Companion Plants: The Ultimate List
When it comes to gardening, companion planting is an age-old technique that involves planting different crops together in order to enhance growth and protect against pests. Companion plants can help attract beneficial insects, repel harmful ones, and even improve soil quality. In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive list of companion plants for your garden.
List of Companion Plants
1. Tomatoes and Basil
Tomatoes and basil make great companions as they both require similar growing conditions. Planting basil alongside tomatoes can help improve their flavor and repel pests such as aphids and whiteflies. Additionally, basil is said to enhance the growth of tomatoes.
How to Plant:
Plant basil seedlings around the base of your tomato plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water. You can also sprinkle basil seeds around your tomato plants.
Tips:
- Don't plant too many basil plants as they can quickly outgrow your tomato plants.
- Pinch off any flowers that appear on your basil plants to encourage leaf growth.
2. Carrots and Onions
Carrots and onions are a classic companion planting combination. Onions can help repel carrot flies while carrots can help keep onion maggots at bay. Additionally, onions are said to enhance the flavor of carrots.
How to Plant:
Plant onion sets around the perimeter of your carrot patch, or interplant onion sets between your carrot rows.
Tips:
- Choose short-day onions for best results.
- Make sure to plant your onion sets at least 4 inches apart.
3. Cucumbers and Radishes
Cucumbers and radishes make great companions as they both have similar growing requirements. Planting radishes alongside cucumbers can help repel cucumber beetles and other pests.
How to Plant:
Sow radish seeds around the base of your cucumber plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose fast-maturing radish varieties.
- Don't overcrowd your cucumber plants with too many radishes.
4. Peppers and Marigolds
Peppers and marigolds are a great combination as marigolds help repel aphids and other pests that can damage pepper plants. Additionally, marigolds can help improve soil quality by attracting beneficial insects.
How to Plant:
Plant marigold seedlings around the perimeter of your pepper patch, or interplant marigold seedlings between your pepper rows.
Tips:
- Choose French marigolds for best results.
- Make sure to deadhead your marigold plants regularly to encourage more blooms.
5. Beans and Nasturtiums
Beans and nasturtiums make great companions as nasturtiums can help repel aphids, whiteflies, and other pests. Additionally, nasturtiums are said to enhance the growth of beans.
How to Plant:
Sow nasturtium seeds around the base of your bean plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose dwarf nasturtium varieties for best results.
- Don't plant too many nasturtiums as they can quickly take over your bean plants.
6. Spinach and Strawberries
Spinach and strawberries make great companions as spinach can help repel slugs and other pests that can damage strawberry plants. Additionally, strawberries are said to enhance the growth of spinach.
How to Plant:
Plant spinach seedlings around the perimeter of your strawberry patch, or interplant spinach seedlings between your strawberry rows.
Tips:
- Choose a shady spot for your spinach plants.
- Make sure to water your spinach plants regularly.
7. Squash and Borage
Squash and borage make great companions as borage can help attract beneficial insects such as bees and wasps. Additionally, borage is said to improve soil quality and enhance the growth of squash plants.
How to Plant:
Sow borage seeds around the base of your squash plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose a sunny spot for your squash plants.
- Don't plant too many borage plants as they can quickly outgrow your squash plants.
8. Lettuce and Chives
Lettuce and chives make great companions as chives can help repel aphids and other pests that can damage lettuce plants. Additionally, chives are said to enhance the flavor of lettuce.
How to Plant:
Plant chive seedlings around the perimeter of your lettuce patch, or interplant chive seedlings between your lettuce rows.
Tips:
- Choose a well-draining soil for your lettuce plants.
- Make sure to water your lettuce plants regularly.
9. Corn and Beans
Corn and beans make great companions as beans can help improve soil quality by fixing nitrogen. Additionally, corn can provide support for bean plants to climb.
How to Plant:
Plant bean seeds around the base of your corn plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose pole bean varieties for best results.
- Make sure to provide support for your bean plants as they grow.
10. Broccoli and Beets
Broccoli and beets make great companions as beets can help repel pests such as aphids and whiteflies. Additionally, broccoli is said to enhance the flavor of beets.
How to Plant:
Plant beet seedlings around the perimeter of your broccoli patch, or interplant beet seedlings between your broccoli rows.
Tips:
- Choose a well-draining soil for your broccoli plants.
- Don't plant too many beet plants as they can quickly outgrow your broccoli plants.
11. Eggplant and Nasturtiums
Eggplant and nasturtiums make great companions as nasturtiums can help repel pests such as aphids and whiteflies. Additionally, nasturtiums are said to enhance the growth of eggplant.
How to Plant:
Sow nasturtium seeds around the base of your eggplant plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose a sunny spot for your eggplant plants.
- Don't plant too many nasturtiums as they can quickly take over your eggplant plants.
12. Cauliflower and Dill
Cauliflower and dill make great companions as dill can help repel pests such as cabbage worms and aphids. Additionally, dill is said to enhance the flavor of cauliflower.
How to Plant:
Plant dill seedlings around the perimeter of your cauliflower patch, or interplant dill seedlings between your cauliflower rows.
Tips:
- Choose a well-draining soil for your cauliflower plants.
- Make sure to water your cauliflower plants regularly.
13. Melons and Sunflowers
Melons and sunflowers make great companions as sunflowers can provide support for melon plants to climb. Additionally, sunflowers are said to attract beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs.
How to Plant:
Plant sunflower seeds around the base of your melon plants, making sure they receive plenty of sunlight and water.
Tips:
- Choose a sunny spot for your melon plants.
- Make sure to provide support for your melon plants as they grow.
14. Radishes and Lettuce
Radishes and lettuce make great companions as radishes can help repel pests such as slugs and snails. Additionally, lettuce is said to enhance the growth of radishes.
How to Plant:
Sow radish seeds around the perimeter of your lettuce patch, or interplant radish seeds between your lettuce rows.
Tips:
- Choose a well-draining soil for your lettuce plants.
- Don't overcrowd your radish plants with too many lettuce plants.
15. Pumpkins and Marigolds
Pumpkins and marigolds make great companions as marigolds can help repel pests such as squash bugs and beetles. Additionally, marigolds are said to improve soil quality by attracting beneficial insects.
How to Plant:
Plant marigold seedlings around the perimeter of your pumpkin patch, or interplant marigold seedlings between your pumpkin rows.
Tips:
- Choose a sunny spot for your pumpkin plants.
- Make sure to provide support for your pumpkin plants as they grow.
Companion planting is a great way to enhance the growth and flavor of your crops while also protecting them from pests. By using the list of companion plants provided in this article, you can create a diverse and thriving garden that will be the envy of all your neighbors.
FAQs
1. What are companion plants?
Companion plants are different crops that are planted together in order to enhance growth and protect against pests.
2. How do companion plants work?
Companion plants work by attracting beneficial insects, repelling harmful ones, and improving soil quality.
3. What are some examples of companion plants?
Some examples of companion plants include tomatoes and basil, carrots and onions, cucumbers and radishes, peppers and marigolds, beans and nasturtiums, and broccoli and beets.
4. How do I choose companion plants for my garden?
When choosing companion plants for your garden, look for crops that have similar growing requirements and can benefit each other in terms of pest control and soil quality.
5. Are there any plants that should not be planted together?
Yes, some plants should not be planted together as they can compete for resources or attract pests. For example, potatoes and tomatoes should not be planted together as they are both susceptible to blight.
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