Companion Planting

Companion Planting
by Nia Hill

     Companion planting, or interplanting, is usually implemented for three reasons: complementary planting, space conservation and to obtain bigger yields.

     Companion planting is growing plants, (in the same bed, container or garden), that benefit or complement each other. Some examples of how plants work well together are: shallow and deep rooted plants; short season crops with long season crops; plants that grow upright and those that stay low to the ground; plants that deter pests, (helping to protect plants that are susceptible to insect damage).

     This blog lists flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables that work well together. Compatible plants are in bold, and the incompatible plants are italicized.

pak choi and onions

ASPARAGUS- Basil, carrot, nasturtium, parsley and tomato. Garlic, onion and potato.

BOK CHOY-  Beets, celery, onion and potato.  Strawberry and tomato.

BEANS- Basil, borage, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, collards, corn, cucumber, eggplant, marigolds, peas, peppers, petunias, potato, rosemary and summer savory.  Chives, garlic, gladiolus, leeks, lettuce, onions.

BEANS (bush)- Borage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, corn, cucumber, eggplant, larkspur, lettuce, marigold, mint, pea, potato, radish, rosemary, summer savory, strawberry, sunflower and tansy.  Beet, garlic, onion and pepper.

BEANS (pole)- Basil, borage, broccoli, carrots, collards, corn, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, marigold, mint, pea, radish, rosemary, summer savory, strawberry, sunflower and tansy .  Beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower,  garlic, kohlrabi, onion and sunflower.

BEETS- Bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, chives, delphinium, garlic, kohlrabi, larkspur, leeks, lettuce, onion,pak choi and sage.  Beans (pole).

BROCCOLI- Basil, beans (bush), beets,  chamomile, chard, celery, chives, cucumber, dill, garlic, hyssop, leeks, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, potato, radish, rosemary, sage, spinach and thyme.   Dill, beans (pole), oregano, strawberry, tomato.

BRUSSEL SPROUTS- Basil, beans (bush), beets, chamomile, chard, chives, celery, garlic, leeks, onion, potato, spinach and thyme.  Dill, beans (pole), strawberry, tomato.

CABBAGE- Basil, beans, beans (bush), Beets, chamomile, chard, chamomile, chives, celery, dill, garlic, hyssop, leeks, mint, nasturtium, onion, oregano, peppermint, potato, rosemary, sage, southernwood and spinach.  Dill, pole beans, strawberry, tomato.

CARROTS-  Asparagus, beans, beans (bush), beans (pole), chives, flax, garlic, leeks, lettuce, onions, rosemary, peas, peppers, radishes, rosemary, sage and tomato.  Anise, cucumber, dill and parsnip.

CAULIFLOWER- Basil, beans, beans (bush), beets, chamomile, chard, chives, celery, garlic, leeks, oregano and spinach.  Dill, beans (pole), cucumber, dill, nasturtium, pea, potato, strawberry, tomato.

CELERY- Bok choy, beans (bush), broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, leeks, nasturtium, onion, pak choi, spinach, tomato.  Parsnip and potato.

CHARD- Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards.

CHIVES- Beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, summer savory and tomato. Beans, peas.

COLLARDS- Basil, beans, beans (bush), beets, chamomile, chard,  chives, celery, cucumber, garlic, leeks, lettuce, onion, potato, radishes and spinach. Dill, beans (pole), strawberry, tomato.

CORN-  Beans, bush beans, pole beans, cucumber, melon, peas,  pigweed, potato, pumpkin, purslane, squash and radishes. Tomato.

CUCUMBER- Beans, broccoli, bush beans, celery, collards, corn, lettuce, nasturtium, peas, radishes, sunflowers and tomato. Basil, cauliflower, carrots, potato and sage.

EGGPLANT- Beans, beans (bush), marigold, potato and spinach.

GARLIC-Beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chamomile, collards, leeks, lettuce, strawberries, summer savory and tomato. Asparagus, beans and peas.

GRAPES- Hyssop.

KALE- Basil, beans (pole) and tomatoes.

KOHLRABI- Beets. Beans (pole).

LEEK- Beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, lettuce, onion, strawberry, summer savory and tomato.  Beans and peas.

LETTUCE- Beets, broccoli, carrot, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, leeks, onion, peppers, radishes and strawberry.  Beans and parsley.

MELON- Corn and radishes.  Potato.

ONION- Beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery,  chamomile, collards, leeks, lettuce, pak choi, peppers, pigweed, strawberry, summer savory and tomato.   Asparagus, beans, beans (bush), beans (pole) and peas.

PAK CHOI- Beets, celery, onion and potato.  Strawberry and tomato.

PEAS- Beans, carrots, corn, cucumber, potato and radishes.  Cauliflower, chives, garlic, leeks and onion.

PEPPER- Basil, bean, carrot, lettuce, okra, onion and radishes.

POTATO- Beans, (bush), bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, collards, corn, eggplant, flax, horseradish, pak choi, peas and pigweed.  Asparagus, celery, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, sunflower and tomato.

PUMPKIN- Corn and marigold.  Potato.

RADISHES- Carrots, chervil, collards, corn, cucumber, lettuce, melon, nasturtium, peas and peppers.  Hyssop.

RASPBERRIES-  Garlic, rue, tansy.

SPINACH- Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, celery, eggplant, fava beans, onion and strawberry.

SQUASH- Borage, corn, marigold and nasturtium.  Potato.

STRAWBERRY- Borage, beans (bush), leeks, lettuce, onion and spinach.  Bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards and pak choi.

TOMATO-  Asparagus, basil, bee balm, borage, carrot, celery, cucumber, chives, garlic, leeks, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley and pot marigold.  Bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, corn, fennel, pak choi and potato.

ZUCCHINI- Nasturtium.