you’ll find some of the most common garden crops and their suitable companion
plants. For more plants, we’d point you to the online Almanac Garden Planner, which has a large
database of companion plants and a new companion planting feature that makes it easier than
ever for you to find perfect matches for your plants. (Simply select a crop, then click on the
heart-shaped Companion Planting button. The selection bar will then show only those plants that
your chosen crop will love. Select one and drop it into your garden plan.)

Companion Planting Chart

Crop Name Companions Benefits and Notes

ASPARAGUS

Calendula (Pot
Marigold) Calendula, tomatoes, and petunias are thought
Petunias to deter asparagus beetles.
Tomatoes

BASIL

Purslane is used to shade the soil around basil

Lettuce
plants, helping them to remain fresh in hot
Peppers
weather.
Purslane
Basil improves the growth and flavor
Tomatoes
of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce.

Nasturtiums can be used as a trap plant to entice

BEANS Beets
aphids away from beans.
Corn
Lovage and rosemary also have excellent insect
Lovage
repellent qualities.
Nasturtium
Sunflowers can be used to create shade for sun-
Rosemary
stressed crops.
Squash
Corn will benefit from the beans’ nitrogen-fixing
Strawberries
capabilities. Pole beans can also provide
Sunflower
structural support for tall corn.
Brassicas Beets make great companions for onions, garlic,
Bush beans leeks, lettuce, and plants in the Brassica family,
Garlic like broccoli and cabbage.
Lettuce Onions are thought to protect against borers,
Onion family mites, slugs and cutworms and maggots of all
 Crop Name Companions Benefits and Notes
BEETS types.
Beets adds minerals to the soil, as beet leaves are
composed of 25% magnesium.

Note: Beets won’t grow well if shaded by runner

beans or taller crops.

BROCCOLI
Oregano
Other Brassicas Oregano has insecticidal properties.
(Cabbage, Plant Brassicas together so that they can all be
brussels sprouts, covered with nets to protect from pests such as
cauliflower, cabbageworm.
etc.) They also all like lime added to the soil.

CABBAGE
Nasturtiums deter insect pests such as beetles
Garlic and aphids.
Nasturtium Garlic planted alongside cabbage repels insects
Sage with its odor.
Sage deters cabbage moth.

Cabbage
Chives improve the growth and flavor of carrots
CARROTS Chives
and deter aphids, mites and flies.
Early potatoes
Rosemary and sage repel carrot fly.
Leeks
Leeks are thought to repel many flying pests
Lettuce
(including carrot rust fly).
Onions
Peas
Foes: Dill can reduce the yield of carrots.
Radishes
Dill, coriander, celery, and other members of the
Rosemary
Parsley family should not be planted near
Sage
carrots (they tend to cross pollinate).
Tomatoes
Dill is thought to protect against aphids and
Beans (pole)
mites.
Cucumbers
Beans can provide more nitrogen to the corn.
CORN Dill
Sunflowers can act as a structure and a
Marigolds
windbreak for the corn.
Melons
Marigolds prevent nematodes in the soil over
Peas
time.
 Crop Name Companions Benefits and Notes
Squash Pole beans are sometimes interplanted with corn,
Sunflower as they add nitrogen to the soil and provide
structural support.

