Companion Planting Charts: A Guide to Improving Your Vegetable Garden

Oleh Anonymous July 21, 2021 Post a Comment

companion planting chart for vegetable garden

Table of Contents

The Basics of Companion Planting

If you're new to gardening, companion planting may sound like a fancy term used by experienced gardeners. However, it is simply the practice of growing different plants near each other that benefit one another in some way. One example is planting marigolds near tomatoes to keep pests away.

Companion planting can improve soil quality, increase yield, and reduce the need for pesticides. In this article, we'll discuss how to create a companion planting chart for your vegetable garden.

How to Create a Companion Planting Chart

Creating a companion planting chart for your vegetable garden is simple. First, decide which vegetables you want to grow. Then, research which plants are compatible with each other.

Here are some general tips:

Plant herbs such as basil, parsley, and chives near vegetables to repel pests.
Avoid planting vegetables from the same family together. For example, don't plant tomatoes and peppers near each other because they both belong to the nightshade family.
Plant tall plants such as corn or sunflowers on the north side of your garden so they don't shade smaller plants.

Example Companion Planting Chart

To give you an idea of how to create a companion planting chart, here's an example chart for a small vegetable garden:

Vegetable	Companion Plants	Plants to Avoid
Tomatoes	Marigolds, basil, parsley	Peppers, potatoes
Lettuce	Carrots, radishes, onions	None
Cucumbers	Beans, peas, corn	Aromatic herbs

Benefits of Companion Planting

Companion planting has several benefits. Here are a few:

Pest control: Certain plants can repel pests or attract beneficial insects that prey on them.
Soil improvement: Some plants can improve soil quality by adding nutrients or breaking up compacted soil.
Increased yield: By planting certain plants together, you can increase yield and reduce plant stress.
Reduced pesticide use: Companion planting can help reduce the need for pesticides.

Pest-Repelling Plants

Here are some common pest-repelling plants and which pests they repel:

Marigolds: Repel nematodes, whiteflies, and aphids.
Basil: Repels mosquitoes, flies, and thrips.
Chives: Repel aphids, Japanese beetles, and carrot rust flies.

Common Companion Planting Combinations

While there are many possible combinations, here are a few common companion planting combinations:

Tomatoes and basil: Basil repels tomato hornworms and improves tomato flavor.
Carrots and onions: Onions repel carrot flies, while carrots attract beneficial insects.
Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which corn needs to grow.

Harmful Plant Combinations

Just as there are beneficial plant combinations, there are also harmful ones. Here are some examples:

Tomatoes and peppers: Both belong to the nightshade family, so they should not be planted near each other.
Cucumbers and aromatic herbs: Aromatic herbs such as sage and rosemary can stunt cucumber growth.

Companion planting is a simple way to improve your vegetable garden's health and yield. By creating a companion planting chart, you can take advantage of these benefits and reduce the need for pesticides.

Remember to research which plants are compatible with each other and avoid planting vegetables from the same family together. Happy gardening!