Companion Planting: Let Plants Work Together
Long before pesticides, gardeners discovered that certain plants grow better next to each other. Companion planting is part science, part tradition, and a powerful tool for organic gardeners.
Classic Companion Combinations
- Tomatoes + Basil: Basil may repel aphids and whiteflies. Many gardeners swear it improves tomato flavor too.
- Carrots + Onions: The smell of each confuses the other's primary pest (carrot fly and onion fly).
- Corn + Beans + Squash (Three Sisters): The Native American classic — corn supports beans, beans fix nitrogen, squash shades the soil.
- Cabbage + Dill: Dill attracts beneficial wasps that prey on cabbage worms.
- Roses + Garlic: Garlic deters aphids from roses. Works for other plants too.
- Lettuce + Tall crops: Lettuce benefits from the partial shade provided by tomatoes or trellised cucumbers.
Plants to Keep Apart
- Fennel: Inhibits growth of most vegetables — plant it away from the garden or in a container
- Tomatoes + Brassicas: They compete for nutrients and may inhibit each other's growth
- Beans + Alliums: Onions, garlic, and leeks can stunt bean growth
- Dill + Carrots: Despite both being umbellifers, dill can cross-pollinate with carrots
Flowers in the Vegetable Garden
Marigolds deter nematodes and many flying pests. Nasturtiums act as trap crops for aphids. Borage attracts pollinators and is said to improve strawberry and tomato yields. Sunflowers provide structure for climbing beans and attract pollinators.
Seedtojar's bed planner suggests companion pairings and warns about harmful combinations when you plan your layout.