Today, we are going to talk about love. Love is an important part of people’s lives. It gives us a feeling of belonging, and a sense of purpose. It helps us to feel connected. It makes our heart sing. And today, I would like to tell you about a very special kind of love that exists in the world, a love that is a benefit to all of mankind.
And that is love among plants.
Yes, even plants fall in love. Sometimes, when put together, they help each other out. Their union is greater than the sum of their parts. Magic is created.
And yes, some plants just aren’t a good match, and leave each other worse off. Even plants have dysfunctional relationships.
Knowing which plants make good or bad partners can help you optimize your garden space, maximize how much you produce, minimize pest and weed issues, and create overall harmony in your garden.
So let’s begin!
VEGETABLE COMPANION PLANTING
What plants are a good match for these vegetables? Which just aren’t their type?
Alliums (onions, garlic, chives)
Alliums offer a companion many benefits, such as repelling slugs, aphids and cabbage worms.
Match Made in Heaven: carrots
Headed for Trouble: beans, peas, parsley
Asparagus
When teamed with Basil, Asparagus attracts ladybugs, a helpful garden insect.
Match Made in Heaven: Tomatoes, parsley, Basil, Marigolds, Dill
Headed for Trouble: Onions, garlic, potatoes.
Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower)
Brassicas can offer a partner a future free of wireworms.
Match Made in Heaven: alliums, dill, rosemary, geraniums.
Headed for Trouble: tomatoes, peppers, mustards.
Beans
Bean plants host bacteria that produce a great fertilizer for nitrogen-loving plants, as well as repel California beetles.
Match Made in Heaven: Egg plant, summer savory
Headed for Trouble: alliums, brassicas, chilipeppers.
Beats
Beat leaves will add tons of magnesium to the soil.
Match Made in Heaven: Garlic, mint, catnip
Headed for Trouble: Runner or pole beans (will stunt each other’s growth)
Carrots
Carrots are the drama Queen of the vegetable kingdom, prone to complex relationships with other plants.
Match Made in Heaven: alliums, beans, rosemary, sage, wormwood.
Headed for Trouble: radish, dill, parsnip
Celery
Match Made in Heaven: Daisies, cosmos, snapdragons
Headed for Trouble: Aster flowers and corn (can spread yellow disease)
Corn
A bit on the kinky side, corn works well with the 3 sisters technique.
Match Made in Heaven: Legumes, sunflower, potatoes, parsley
Headed for Trouble: Tomatoes, celery
Cucumber
Cucumbers can provide a partner with an abundance of ground beetles.
Match Made in Heaven: Radishes, marigolds, sunflowers, carrots, dill, peas, beats
Headed for Trouble: Tomatoes, sage
Lettuce
Lettuce is looking for a partner that can repel slugs on a regular basis.
Match Made in Heaven: Mints, radish, beans, carrots
Headed for Trouble: celery, cabbage, parsley
Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, egg plants, tobacco)
Match Made in Heaven: alliums, carrots, mints
Headed for Trouble: beans, corn, brassica, dill
Pumpkin/Squash
Pumpkins and squash can attract spiders and ground beetles, if that’s your kind of thing.
They also like to get wild with the 3 sisters technique.
Match Made in Heaven: radishes, catnip, buckwheat
Headed for Trouble: These social butterflies get along with everyone.
Spinach
Spinach is just looking for a partner who can provide a little shade.
Match Made in Heaven: beans, peas.
HERB COMPANION PLANTING
Herbs are pretty independent little guys and gals, so let’s look at it from a different angle. What plants do certain herbs help?
Basil: helps tomatoes, asparagus, peppers, oregano.
Chamomile: helps Wheat, Onion, Cucumber, Cabbage and Basil.
Chives: helps apples, carrots, tomatoes, brassica.
Dill: helps cabbages, corn, cucumbers, lettuce and onions.
Garlic: helps cucumbers, celery lettuce, apples, pears, roses.
Oregano: Tomatoes, peppers.
Parsley: helps asparagus, corn, tomatoes.
Peppermint: helps brassica.
Rosemary: helps cabbage, carrots, beans, sage.
Sage: helps cabbage, carrots, beans, rosemary.
Summer savoury: helps green beans, onions.
Tansy: helps beans, cucumber, corn, squash, roses.
Thyme: helps cabbage, broccoli.
FLOWER COMPANION PLANTING
What plants do certain flowers help?
Geraniums: helps corn, peppers, grapes, roses.
Lupin: helps brassica, lettuce, cucumbers, squash, dill, rosemary, strawberry.
Marigold: helps tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, brassicas.
Nasturtium: helps cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, brassica, radish, apples, melons.
Petunias: helps squash, cucumbers, pumpkin, asparagus.
Sunflower: helps corn, tomatoes.
Tansy: helps cucumbers, squash, roses, various berries.
Zinnia: helps beans, tomatoes, peppers.
With this guide, love can bloom in your garden, and you can have healthier plants that produce better results.
FOR RELATED ARTICLES, CHECK OUT ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING: THE BASICS AND ORGANIC GARDENING TIPS AND TRICKS.
Good luck and stay prepared!
