Companion Planting Vegetables

Companion planting vegetables is the practice of growing certain types of plants together, which provide a beneficial relationship with each other, so it really isn’t restricted just to the vegetable patch, but that’s the focus here. The reasons for companion planting could be either enhancing the growth or flavour of each other, but the reason I do it is deterring pests by confusing them using plants like marigolds or sacrificial plants. Some plants can also hinder the growth of nearby plants, so it is best to avoid planting these together, but honestly don’t overthink it, just get out and garden. The simplest rule to follow is, grow — create as much bio-diversity as you can provide. It’s also a great tool to help when planning your first veggie patch.

I originally put this list together and printed it out as a guide for myself. Whenever I wanted to find out what I should and shouldn’t grow together, I had to spend ages searching through several guides, as nowhere seemed to have a complete list. The list below is by no means complete either, but does cover most of the more common plants in the vegetable garden and can be used as a general guide.

Companion Planting Vegetables Table

Plant	Likes	Dislikes
Beans	Broad beans	Onions, garlic, chives
Beetroot	Onions, lettuce, cabbage, silverbeet
Brassicas	Sage, pennyroyal, mints, oregano, parsley, lettuce, beans, celery, herbs, marigolds, nasturtiums, onion family, spinach	Tomatoes, dill, strawberry
Broadbeans	Beans, brassicas, peas, strawberries	Onion family
Cabbages	Beans, celery, beetroot, onions, potatoes, chamomile, sage
Capsicum	Basil, carrot, onions, tomato
Carrots	Lettuce, peas, leeks, chives, cucumbers, beans, onion family, radish, rosemary, sage, tomato, feverfew	Dill, parsnips
Cauliflower	Celery
Celery	Leeks, onion family, bush beans, Brassica sp, dill, nasturtium, spinach, tomato
Corn	Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes, Brassica sp, parsley,
Curcubits	Beans, marigold, onion, peas, radish, sunflower, corn	Potato
Dill	Brassica sp, curcubits, lettuce,
Eggplant	Beans, marigold
Garlic		Beans, brassicas, peas, strawberry
Lettuce	Beans, carrots, celery, corn, curcubits, potatoes, radish, turnips
Onion family	Chamomile, carrot, capsicum, celery, lettuce, silverbeet, strawberry, tomato	Beans, peas
Parsnips	Onions, feverfew	Carrots
parsley	Tomatoes, asparagus, chives	mint
Peas	Beans, carrots, celery, corn, curcubit, potatoes, radish, turnips	Onions, chives, garlic
Potato	Beans, brassicas, corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, peas	Curcubits, rosemary, sunflower, tomato
Pumpkin	Nasturtiums
Radish	Beans, carrots, curcubits, lettuce, nasturtium, peas
Rosemary	Beans, carrots	Potato
Tomatoes	Basil, parsley, marigolds, lettuce, asparagus, broccoli, onion family, nasturtiums, carrots, asparagus, carrot, celery, curcubits,	Cabbages, brassicas, potatoes, fennel, dill, rosemary, strawberry
Sage	Beans, brassicas, carrots, peas, strawberries	Basil, curcubits
Silverbeet	Lavender, onion family
Spinach	Beans, brassicas, celery, eggplant, strawberry
Squash	Corn, marigold, nasturtium	Potato
Strawberry	Beans, lettuce, onions	Brassicas, onion family, tomato
Turnip	Peas	Potato
Zucchini	Beans, corn, mint, nasturtiums, radish	Potato

1. Tomatoes and Basil:

• Planting basil near tomatoes can improve the flavour of the tomatoes and enhance their growth.

2. Beans and Corn:

• Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits corn and many other plants. But corn provides a natural trellis for beans to climb. This symbiotic relationship is known as the “Three Sisters” method when combined with squash.

3. Cucumbers and Nasturtiums:

• Nasturtiums act as a natural pest repellent for cucumbers, protecting them from aphids and beetles. Additionally, nasturtiums are edible and can be a colourful addition to salads.

4. Radishes and Spinach/Lettuce:

• Radishes deter leaf-eating pests that may affect spinach and lettuce. The radishes’ quick growth also helps break up the soil for the slower-growing spinach and lettuce.

5. Cabbage Family (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage) and Aromatic Herbs:

• Planting aromatic herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary near cabbage family plants can deter cabbage moth/worms and other pests. Chamomile and dill also help attract beneficial insects. However, the best thing to protect brassica is by covering them, as companion planting hasn’t really worked well for me in stopping the buggers

6. Peppers and Marjoram:

• Marjoram can enhance the flavour of peppers (dunno about these claims) and repel certain pests. Avoid planting peppers near beans, as they may compete for nutrients.

7. Lettuce and Tall Plants (e.g., Sunflowers):

• Tall plants like sunflowers can provide shade for lettuce, preventing it from bolting prematurely in hot weather.

8. Herbs and Vegetables:

• Many herbs, such as parsley, chives, and cilantro, can be beneficial when planted near vegetables, providing protection against pests and improving flavour. This is the route I take, I’m not really particular same with flowers, just plonk them where there is space

9. Companion Flowers:

• Flowers like marigolds, calendula, and nasturtiums can act as natural pest repellents and attract beneficial insects to the garden.

10. Companion Planting for Pest Control:

Remember that companion planting is not an exact science, and results vary based on local conditions. Observing your garden and experimenting with different combinations will help you find the best companion planting strategies for your specific circumstances.

In Summary: Polyculture not monoculture and don’t worry about ‘rules’ too much