The Best Companion Planting Guide

The following is a list of the best companion plants for each vegetable and what not to plant as a companion.  Companion planting can improve the flavor of the vegetable, add nutrients to the soil to help the vegetable grow strong and healthy, and companion plants can deter pests and diseases as well as add some variety in color and fragrance to the garden.  It is key to attracting beneficial pollinators to your garden.

Top vegetables and their companions

Asparagus  Companion-  Spinach, Basil, Dill, Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Tomatoes, Lettuce.  Not compatible-  Garlic, Onions, Potatoes

Basil  Companion-  Tomatoes, Peppers, Radish, Carrots,  Cabbage, Marigolds, Beans, Eggplant.  Not compatible-  Cucumbers

Shared garden plot

Beans  Companion-  Sunflowers, Corn, Nasturtiums, Beets, Squash.  Not compatible-  Garlic, Onions

Beets  Companion-  Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, onions.  Not compatible-  Pole beans

Broccoli Companion–  Onions, Lettuce, Potatoes, Carrots, Cucumbers, Marigolds.  Not compatible-  Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Asparagus, Pole beans, Corn, Strawberries

Cabbage  Companion-  Garlic, Nasturtiums, Sage, Carrots.  Not compatible- Kolorabi, Tomatoes

Carrots  Companion–  Peas, Onions, Lettuce, Leeks, Radishes  Not compatible–  Potatoes, Dill 

Cauliflower  Companion-  Celery, Beets, Spinach, Chard.  Not Compatible-  Peas, Onions, Beans

Cilantro  Companion-  Basil, Tomatoes, Beans, Peas.  Not compatible-  Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender

Corn  Companion-  Cucumber, Squash, Lettuce, Potatoes,  Zinnias, Melons. Not compatible- Tomatoes, Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflower

Cucumbers  Companion–  Beans, Cauliflower, Dill, Onions, Radish, Zinnias, Nasturtiums, Marigolds. Not compatible-  Melons, Potatoes, Sage

Dill  Companion–  Asparagus, Corn, Onions, Cucumbers, Lettuce.  Not compatible-  Peppers, Eggplant, Potatoes, Cabbage

Eggplant Companion–  Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Spinach.  Not compatible-  Peas, Beans

Fennel  Companion–  Not compatible- this herb needs to be kept out of the garden, keep as far away as possible due to bad pests it will attract.

Kale  Companion–  Celery, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Onions, Peas, Potatoes.  Not compatible-  Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Swiss chard

Kohlrabi  Companion–  Lettuce, Peas, Cucumbers, Celery.  Not compatible-  Kale, Broccoli, Chard

Lavender  Companion-  All vegetables.  Not compatible-  Mint

Leeks  Companion-  Carrots, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Beets.  Not compatible-  Beans, Peas

Lettuce  Companion–  Carrots, Cucumber, Onions, Celery, Potatoes.  Not compatible–  Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale

Okra-  Dill, Mint, Geraniums, Cucumbers, Kale, Broccoli, Summer Savory, Peppers, Egg Plants.

Onions  Companion-  Tomatoes, Cabbage, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Lettuce.  Not compatible-  Peas, Beans

Peas  Companion-  Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers.  Not Compatible-  Onions, Garlic, Leeks

Peppers  Companion-  Carrots, Eggplant, Nasturtiums, Tomatoes, Squash.  Not compatible-  Peas, Beans, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage

Potatoes  Companion–  Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Marigolds.  Not compatible–  Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Onions, Carrots

Pumpkins  Companion-  Beans, corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, squash.  Not compatible-  Potatoes

Radishes  Companion-  Cucumber, Lettuce, Squash, Beans, Peas.  Not compatible-  Cauliflower, Cabbage, Potatoes

Rosemary  Companion-  Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower.  Not compatible-  Tomatoes, Carrots, Potatoes, Pumpkins

Sage  Companion-  Rosemary, Tomatoes, Carrots, Strawberries, Cabbage.  Not compatible-  Onions, Leeks, Cucumbers

Squash  Companion-  Corn, Beans, Peas, Raddish, Tomatoes, Peppers, Nasturtiums.  Not compatible-  Onions, Beans, Potatoes

Spinach  Companion-  Peas, Beans, Strawberries, Nasturtiums, Lettuce, Squash.  Not Compatible-  Potatoes

Swiss ChardCompanion-  Beans, Lettuce, Cabbage, Broccoli.  Not compatible-  Mint, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Mellons

Thyme  Companion-  Potatoes, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Eggplant, Strawberries, Cabbage.  Not compatible-  parsley, cilantro, basil

Tomatillos  Companion-  Carrots, Onions Peppers.  Not compatible-  Dill, Potatoes, Eggplant.

