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
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:
- Nasturtiums: These colorful flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which help to control pests that can damage fruit plants.
- Marigolds: These bright, cheerful flowers help to repel harmful insects and nematodes, which can damage the roots of fruit plants.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Clover: This plant is great for adding nitrogen to the soil, which helps to promote healthy growth in fruit plants.
- Yarrow: This plant is great for attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs, which help to control pests that can damage fruit plants.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
