Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables
Companion planting charts often look complicated and can be a little intimidating. The important thing to keep in mind is that companion planting requires continuous learning, which is one of the challenges of vegetable gardening. Becoming a wise and competent gardener may take time, but for those of you that like a challenge, you will never be disappointed!
We wanted to take the stress out of continually looking at all the different information that is out there about what vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant together.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of planting two or more plants together for mutual benefit. Experience has taught us that planting some vegetables together leads to enhanced quality and growth. Much of what the gardening community knows about companion planting has been learned by trial and error, and so we suggest asking your neighbors what has worked for them in your area.
Why Do Companion Planting Charts Conflict?
Not all companion planting charts are the same. If you compare one companion planting chart to another, you will find that they often conflict with each other. This is due to the fact that companion planting is not completely understood or explained by science yet, it is the matter of trial and error.
Companion Planting Charts Are a Guideline Only
There are general guidelines for companion planting vegetables that work well in the majority of the world. We have captured these guidelines in the companion planting chart below and given you an explanation for the guideline (when available) in the "Insight" column. We primarily suggest that you use this chart as a guide, and modify it as you find what works (or doesn't work) in your own garden. Over time you will have a great resource for your area, and won't need to rely on others' companion planting charts.
The Benefits of Companion Planting Vegetables
- Shelter - larger plants protect others from wind or too much sun.
- Support - Some vegetables can be used as physical supports for others. As an example, pole beans planted with corn use the corn as a trellis.
- Beneficial Insects - attracting beneficial insects such as bees help spread pollin.
- Soil Improvement - some vegetable plants improve soil conditions for other plants. For example, members of the legume family (beans etc.) draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to the soil around them.
- Decoy Plants - there are plants that emit odors that aid in masking the odors of insect-desirable vegetable plants.
Be Careful!
- Do not plant around walnut trees. Walnut trees release a chemical into the soil that makes it very difficult for other plants to grow around it.
- Do not plant your garden around large trees and shrubs. They will compete for nutrients and sunlight, and your garden will suffer.
| Asparagus | Carrot, Tomato, Basil, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Marigold | Garlic, Potato, Onion | Marigolds, Parsley, Tomato protect from asparagus beetles |
| Beans | Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Celery, Chard, Corn, Eggplant, Kale, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Strawberries | Beets (Pole Beans only), Chives, Fennel, Garlic, Leek, Onion, Shallots, Sunflowers | Corn is a natural trellis, and provides shelter for beans. Beans provide nitrogen to soil. |
| Beets | Allium family (Chives, Garlic, Leeks, Onions), Brassicas family (Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi), Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach | Beans (Pole and Runner Beans), Tomatoes | The beans and beets compete for growth. Composted beet leaves add magnesium to soil when mixed. |
| Broccoli | Beet, Bush Beans, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Radish, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Basil, Chamomile, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Marigold, Nasturtium | Asparagus, Climbing Beans, Mustard, Peppers, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Cantaloupe, Strawberry, Watermelon | Rosemary repels cabbage fly. Dill attracts wasps for pest control. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Beets, Carrots, Garlic, Onion, Basil, Dill, Thyme, Mint, Nasturtium, Marigold | Strawberry, Tomato | -- |
| Cabbage | Beets, Bush Beans, Celery, Onion, Potato, Chamomile, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Nasturtium, Marigold | Beans (Pole and Runner), Eggplant, Mustard, Pepper, Tomato, Strawberry | Celery, onion and herbs keep pests away. Rosemary repels cabbage fly. |
| Carrots | Beans (Bush and Pole), Chives, Garlic, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Parsley, Rosemary | Parsnip, Coriander, Dill | Beans provide nitrogen in soil which carrots need. Onion, parsely and rosemary repel the carrot fly |
