The right plant pairings can help your garden thrive, from boosting growth to naturally deterring pests. Companion planting is all about creating a harmonious environment where plants support one another. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these 10 companion plant combos will set your garden up for success.
Discover these plant pairings that naturally work together to improve flavor, health, and even yield.
Tomatoes & Basil
Tomatoes and basil are a classic duo that not only complement each other in flavor but also in the garden. Basil helps repel mosquitoes and flies, while tomatoes benefit from its natural ability to ward off pests. Together, they create a robust, flavorful harvest.
Carrots & Onions
Planting carrots and onions together can help protect your crops from pests. The strong smell of onions deters carrot flies, while carrots help hide onion roots from onion flies. This combo works well in smaller spaces since both plants grow at different soil depths.
Marigolds & Beans
Marigolds are excellent at deterring aphids, nematodes, and other pests that can harm beans. Meanwhile, beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, which benefits marigolds and other nearby plants. It’s a win-win for pest control and soil health.
Cucumbers & Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are great for attracting aphids away from cucumbers, which are often prone to pest damage. The colorful flowers of nasturtiums also act as a trap crop, luring pests away from your valuable cucumber vines.
Peppers & Spinach
Peppers and spinach are an excellent pairing because spinach provides ground cover, helping keep the soil cool and moist for peppers. In return, peppers can help protect spinach from certain pests and shading out weeds that might compete for space.
Cabbage & Dill
Dill helps to attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, that feed on aphids and caterpillars, which are common pests for cabbage. In turn, cabbage provides some shade for the dill, preventing it from wilting during hot weather.
Squash & Corn
Squash and corn work well together in the classic "Three Sisters" planting method, which includes beans as well. Corn provides vertical support for squash vines, while squash creates a living mulch, shading the soil and preventing weeds from sprouting around corn.
Lettuce & Radishes
Radishes grow quickly and make the perfect companions for slow-growing lettuce. They help break up the soil, allowing lettuce to establish better roots, while radishes benefit from the cooler microclimate that lettuce creates as it grows.
Beets & Garlic
Garlic has natural pest-repellent properties that help protect beets from aphids and other pests. Beets, in turn, grow well when paired with garlic, as the strong scent of garlic keeps harmful insects at bay while not overshadowing the delicate beet foliage.
Peas & Carrots
Peas and carrots complement each other by occupying different layers of the soil. Peas climb upward, while carrots grow downward. This synergy helps maximize space in the garden, while peas also help fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting the root growth of carrots.
Companion planting is more than just a gardening trend—it’s an effective way to boost plant health, improve yields, and reduce pest issues. By carefully selecting compatible plant combinations, you’ll create a thriving garden that works in harmony with nature.
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