Dill is thought to protect against aphids and

mites.
CUCUMBERS Beans Nasturtium deters aphids, beetles and bugs and
Borage improves growth and flavor.
Dill Oregano deters pests in general.
Lettuce Sunflowers can provide a trellis and shelter for
Nasturtiums shade-loving cucumbers.
Oregano Tansy deters ants, beetles, bugs, flying insects,
Radish as does borage, which is also supposed to
Sunflowers improve growth and flavor.
Tansy
(Note: Tansy is considered invasive in some
areas. See local guidelines before planting.)
Basil
LETTUCE Beets Chives, onions, and garlic deter aphids and other
Cabbage pests by masking the scent of the lettuce with
Carrots their aroma.
Chives Basil is thought to improve the flavor and growth
Onions of lettuce.
Poached Egg Radishes can be used as a trap crop for flea
plants beetles.
Radishes Poached egg plants (Limnanthes), a wildflower,
Scallions will bring hoverflies and other beneficials that eat
Spinach aphids.
Strawberries
ONIONS Beets
Chamomile
Cabbage Onions are thought to protect against borers,
Carrot mites, slugs, and cutworms, as well as maggots
Chard of all types.
Lettuce Chamomile and summer savory improve onion
Strawberry growth and flavor.
Summer Savory
Tomatoes
Alyssum Chives deter aphids.
PEAS Beans Mint improves health and flavor.
Carrot Alyssum brings in pollinators and encourages
Chives green lacewings, which eat aphids.
 Crop Name Companions Benefits and Notes
Corn
Cucumber Foes: Do not plant near garlic and onion, as
Mint they will stunt the growth of peas
Radish
Turnip

PEPPERS
Basil
Carrots
Herbs like basil, oregano, and marjoram have a
Marjoram
protective, insectidal quality.
Oregano
Tomatoes

Beans can improve the size of potato tubers.

Cilantro is thought to protect against aphids,
Basil
spider mites and potato beetles.
Beans
POTATOES Calendula, tansy, and horseradish planted at
Brassicas
the corner of a potato patch wards off Colorado
Calendula (Pot
potato beetles.
Marigold)
(Note: Tansy is considered invasive in some
Catmint
areas. See local guidelines before planting.)
Cilanto
Catmint also repels Colorado potato beetles, but
Eggplant
can bring cats into the vegetable garden,
Horseradish
so it is a good idea to plant it in pots around the
Peas
edge of the plot.
Squash
Tansy
Foes: Potatoes tend to be smaller when planted
with corn, which is also a heavy feeder.
RADISHES
Chervil and nasturtium improve growth and
Chervil
flavor.
Lettuce
Lettuce tenderizes summer radishes.
Nasturtium
Radishes are often used as trap crops for flea
Peas
beetles.

Nasturtiums are thought to protect against

Beans (pole)
pumpkin and squash beetles.
SQUASH (WINTER) Borage
Borage attracts pollinators and improves growth
and PUMPKINS Calendula
and flavor.
Corn
Oregano provides general pest protection.
Marigold
Calendula deters beetles and root nematodes.
 Crop Name Companions Benefits and Notes
Nasturtium
Oregano Note: Pumpkins do grow well with other winter
squash, as they have the same growing
requirements.

SPINACH
Beans
Brassicas Peas and beans provide natural shade for
Cilantro spinach.
Eggplant Cilantro is thought to repel insects.
Peas
Strawberries

Asparagus
Basil
Borage
Calendula (Pot
TOMATOES Marigold) Monarda and chives improve health and flavor.
Carrot Calendula deters general garden pests
Celery Parsley draws insects away from tomatoes.
Chives Asparagus is thought to repel nematodes.
Cucumber Basil is thought to repel whiteflies, mosquitoes,
Garlic spider mites, aphids.
Monada (Bee Basil also attracts bees, which improves
Balm) pollination, tomato health, and flavor.
Nasturtium
Onion
Parsley
Pepper
ZUCCHINI (SUMMER
SQUASH)

Oregano To attract pollinators, plant oregano and zinnias.

Nasturtium Nasturtium is thought to protect against aphids,
Zinnia and whiteflies.

More Companion Gardening Tips

Much of companion planting considers the height of different vegetables.

 Lettuce, radishes, and other quick-growing plants sown between hills of melons or winter
squash will mature and be harvested long before these vines need more leg room.
 Leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard will grow in the shadow of corn.
 Bush beans tolerate the dapple shade that corn casts and, since their roots occupy
different levels in the soil, don’t compete for water and nutrients.