A garden is an entire ecosystem of its own, filled with organisms and insects that can be both beneficial and harmful to your growing endeavours

Before the invention of pesticides and herbicides to “prevent” harmful pests in your garden, there was a natural method called companion planting, which doesn’t destroy beneficial microbes and insects in the process.

Rather than decrease nutrient availability the way that harmful sprays can, companion planting uses what nature offers to its benefit—and ours. If you’re a new gardener, don’t worry, companion planting is pretty easy. All you have to do is a little planning and make sure certain plants grow beside each other.

Why practice companion planting?

You're not putting all your eggs in one basket: If a certain crop is eaten by pests or affected by a microclimate in your garden, you won’t lose all of your yield. What harms one plant won’t harm another.

For protection: As you’ll see on the list below, plants can shield and protect each other from certain insects. This minimizes the need for environmentally harmful sprays.

To attract positive insects: Not only do some plants manage harmful pests, but they’ll increase the population of beneficial insects that will pollinate your plants and help them grow.

To eliminate competition: If you plant too many tomatoes in one place, they’ll be competing for nutrients. If you have a companion nearby, not only will it deter pests, but it also won’t be competing for the same nutrients, giving you an almost guaranteed successful yield.

To improve biodiversity: By attracting a variety of insects and organisms to your garden, you’ll be improving the soil quality, boosting the nutrient availability for plants, making your food more nutritious—and delicious—for yourself in the meantime.

Now that we know how companion planting can benefit us and our gardens, let’s check out the Companion Planting Guide. This will help you plan your spring garden and ensure that you have a tasty and successful gardening season...

 

ASPARAGUS: REPELS NEMATODES

Companion to: Basil, cilantro, dill, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, sage, thymeasparagusPhoto by Inge Poelman on UnsplashBASIL: REPELS APHIDS, ASPARAGUS BEETLES, MITES, FLIES, MOSQUITOES AND TOMATO HORNWORM

Companion to: Tomatoes, asparagus, oregano, peppers

BUSH AND POLE BEANS: FIX NITROGEN IN THE SOIL

Companion to: Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, strawberries

Avoid: Chives, garlic, leeks, beets, onions

BEETS: SCRAPS ARE GREAT FOR COMPOST, RETURNING MANGANESE AND IRON TO THE SOIL

Companion to: Bush beans, brassicas, corn, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mint

Avoid: Pole beans

BRASSICAS (CABBAGE FAMILY): BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, COLLARDS, KALE, KOHLRABI, TURNIP

Companion to: Chamomile, dill, mint, rosemary, sage

Avoid: Eggplant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

CARROTS

Companion to: Beans, brassicas, chives, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, pole beans, radish, rosemary, sage, tomatoes

Avoid: Dill, parsnips, potatoes

Also, leave room if planting near other root crops.carrotsPhoto by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

CELERY

Companion to: Beans, brassicas, cucumber, garlic, leek, lettuce, onion, tomatoes

CHIVES: REPEL APHIDS, CARROT RUST FLY AND JAPANESE BEETLES

Companion to: Brassicas, carrots, tomatoes

Avoid: Beans and peas

CILANTRO: REPELS APHIDS, POTATO BEETLES AND SPIDER MITES

COLLARDS: REPEL FLEA BEETLES

Companion to: Tomatoes

CORN

Companion to: Beans, beets, cucumber, dill, melons, parsley, peas, potato, soy beans, squash, sunflower

Avoid: Celery, tomatoes

CUCUMBER

Companion to: Asparagus, beans, brassicas, celery, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, tomatoes

Avoid: Potatoes, sagecucumbersPhoto by Harshal S. Hirve on Unsplash

DILL

Companion to: Corn, cucumbers, lettuce, and onions, brassicas

Generally, dill is one of the most useful companion plants as it attracts ladybird beetles, hoverflies, bees and garden spiders.

FENNEL

No companions, and will inhibit growth of bush beans, kohlrabi, tomatoes, etc. Keep it out of the veggie garden. It’s still important as it attracts many insects and is an important food plant for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

GARLIC: AMAZING FOR DETERRING APHIDS AND OTHER PESTS

Companion to: Beets, brassicas, celery, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes

Avoid: Peas or beans of any kind

LEEKS: REPEL CARROT RUST FLIES

Companion to: Beets, carrot, celery, onions, spinach

Avoid: Beans, peas

LETTUCE

Companion to: Beets, brassicas, carrot, celery, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, strawberrieslettucePhoto by Lulucmy on Unsplash

LOVAGE: USEFUL FOR KEEPING AWAY PARASITOID WASPS AND GROUND BEETLES

MARIGOLD: REPELS WHITEFLY, MEXICAN BEAN BEETLES, ROOT KNOT NEMATODES, ROOT LESION NEMATODES

Avoid: Beans

MINT: ATTRACTS EARTHWORMS, HOVERFLIES, PREDATORY WASPS AND REPELS CABBAGE MOTHS, APHIDS AND FLEA BEETLES

Avoid: Planting directly in the garden. It is invasive, so it’s often best to place in containers around the garden. Avoid planting with parsley.

NASTURTIUM: TRAP CROP FOR APHIDS, DETERS WHITEFLIES, CUCUMBER BEETLES, SQUASH BEETLES AND ATTRACTS POLLINATORS

Companion to: Brassicas, cucumbers, melons, radishes, tomatoes

ONION: REPELS RUST FLY

Companion to: Beets, brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes

Avoid: Asparagus, peasonionsPhoto by Lars Blankers on Unsplash

OREGANO: REPELS CABBAGE MOTHS

Companion to: Brassicas, asparagus, and basil

PARSLEY: ATTRACTS HOVERFLIES AND PREDATORY WASPS

Companion to: Asparagus, carrots, chives, corn, onions, tomatoes

Avoid: Mint

PEAS

Companion to: Beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, strawberries, turnips

Avoid: Onions

PEPPERS

Companion to: Asparagus, basil, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, oregano, parsley, rosemary, squash, swiss chard, tomatoes

Avoid: Beans, brassicas, or fennel

POTATO

Companion to: Bush beans, celery, corn, garlic, marigolds, onions, peas

Avoid: Asparagus, brassicas, carrots, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower, turnipspotatoPhoto by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

RADISH

Companion to: Beans, beets, cucumber, lettuce, mint, parsnip, peas, spinach, squash, tomatoes

Avoid: Potatoes

ROSEMARY: REPELS CABBAGE MOTHS, MEXICAN BEAN BEETLES, CARROT RUST FLIES

Companion to: Beans, brassicas, carrots

SAGE: REPELS CABBAGE MOTH AND CARROT RUST FLIES

Avoid: Cucumbers

SPINACH

Companion to: Brassicas, eggplant, leeks, lettuce, peas, radish, strawberries

Avoid: Potatoes

SQUASH

Companions: Corn, lettuce, melons, peas, radish

Avoid: Brassicas, potatoes

SWISS CHARD

Companion to: Beans, brassicas, onions

THYME: REPELS CABBAGE MOTHS

Companion to: Brassicas, strawberries

TOMATOES

Companion to: Asparagus, basil, beans, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, peppers

Avoid: Brassicas, dill, corn, walnut trees, kohlrabitomatoesPhoto by Chad Stembridge on Unsplash