| Cauliflower | Beans, Celery, Peas, Spinach, Tomato, Chamomile, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Sunflower | Rue, Strawberries | Beans provide the soil with nitrogen, which cauliflower needs. |
| Celery | Bush Beans, Cabbage (brassicas), Cucumber, Leek, Spinach, Tomato, Dill, Marjoram, Cosmos, Daisies, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Snapdragons | Carrots, Corn, Potato, Aster | Corn and asters transmit Aster Yellows; a disease with symptoms of yellowing leaves while veins remain green. |
| Chives | Basil, Carrots, Marigold, Parsley, Parsnip, Strawberries, Tomato | Beans | -- |
| Corn | Beans (climbing), Cucumber, Peas, Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini, Marjoram, Sunflower | Tomato | Tomato worm and corn earworm like both plants. Beans and peas supply nitrogen. |
| Cucumber | Beans, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Peas, Radish, Dill, Marigold, Nasturtium | Potato, Tomato, Sage, Strong Aromatic Herbs (except dill) | Cucumbers grow poorly around potatoes and sage. |
| Dill | Cabbage, Corn, Cucumbers, Dill, Fennel, Lettuce, Onions | Cilantro, Tomato | Cross-pollinates with cilantro, ruining both. One only a few plants that grows well with Fennel. |
| Eggplant | Beans, Marjoram, Pepper, Potato | -- | -- |
| Kohlrabi | Beets, Cucumber, Lettuce, Onions, Thyme, Nasturtium | Pepper, Pole Beans, Tomato, Strawberries | Lettuce repels earth flies. |
| Leek | Carrots, Celery, Lettuce, Onions | Beans, Peas | Companion attributes are the same as garlic, onion, chives (alliums). |
| Lettuce | Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Carrots, Corn, Onions, Peas, Radish, Mint, Strawberries, Marigold | Parsley | Mints repel slugs (which feed on lettuce). |
| Marigold | Brassicas (broccoli, etc), Cucurbits (cucumber, etc), Peppers, Tomato, and most other plants | -- | It is said that you can plant Marigolds throughout the garden, as they repel insects and root-attacking nematodes (worm-like organisms). Be aware they may bother allergy sufferers. |
| Onion | Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Lettuce, Parsnips, Tomato, Chamomile, Marjoram, Rosemary, Savory, Strawberry | Asparagus, Beans, Peas | Repels aphids, the carrot fly, and other pests. |
| Parsley | Asparagus, Beans, Radish, Rosemary, Tomato | Lettuce | Draws insects away from tomatoes. |
| Peas | Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Potatoes, Radishes, Squash, Sage | Alliums (Chives, Garlic, Onion, Shallots) | -- |
| Potato | Beans, Celery, Corn, Garlic, Horseradish, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Spinach, Radishes, Basil, Marigolds | Asparagus, Brassicas (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi), Carrots, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, Squash, Tomatoes, Raspberries, Strawberries, Sunflower | Cucumber, tomato and raspberry attract harmful pests to potatoes. Horseradish increases disease resistance. |
| Pumpkin | Beans, Corn, Squash, Marigold, Nasturtium | Potato | -- |
| Radish | Allium family (Chives, Garlic, Leek, Onion), Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Squash | Hyssop (the Herb) | Radish is often used as a trap crop against some beetles(flea and cucumber). |
| Sage | Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberries | -- | Repels cabbage fly, some bean parasites. |
| Spinach | Beans, Brassicas family (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi), Celery, Eggplant, Leeks, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Tomatoes, Nasturtium, Strawberries | -- | Natural shade is provided by beans and peas, for spinach. |
| Squash | Beans, Corn, Peas, Radish (White Icicle), Borage, Dill, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Strawberries, Sunflower | Potato | Similar companion traits to pumpkin. |
| Strawberries | Bush Beans, Chives, Lettuce, Onions, Spinach, Squash, Borage, Caraway, Sage | Cabbage Family, and plants susceptible to Verticillium (ie. Eggplant, Potato, Tomato, Peppers) | The herb, Borage, is likely the strongest companion. |
| Tomatoes | Asparagus, Carrots, Celery, Chives, Garlic, Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Basil, Borage, Parsley, Marigolds | Brassicas (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi), Beets, Corn, Fennel, Peas, Potatoes, Dill, Rosemary, Walnut trees | Growing basil about 10 inches from tomatoes increases the yield of the tomato plants. |
| Turnip | Peas | -- | -- |
| Zucchini | FBeans, Corn, Garlic, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Borage, Dill, Oregano, Marigolds, Nasturtium | Potato, seed saving consideration with squash and pumpkin | -- |
