Using Companion Plants in the Garden

Using companion plants in the garden is a great way to help your plants flourish throughout the growing season. Learn more about these plants, the benefits they provide, and how to use them to your advantage in your home garden.

What is a Companion Plant?

Simply put, plants like to be near good friends (just like we do!) When thoughtfully placed in the garden, companion plants can provide your plants with several potential benefits!

What are Some Benefits of Companion Planting?

Larger plants can provide helpful shade which could minimize the chance of early bolting.
Use tall, sturdy plants as a living trellis for smaller vining plants, such as the three sisters planting arrangement.
Pollinators are invited in to spread pollen and improve the quality of crops. (Consider adding some of these plants!)
Some plants improve soil health (such as beans) by adding nitrogen to the surrounding soil.
Certain companion plants will help deter pests from your crops. Either by attracting the insects to themselves, or repelling them from the immediate area. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a list of common garden pests and the plants that repel them.
Lower the chances of soil splash by using companion plants as living mulch.
Companion plants help with biodiversity in the garden.

How to Use Companion Plants in the Garden

To make sure you will be getting the benefits of the companions, they will need to be planted correctly. Here are three things to consider when planning your garden layout.

Determine your goal. Are you wanting to attract more pollinators? Deter specific pests?
What companion plants would you eat, use, or enjoy to see?
What is the best functional layout for your garden size? Consider the proper spacing of each plant and your ideal arrangement (square foot gardening, row crops, etc.)

Below are comprehensive lists for great companions for several popular vegetables and herbs that will help you start coming up with a plan for your garden.

Common Vegetables and Their Companion Plants

Beans

The best companion plants for beans are beets (bush beans only), brassicas, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, potatoes, and radishes.

Brassicas

Brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radishes, chard, cabbage, cauliflower, kale & kohlrabi all make good neighbors for each other. More companions are: beans, beets, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, potatoes, thyme, nasturtium, and spinach.

Carrots

Companion plants for carrots are beans, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Cucumbers

Beans, brassicas, carrots, corn, peas, radishes, tomatoes, and lettuce all make great companion plants for cucumbers.

Lettuce

Beets, brassicas, carrots, cucumbers, onions, and radishes would all make great companions for lettuce.

Onions

Companion plants for onions are beets, brassicas, carrots, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, peas, and corn.

Peas

Beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radishes, and turnips all make great companions for peas.

Peppers

Plants that make great companions for peppers are carrots, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, and squash.

Potatoes

Companion plants for potatoes are beans, brassicas, carrots, corn, eggplant, melons, peas, and squash.

Squash

Corn, melons, beans, radishes, peppers, potatoes, nasturtium, and other squash varieties all make great companions for squash.

Tomatoes

Companion plants for tomatoes are asparagus, carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, parsley, peppers, lettuce, garlic, basil, thyme, and squash.

Common Herbs and Their Best Neighboring Plants

Basil

Companion plants & herbs that are best for basil are tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, oregano, and parsley.

Chives

The best neighbors for chives are carrots, tomatoes, dill, marjoram, parsley, and tarragon.

Dill

Companion plants that are best for dill are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, brassicas, and chives.

Nasturtium

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and brassicas all make great neighbors for nasturtium.

Oregano

Companion plants for oregano are peppers, eggplant, squash, beans, and brassicas.

Parsley

The best companions for parsley are asparagus, carrots, chives, tomatoes, basil, chives, lavender, rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme.

Rosemary

Brassicas, beans, garlic, carrots, basil, chives, lavender, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme would all make great neighbors for rosemary.

Sage

The best plants for sage are brassicas, carrots, lettuce, beans, lavender, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and tarragon.

Thyme

Brassicas, basil, chives, dill, lavender, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and sage all make great companions for thyme.

Common Garden Pests and Plants That Repel Them

All-Around Pest Deterrent

Oregano is a great plant for repelling many types of pests.

Aphids

Try planting nasturtium, chives, or garlic to deter aphids.

Beetles

Marigold, nasturtium, tansy, white geranium, and rosemary all act do well deterring pests like beetles.

Cabbage Moth

Add catnip, hyssop, rosemary, or sage to your garden to repel cabbage moths. Thyme deters cabbage worms.

Carrot Fly

Rosemary and sage do well at deterring the carrot fly.

Flies and Mosquitos

Try planting basil to help keep flies and mosquitoes away.

Nematodes

Marigolds repel many types of insects, including nematodes.

Squash Bugs

Try planting nasturtium as a companion plant to help deter squash bugs.

Tomato Hornworm

Marigold and borage help repel tomato worms.

Marigolds are great at deterring pests of all kinds.

Using companion plants in the garden is a great way to help them flourish throughout the growing season. Save this post on Pinterest for future reference!