Companion Planting for Vegetables & Herbs

ASPARAGUS

Companions: Basil, coriander, dill, marigold, parsley, tomato

Basil, marigold, parsley, and tomato protect against asparagus beetle. Coriander and dill repel pests such as aphids and spider mites.

Keep away from: Garlic, onion, potato

BASIL

Companions: Asparagus, beet, borage, carrot, chamomile, chives, marigold, oregano, pepper, radish, tomato, turnip

Borage improves the growth and flavor of basil. Flowering herbs such as chamomile, chives, and oregano enhance essential oil content in basil. When planted together, basil and marigold are a potent natural pest repellant.

Keep away from: Cucumber, fennel, rue, sage

Benefits of growing basil: Basil repels aphids, asparagus beetle, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworm. It also boosts tomato yields, while the flowers attract insect pollinators.

Learn more about growing basil.

BEANS (BUSH)

Companions: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, catnip, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, kale, marigold, nasturtium, peas, potato, radish, rosemary, squash, strawberry, tomato

Catnip repels flea beetle, a common vegetable pest. Marigold and potato deter Mexican bean beetle. Nasturtium and rosemary repel bean beetle.

Keep away from: Allium relatives such as chives, garlic, onion, and shallots can stunt the growth of legumes such as beans.

Benefits of growing beans: Beans provide nitrogen to the soil.

Learn more about growing beans.

BEANS (POLE)

Companions: Broccoli, cabbage, carrot, catnip, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, marigold, nasturtium, peas, potato, radish, rosemary, squash, strawberry, tomato

Corn acts as a natural trellis while providing shade. Squash shades the roots and repels pests.

Keep away from: Pole beans can experience stunted growth when planted near beets, but bush beans are unaffected. Vegetables in the allium family such as chives, garlic, onion, and shallots can also stunt pole bean growth.

Benefits of growing beans: Beans provide nitrogen to the soil.

BEETS

Companions: Beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onion

Garlic improves growth and flavor of beets.

Keep away from: Pole beans and beets stunt each other’s growth.

Benefits of growing beets: Composted beet leaves add magnesium to the soil.

BROCCOLI

Companions: Basil, beet, celery, cucumber, dill, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, potato, radish, rosemary, spinach, thyme

Dill attracts predatory wasps that control pests. Rosemary repels cabbage fly. Celery, potato, and onion improve the flavor of broccoli.

Keep away from: Asparagus, beans (pole), corn, melons, pepper, pumpkin, squash, strawberry

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Companions: Basil, beans, beet, carrot, garlic, mint, nasturtium, onion, peas, thyme

Brussels sprouts are susceptible to a number of insect pests, including aphids, beetles, cabbage looper, cutworm, leafminer, and squash bug. Pungent companions such as basil, garlic, onion, and mint can repel these pests.

Keep away from: Beans (pole), strawberry, tomato. Strawberries can inhibit growth of Brussels sprouts.

CABBAGE

Companions: Beans (bush), beet, celery, chamomile, dill, mint, onion, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme

Marigolds and aromatic herbs such as mint, rosemary, and thyme repel cabbage moth. Dill, celery, garlic, mint, and onion enhance the taste of cabbage.

Keep away from: Beans (pole), mustard, strawberry, tomato.

CARROTS

Companions: Beans, chives, lettuce, onion, pea, pepper, radish, rosemary, sage, tomato

Beans fix nitrogen into the soil. Chives improve growth and flavor. Onion, parsley, rosemary, and sage deter carrot fly.

Keep away from: Dill, parsnip. Dill may stunt the growth of carrots.

CORN

Companions: Beans, cucumber, marigold, melon, parsley, peas, potato, pumpkin, squash, sunflower

Corn is a heavy feeder; beans and peas add nitrogen to the soil. Marigolds repel Japanese beetles.

Keep away from: Celery, tomato. Tomato attracts pests that also attack corn, including tomato hornworm and corn earworm.

Benefits of growing corn: Corn provides shade and is a natural trellis for pole beans.

CUCUMBER

Companions: Beans, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, dill, lettuce, marigold, nasturtium, peas, radish

Dill attracts beneficial insects that feed on pests such as cucumber beetle. Nasturtium deters aphids and beetles while improving growth and flavor. Radish repels pests including cucumber beetle and rust fly.

Keep away from: Aromatic herbs (except dill), potato, tomato. Cucumbers grow poorly when planted near potatoes or sage.

DILL

Companions: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn, cucumber, lettuce, onion

Keep away from: Cilantro, carrot, tomato. Dill cross-pollinates with cilantro and carrot.

Benefits of growing dill: Dill discourages pests including aphids, cabbage loopers, and spider mites. It also attracts beneficial insects such as bees, hoverflies, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps.

