Forget all the pricey fertilizers and insecticides. If you want a healthy and bountiful garden on the cheap, just put a little thought into which plants you put together. Farmers have long-recognized that certain plant combinations (known as companion plantings) can:
- Control pests
- Attract pollinators
- Encourage growth
- Increase the flavor of edibles
- Maximize garden space
Here's a list of companion plant combinations to try in your garden:
Companion Plants
| To Control Pests … | |
| Plant | With |
| Asparagus | tomatoes, marigolds, petunias or parsley (repels asparagus beetle) |
| Beans | marigolds, potatoes, summer savory, nasturtium, petunias or rosemary (repel Mexican bean beetle), corn (repels raccoons), rhubarb (repels black fly) |
| Beets | onions (repel aphids, leaf miners and more) |
| Broccoli | rosemary, dill, mint and sage (repels cabbage moth), oregano (repels cabbage butterfly), nasturtiums (repels aphids) |
| Brussels sprouts | oregano or nasturtiums (repels cabbage moth) |
| Cabbage | catnip (repels aphids, cabbage moth, etc.), onions (repels rabbits), mint, sage, celery thyme, rosemary, oregano, southernwood, nasturtiums or hyssop (repels white cabbage moth), turnips or geraniums (repel cabbage worm), dill or clover (repel aphids and worms) |
| Carrots | leeks, onions, rosemary, sage, chives or coriander (repel carrot fly) |
| Cauliflower | sage (repels cabbage moth), oregano (repels cabbage butterfly), nasturtiums (repels aphids) |
| Celery | leeks, onions, rosemary, sage, chives or coriander (repel carrot fly) |
| Chard | onions (repels aphids and slugs) |
| Corn | beans, cucumbers, melons, squash or pumpkins (deters raccoons), radishes (repels corn borers) |
| Cucumbers | corn (protects against wilt), radishes, oregano, nasturtiums or tansy (repel cucumber beetles), garlic (repels aphids), dill (repels aphids and spider mites) |
| Eggplant | green beans (repels Colorado potato beetle), marigolds, thyme or tarragon (repel nematodes and more) |
| Fruit trees | nasturtiums (repels aphids, codling moths), southernwood or lavender (repels moths), clover (repels aphids), parsnips |
| Grapes | chives (repels aphids), basil, geraniums (repel Japanese beetles), oregano (repels moths) |
| Green beans | summer savory or potatoes (repels bean beetles) |
| Kohlrabi | lettuce (repels earth fly), mint (repels cabbage maggot), oregano (repels cabbage butterfly), sage (repels cabbage maggot & moth), chives (repel aphids), thyme (repels cabbage moth) |
| Leeks | carrots (repels onion fly and leek moth) |
| Lettuce | mint or hyssop (repels aphids & cabbage worm), sage (repels slugs and cabbage moths), onions, garlic (repels rabbits) dill (repels aphids, attracts hoverflies & predatory wasps), chervil (repels aphids and slugs) |
| Melons | marigolds or oregano (repel cucumber beetles), nasturtium (repels aphids and cucumber beetles) |
| Onions | carrots (repels onion fly) |
| Peas | garlic (repels aphids) |
| Peppers | geraniums (repels beetles), marigolds (repels nematodes) |
| Potatoes | beans, hoseradish, nasturtium, catnip or coriander (repels Colorado potato beetle), marigolds (repels nematodes) |
| Pumpkins | marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano (repels squash bugs and beetles), radishes (repels flea beetle), dill (repels spider mites and aphids) |
| Radishes | lettuce (repels earth fly), nasturtiums (repels flea beetles) |
| Raspberries | garlic or rue (repels Japanese beetles) |
| Rhubarb | garlic or onions (repel aphids) |
| Spinach | radishes (attracts leaf miners away from spinach) |
| Squash | nasturtiums and tansy (repels squash bugs and flea beetles), borage (deters worms), radishes (repels flea beetles, squash borers), lemon balm |
| Strawberries | borage (attracts predatory wasps), thyme, onions (scent repels many pests) |
| Sweet potatoes | summer savory, dill or thyme (repels weevils), marigolds (repels nematodes) |
| Tomatoes | chives, garlic, onions, leeks, shallots or chives (repels aphids and other pests), borage, marigolds, petunias (repels hornworm), nasturitums (repels aphids and whitefly), asparagus (repels nematodes), borage (increases disease resistance), geranium |
| Vegetables | marigolds, nasturtium or borage (smell repels many pests) |
| Watermelon | nasturtiums (repels white fly), oregano (repels cucumber beetle) |
| Zucchini | nasturtiums or marigold (repels squash bugs and flea beetles) |
| To Attract Pollinators … | |
| Plant | With |
| Cucumbers | dill or borage (attracts wasps and honey bees) |
| Fruit trees | sweet alyssum (attracts wasps), basil or lavender (attracts bees) |
| Grapes | hyssop or basil (attracts honey bees) |
| Peppers | basil, bee balm, marjoram (attract honey bees and wasps) |
| Potatoes | sweet alyssum (attracts wasps) |
| Pumpkins | dill (attracts wasps and honey bees) |
| Strawberries | borage (attracts bees and wasps) |
| Squash | borage, dill (attracts bees and wasps) |
| Tomatoes | mint, borage, bee balm or basil (attracts honey bees and wasps) |
| To Maximize Garden Space … | |
| Plant | With |
| Asparagus | tomatoes |
| Beans | radishes, chard, celery |
| Beans, pole | squash, corn, cucumbers |
| Beets | lettuce, kohlrabi |
| Broccoli | beets, marigolds, nasturtiums (require little calcium), lettuce, spinach, radishes (require little space) |
| Carrots | lettuce |
| Celery | beans, tomatoes, spinach |
| Corn | pole beans, melons, summer squash, zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers, potatoes, peas |
| Cucumbers | corn, beans, peas, carrots, radishes, beets |
| Eggplant | beans, peas, spinach |
| Kohlrabi | beets, potatoes |
| Lettuce | beans, sunflowers, carrots |
