Companion Planting for Your Vegetable Garden
---> go to Companion Gardening - Planting List of Vegetables & Herbs
Companion planting is an interesting vegetable gardening theory that's been around as a popular concept for decades. However, in practice, the companion gardening of vegetable crops has been used by native cultures worldwide for as long as mankind has been interested in growing a garden.
Companion Gardening - Growing Healthier Plants with Higher Crop Yields
The basic theory of companion planting is that different vegetable plant types exude various natural chemicals. When planting them together, certain plants thrive from the mix of these natural chemicals. These companion vegetables and herbs, planted together, produce higher yields of crops and are better able to defend themselves against disease and insects.
Likewise, the opposite is also true, in that companion gardening theory suggests that planting certain types of incompatible vegetable (or herb) plants together actually causes them hinder each other's growth. These incompatible plants, placed near each other in your garden will tend to produce fewer vegetables and be more troubled by plant diseases and insects.
As a companion planting example: when planted next to each other, it is believed that chives or garlic will stunt the growth of peas or beans. However, if planted near roses, garlic will help repel aphids.
In another example of companion planting for your vegetable garden: If you plant horseradish near your potato crop, it will help keep potato bugs at bay.
Companion Gardening - Making the Most of Your Garden Space
Companion vegetable gardening can also be used for matters of practicality in your garden. For example, you might place tall plants with shorter ones to maximize use of your garden space.
Gardening advice tip: check the companion list though, to make sure you're not planting two together that won't get along.
Companion Gardening - For Pest Control
Another interesting application of companion planting comes from an old farmer’s “wives tale.” The tale goes that you should plant pumpkins together with your corn. The tall corn stalks act as a decoy to protect the pumpkins in your garden from pesty bug predators like squash borers (believe it or not, there is actually some scientific evidence to suggest that this works!). Reciprocating, the pumpkin provides very prickly leaves and vines that are supposed to act as natural “barbed wire” to any raccoons that may be eyeing your tender ears of corn.
Note: I've had mixed reviews on how effective (or not) this is at keeping the racoons away... let us know of your experience with this! gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
Gardeners have planted corn with pole (climbing) beans for generations. The beans grow up the the corn stalks (as if they were trellises), and the beans process nitrogen to fertilze the corn. Native American Indians practiced companion gardening by adding squash into the mix. They called these three vegetable plants, growing together, the “Three Sisters.”
Companion Gardening - To Attract Pollinators
Lastly, by mixing mixing herbs and flowers together in among your vegetable patch, you are also practicing companion planting. Placed strategically, these non-traditional vegetable garden plants can help attract pollinating insects to your garden. You may wish to focus on plants that attract bees, butterflies, etc. The more friendly bugs you have flying from flower to flower, the more fruits and vegetables you will have growing in your garden!
Companion Planting Vegetable List: (back to top)
Note: I’ve found that sources sometimes conflict over the “good” vs. “bad” companion plants. Use this list below as a general planting guideline for growing your vegetables together, but do your own study. Take notes, and share your findings with us and our web-friends!gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
Plant Type |
Companions |
Incompatible |
| Anise | Coriander | |
Tomato, Parsley, Basil |
|
|
| Basil | Tomatoes | |
Beans, Bush |
Potato, Celery, Cucumbers, Corn, Strawberry, Summery Savory |
Onions, Fennel |
Beans, Pole |
Corn, Summery Savory, Radish |
Onion, Beets, Kohlrabi, Sunflower |
Bush beans, Lettuce, Onions, Kohlrabi, Cabbage |
Pole beans, Mustard |
|
| Borage | Tomato, Squash, Strawberries | |
Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs, Beets, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard |
Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pole beans, Dill |
|
Lettuce, Radish, Onions, Tomatoes, Peas, Rosemary, Sage |
Dill |
|
Onions, Tomato, Cabbage, Bush Beans, Nasturtium |
|
|
| Chervil | Radishes | |
Pumpkins, Peas, Beans, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Pumpkin |
Tomatoes |
|
Corn, Peas, Radishes, Beans, Sunflowers |
Aromatic herbs, Potatoes, Sage |
|
| Dill | Onions | Carrots, Cabbage |
Beans, Marigold |
|
|
| Fennel | plant by itself if possible. | plant by itself if possible. |
| Garlic | Roses, Raspberries | |
Onions, Strawberries, carrots, radishes, cucumbers |
|
|
| Mint | Cabbage, Tomatoes | |
Onions (& family including, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) |
Lettuce, Beets, Carrots, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Summer Savory |
Peas, Beans |
Tomato, Corn, Asparagus |
|
|
Carrots, Cucumbers, Corn, Turnips, Radishes, Beans, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs |
||
| Peppers | Tomato, Basil, Parsley, Patunias, Carrots, Onions, Okra | Fennel, Kohlrabi |
Beans, Corn, Cabbage Family, Marigolds, Horseradish |
Pumpkin, Squash, Tomato, Cucumber, Sunflower |
|
Corn, Marigold |
Potato |
|
Beets, Carrots, Spinach, Parsnips, Cucumbers, Beans, Lettuce, Peas |
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Turnips, Hyssop |
|
| Rosemary | Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Sage | |
| Sage | Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots | Cucumbers |
Radishes, Cucumbers, Corn, Nasturtium |
Potatoes |
|
Carrots, Onions, Parsley, Nasturtium, Asparagus, Cucumber |
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Fennel, Potatoes |
|
| Thyme | Cabbage | |
Peas |
Potatoes |
Gardening Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a funny story) to share about your companion planting experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
Other articles on vegetable companion gardening:
http://www.humeseeds.com/comp1.htm
http://gardening.about.com/od/organicgardening/qt/Interplanting.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting
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