Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Companion Plants in Your Garden

This year as I plan my garden, I am taking into consideration the benefits of companion planting.  In the past, I just planted things without a thought if they liked their neighbors or not.

Although the list below tells which plants are compatable, here is also some information about which plants aren't:

  • Beans don't like onions
  • Cabbage doesn't like strawberries, tomatoes or dill
  • Carrots don't like dill
  • Cucumbers don't like aromatic herbs or potatoes
  • Onions don't like beans or peas
  • Peas don't like onions or potatoes
  • Potatoes don't like cucumber, sunflowers, or tomatoes
  • Tomatoes don't like cabbage, fennel or potatoes
  • Turnips don't like potatoes

Now on to the plants that play well together:


PlantCompanion(s) and Effects
AsparagusTomatoes, parsley, basil
BasilTomatoes (improves growth & flavor); said to dislike rue; repels flies & mosquitoes
BeanPotatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, summer savory, most other veggies & herbs
Bean (bush)Sunflowers (beans like partial shade, unless you live up north, sunflowers attract birds & bees for pollination), cucumbers (combination of heavy and light feeders), potatoes, corn, celery, summer savory
Bee BalmTomatoes (improves growth & flavor).
BeetOnions, kohlrabi
BorageTomatoes (attracts bees, deters tomato worm, improves growth & flavor), squash, strawberries
Cabbage Family (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi) Potatoes, celery, dill, chamomile, sage, thyme, mint, pennyroyal, rosemary, lavender, beets, onions; aromatic plants deter cabbage worms
CarawayLoosens soil; plant here and there
CarrotPeas, lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, tomatoes
CatnipPlant in borders; protects against flea beetles
CeleryLeeks, tomatoes, bush beans, cauliflower, cabbage
ChamomileCabbage, onions
ChervilRadishes (improves growth & flavor).
ChiveCarrots; plant around base of fruit trees to discourage insects from climbing trunk
CornPotatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash
CucumberBeans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers
Dead NettlePotatoes (deters potato bugs)
DillCabbage (improves growth & health), carrots
EggplantBeans
FennelMost plants are supposed to dislike it.
FlaxCarrots, potatoes
GarlicRoses & raspberries (deters Japanese beetle); with herbs to enhance their production of essential oils; plant liberally throughout garden to deter pests
HorseradishPotatoes (deters potato beetle); around plum trees to discourage curculios
HyssopCabbage (deters cabbage moths), grapes; keep away from radishes
Lamb's QuartersNutritious edible weeds; allow to grow in modest amounts in the corn
LeekOnions, celery, carrots
Lemon BalmHere and there in the garden
MarigoldThe workhorse of pest deterrents; keeps soil free of nematodes; discourages many insects; plant freely throughout the garden.
MarjoramHere and there in the garden
MintCabbage family; tomatoes; deters cabbage moth
NasturtiumTomatoes, radish, cabbage, cucumbers; plant under fruit trees; deters aphids & pests of curcurbits
OnionBeets, strawberries, tomato, lettuce (protects against slugs), beans (protects against ants), summer savory
ParsleyTomato, asparagus
PeaSquash (when squash follows peas up trellis), plus grows well with almost any vegetable; adds nitrogen to the soil
PetuniaProtects beans; beneficial throughout garden
PotatoHorseradish, beans, corn, cabbage, marigold, limas, eggplant (as a trap crop for potato beetle)
Pot MarigoldHelps tomato, but plant throughout garden as deterrent to asparagus beetle, tomato worm & many other garden pests
PumpkinCorn
RadishPeas, nasturtium, lettuce, cucumbers; a general aid in repelling insects
RosemaryCarrots, beans, cabbage, sage; deters cabbage moth, bean beetles & carrot fly
RueRoses & raspberries; deters Japanese beetle; keep away from basil
SageRosemary, carrots, cabbage, peas, beans; deters some insects
SoybeanGrows with anything; helps everything
SpinachStrawberries
SquashNasturtium, corn
StrawberryBush beans, spinach, borage, lettuce (as a border)
Summer SavoryBeans, onions; deters bean beetles
SunflowerCucumber
TansyPlant under fruit trees; deters pests of roses & raspberries; deters flying insects, also Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs; deters ants
TarragonGood throughout garden
ThymeHere and there in garden; deters cabbage worm
TomatoChives, onion, parsley, asparagus, marigold, nasturtium, carrot, limas
ValerianGood anywhere in garden
WormwoodAs a border, keeps animals from the garden
YarrowPlant along borders, near paths, near aromatic herbs; enhances essential oil production of herbs
Resource: The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, J.I. Rodale (editor)

I hope you found this helpful in planning your garden and I would love to know what your garden plans entail!

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