Tomatoes  Companion–  Cucumber, Onions, Carrots, Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Basil, Spinach, Marigolds, Zinnias.  Not compatible–  Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Fennel

Fruit Plant Companions

Companion planting is a great way to improve the health and productivity of your fruit plants. Here are some of the best companion plants for fruit plants:

  1. Nasturtiums: These colorful flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which help to control pests that can damage fruit plants.
  2. Marigolds: These bright, cheerful flowers help to repel harmful insects and nematodes, which can damage the roots of fruit plants.
  3. Chives: These fragrant herbs are great for repelling aphids, which can damage fruit plants. They also attract beneficial insects like bees, which help to pollinate fruit trees.
  4. Basil: This fragrant herb is great for repelling fruit flies and other pests that can damage fruit plants. It also attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
  5. Comfrey: This plant is great for improving the health of fruit plants by adding nutrients to the soil. It also attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
  6. Clover: This plant is great for adding nitrogen to the soil, which helps to promote healthy growth in fruit plants.
  7. Yarrow: This plant is great for attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs, which help to control pests that can damage fruit plants.
  8. Dill: This herb is great for attracting beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps, which help to control pests that can damage fruit plants.

By planting these companion plants alongside your fruit plants, you can help to improve their health and productivity while also creating a beautiful and diverse garden.

specific fruit plants and their companions

Here are some specific fruit plants and their companion plants:

  1. Apple trees: Companion plants for apple trees include chives, garlic, mint, and dill. These plants help to repel pests and attract beneficial insects that can improve the health and productivity of the apple tree.
  2. Blueberry bushes: Companion plants for blueberry bushes include azaleas, rhododendrons, and heather. These plants prefer similar soil conditions to blueberries and can help to improve the soil quality around the blueberry bush.
  3. Grape vines: Companion plants for grape vines include basil, chamomile, and clover. These plants help to attract beneficial insects that can help to control pests and improve the health of the grapevine.
  4. Peach trees: Companion plants for peach trees include comfrey, clover, and beans. These plants help to improve the soil quality around the peach tree and can help to attract beneficial insects that can help to control pests.
  5. Raspberry bushes: Companion plants for raspberry bushes include marigolds, chives, and garlic. These plants help to repel pests and attract beneficial insects that can help to control pests and improve the health of the raspberry bush.
  6. Strawberry plants:  Companions plants for strawberries are onions, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, and marigolds.

By planting these specific companion plants alongside your fruit plants, you can help to improve their health and productivity while also creating a beautiful and diverse garden.

Specific benefits of companion planting

Companion planting

  • detract pests against battles, aphids, carrot flies, white flies, cabbage moths, and cabbage flies.
  • reduces exposure to different plant diseases making the plants more resistant.
  • Adds nutrients to the soil.

Dill and Basil keep hornworms away from tomatoes.

Marigolds are great companions around all vegetables attracting bees for pollination and eliminating nematodes that attack the roots of many vegetables.

Mint repels ants and cabbage moths.

Nasturtiums attract the aphids away from plants so that they do not attack the vegetable plants while attracting pollinators.

Zinnias attract pollinators add great color to the garden and detract cabbage moths while attracting ladybugs which are great garden bugs to have.

Basil adds flavors and nutrients to your tomatoes and helps to increase the production of the tomato plants.

Nasturtiums add flavor to cucumbers and add nutrients to the soil.

Peas and beans can help to add nutrients to the soil for each other for 2nd crop plantings.

Companions can also be beneficial to add shade and windbreaks for plants not needing the late afternoon heat of the day such as beans, peas, corn, and cucumbers.  The shade of a plant can also act as a ground cover to prevent weeds and keep soil moisture by blocking the sun on the ground around the plant’s base.

Certain plants can add strong structures for plants to grow up such as corn, sunflowers, and other strong-structured plants.

I hope you found this post to be valuable to you when making your choices to pick the best companion plants for your vegetable garden.

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