| Peas | beans, corn, cucumbers, carrots, turnips, radishes, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, eggplant, spinach |
| Peppers | marjoram, basil |
| Potatoes | radishes, spinach, lettuce, scallions, cabbage |
| Radishes | peas, beans, lettuce |
| Spinach | beans, peas, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, celery |
| Strawberries | caraway |
| Summer squash | corn, pole beans, spinach, cucumbers |
| Tomatoes | carrots, asparagus, lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard, celery |
| Watermelon | corn, peas, sunflowers |
| Zucchini | corn |
| To Improve Growth & Flavor … | |
| Plant | With |
| Asparagus | parsley, dill, coriander, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, basil, marigolds, comfrey |
| Basil | tomatoes |
| Beans | carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, summer savory |
| Beans, bush | strawberries, beets |
| Beets | bush beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, mint, kohlrabi |
| Broccoli | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, celery, onions, potatoes, peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb, chives, chervil |
| Brussels sprouts | beans (nitrogen fixer), peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb, chives |
| Cabbage | garlic, mint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, chives, celery |
| Carrots | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, chives |
| Cauliflower | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb, chives |
| Celery | beans (nitrogen fixer), tomatoes, leeks, cauliflower, cabbage |
| Corn | beans (nitrogen fixer) |
| Cucumbers | beans (nitrogen fixer), nasturtium, chamomile |
| Eggplant | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic |
| Fruit trees | garlic, leeks |
| Grapes | clover |
| Green beans | summer savory |
| Kale | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb |
| Kohlrabi | garlic, peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb, beets |
| Lettuce | onions, radishes, strawberries, cucumbers, carrots, okra, dill, beets, broccoli |
| Okra | green peppers, eggplant, chervil |
| Onions | lettuce, cabbage, beets, strawberries, tomatoes, summer savory, chamomile, leeks |
| Parsley | asparagus |
| Peas | beans (nitrogen fixer), carrots, beans, potatoes, cucumber, corn, radishes, turnips |
| Peppers | bee balm, garlic, tomatoes, onions, basil |
| Peppers, hot | tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant, okra, cucumbers |
| Potatoes | beans (nitrogen fixer), garlic, cabbage, corn, horseradish, sweet alyssum |
| Radishes | beans (nitrogen fixer), nasturtium, chervil, cucumbers |
| Rutabagas | peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage |
| Spinach/lettuce | tomatoes (provides shade to delay bolting), strawberries |
| Strawberries | beans (nitrogen fixer), borage (increases production and flavor), onions (increases disease resistance) |
| Summer squash | beans (nitrogen fixer) |
| Sweet potatoes | Sweet alyssum |
| Swiss chard | beans (nitrogen fixer) |
| Tomatoes | basil, bee balm, chives, mint, parsley, borage (calcium-rich) |
| Turnips | peas (nitrogen fixer) peppermint, dill, rosemary, chamomile, sage, rhubarb |
| Zucchini | beans (nitrogen fixer) |
| Do Not Plant | With |
| Asparagus | garlic, onions, potatoes |
| Basil | sage, rue |
| Beans | garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, fennel, chives, gladiolus (they inhibit growth) |
| Beans, pole | kohlrabi, summer savory, beets |
| Beets | pole beans or mustards (they inhibit growth) |
| Broccoli | pole beans, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers or mustards (they inhibit growth and flavor) |
| Brussels sprouts | tomatoes, peppers, mustards |
| Cabbage | tomatoes, peppers, mustards, pole beans, strawberries, rue, grapes |
| Carrots | dill, parsnips |
| Cauliflower | tomatoes, peppers, mustards |
| Collard greens | grapes, tansy, rue |
| Corn | tomatoes (they attract similar pests) |
| Cucumbers | garlic, sage, rue, potatoes |
| Dill | tomatoes (attracts hornworm), lavender, carrots |
| Garlic | beans, peas |
| Grapes | cabbage, radishes, collard greens |
| Kale | tomatoes, peppers, mustards |
| Kohlrabi | strawberries, pole beans, tomatoes, peppers, mustards |
| Lettuce | cabbage (inhibits growth & affects flavor) |
| Mint | parsley |
| Onions | beans, peas, parsley, asparagus |
| Parsley | mint |
| Parsnips | carrots |
| Peaches | tomatoes, potatoes, raspberries |
| Peas | garlic, onions, shallots, chives, grapes or gladiolus (they inhibit growth) |
| Peppers | beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, fennel, apriccots, kohlrabi |
| Potatoes | tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, raspberries, sunflowers (increase chance of potato blight), pumpkins (they inhibit growth) rosemary |
| Pumpkins | potatoes (they inhibit growth) |
| Radishes | cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, hyssop, grapes |
| Rutabagas | tomatoes, peppers, mustards |
| Sage | onions, cucumbers, rue |
| Squash | potatoes, sweet potatoes (will compete for space) |
| Strawberries | broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi |
| Sweet potatoes | squash (will compete for space) |
| Tomatoes | corn (they attract similar pests), potatoes (increases chance for disease), fennel, dill, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other brassicas, (they inhibit growth) |
| Turnips | tomatoes, peppers, mustards, potatoes, radishes |
*Note: Mint, horseradish and some of the other plants on the list can be invasive. Always do your own research before planting your garden.
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