Companion planting is the art of growing plants together for mutual benefit. This ancient technique can improve yields, deter pests, attract pollinators, and make the most of your garden space.
How Companion Planting Works
- Pest confusion: Mixed plantings confuse pest insects
- Trap cropping: Sacrificial plants lure pests away
- Beneficial attraction: Flowers bring predatory insects
- Nitrogen fixation: Legumes feed neighboring plants
- Physical support: Tall plants shade or support others
- Space efficiency: Plants with different needs share space
The Three Sisters: Classic Companion Planting
This Native American technique combines corn, beans, and squash:
- Corn: Provides a trellis for beans
- Beans: Fix nitrogen for all three plants
- Squash: Shades soil, deters pests with prickly vines
š» Add a Fourth Sister
Include sunflowers at the north edge of your Three Sisters planting! They attract pollinators and provide additional support for beans.
Best Companion Planting Combinations
Tomatoes
| Good Companions | Bad Companions |
|---|
| Basil, carrots, parsley, marigolds | Brassicas, fennel, corn |
Peppers
| Good Companions | Bad Companions |
|---|
| Basil, tomatoes, carrots, onions | Fennel, kohlrabi |
Cucumbers
| Good Companions | Bad Companions |
|---|
| Beans, peas, radishes, sunflowers | Potatoes, aromatic herbs |
Beans
| Good Companions | Bad Companions |
|---|
| Corn, squash, carrots, beets | Onions, garlic, fennel |
Plants That Help Everything
- Marigolds: Repel nematodes, many insects
- Nasturtiums: Trap aphids, repel squash bugs
- Borage: Attracts pollinators, deters tomato hornworm
- Chamomile: Improves flavor of nearby plants
- Yarrow: Attracts beneficial insects
Plants to Keep Apart
- Fennel: Inhibits growth of most vegetables
- Black walnut: Produces toxic juglone
- Alliums + beans: Onions/garlic stunt bean growth
- Brassicas + strawberries: Attract same pests
Companion Planting for Pest Control
- Aphids: Plant nasturtiums as trap crop
- Cabbage moths: Interplant with thyme, dill
- Carrot fly: Surround with onions or rosemary
- Squash bugs: Plant radishes and nasturtiums
- Tomato hornworm: Plant dill and borage
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