EGGPLANT

Companions: Beans, catnip, marigold, peas, pepper

Catnip repels flea beetles, a common vegetable pest. Eggplant is a heavy feeder; beans and peas fix nitrogen into the soil. Marigold deters nematodes.

Keep away from: Other solanum relatives such as pepper, potatoes, tomatoes make eggplant more susceptible to blight.

GARLIC

Companions: Beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, dill, eggplant, kohlrabi, pepper, potato, spinach, tomato

Chamomile improves garlic flavor. Rue repels maggots. Summer savory and yarrow also benefit garlic.

Keep away from: Garlic can stunt the growth of asparagus, beans, parsley, peas, and sage.

Benefits of growing garlic: Garlic keeps away a wide range of pests, including ants, aphids, cabbage looper, fungus gnat, Japanese beetle, onion fly, snails, and spider mites.

KALE

Companions: Beet, beans, celery, cucumber, dill, garlic, lettuce, mint, onion, peas, pepper, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach

Kale is a heavy nitrogen feeder. Plant near beans or peas, which add nitrogen to the soil.

Keep away from: Avoid planting kale near other brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower to prevent spread of disease.

LETTUCE

Companions: Asparagus, basil, beans, beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrot, chives, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, mint, onion, peas, radish, spinach, strawberry, tomato

Basil improves lettuce flavor while repelling mosquitoes. Beets supply minerals to the soil that lettuce needs to thrive. Chives and garlic deter aphids. Mint repels cabbage moths and slugs, which are lettuce pests.

Keep away from: Some sources say to avoid planting lettuce near brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage, while others say it’s fine. Results may vary. Cabbage, celery, and parsley may inhibit lettuce growth.

MINT

Companions: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, peas, squash

Keep away from: Chamomile, parsley

Benefits of growing mint: Mint is a natural pest deterrent. It repels flea beetle, which chews holes in the leaves of cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and radish. It also discourages aphids, carrot root fly, mealy bugs, onion fly, and spider mites. Mint attracts beneficial insects such as hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps that feed on pests.

ONION

Companions: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, chamomile, lettuce, pepper, strawberry, tomato

Keep away from: Asparagus, beans, peas, sage. Don’t plant near other alliums such as garlic, leek, and shallots to avoid spreading onion maggots or rust.

Benefits of growing onions: Onion repels brassica pests including cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, and cabbage maggots. It also deters aphids, carrot fly, and Japanese beetle.

PEAS

Companions: Beans, carrot, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, potato, radish, spinach, tomato, turnip

Keep away from: Allium relatives such as chives, garlic, onion, and shallots can stunt the growth of peas.

Benefits of growing peas: Peas are good companions to many other vegetables because they increase the availability of nitrogen in the soil.

PEPPERS

Companions: Basil, beans, beet, carrot, chives, coriander, cucumber, dill, eggplant, garlic, lettuce, parsley, onion, spinach, tomato

Basil deters aphids, spider mites, and thrips, and improves the flavor of peppers. Dill and coriander repel aphids and encourage beneficial insects. Parsley attracts predatory wasps that feed on aphids. Alliums such as chives, garlic, and onion repel aphids, beetles, slugs, and spider mites.

Keep away from: Brassicas including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.

Learn more about how to grow peppers.

POTATOES

Companions: Basil, beans, cabbage, chamomile, corn, horseradish, lettuce, marigold, parsley, peas, radish, spinach, thyme

Beans repel Colorado potato beetle. Horseradish increases disease resistance. Many herbs such as basil, chamomile, parsley, and thyme enhance potato flavor while attracting beneficial insects.

Keep away from: Cucumber, raspberry, and tomato attract harmful insects. Avoid planting near other vegetables in the nightshade family such as eggplant, pepper, and tomato to keep from spreading soil pathogens. Asparagus, carrot, fennel, onion, and turnip can stunt the growth of potatoes.

Learn more about growing potatoes.

RADISH

Companions: Beans, carrot, chervil, cucumber, lettuce, melon, nasturtium, peas, spinach, squash

Chervil deters aphids and slugs which are radish pests. Chervil and nasturtium improve growth and flavor of radishes.

Keep away from: Brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. Hyssop stunts the growth of radish.

Benefits of growing radishes: Radish can be used as a “trap plant” to lure pests such as root maggots and flea beetles away from other vegetables. It also repels cucumber beetle and squash bugs.

ROSEMARY

Companions: Beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, kale

Keep away from: Pumpkins, squash

Benefits of growing rosemary: The pungent scent of rosemary repels many pests including bean beetle, cabbage looper, cabbage moth, carrot root fly, slugs, snails, and weevils. The flowers of rosemary attract insect pollinators. Rosemary improves the flavor of sage when planted together.

SQUASH / ZUCCHINI

Companions: Beans, borage, corn, marigold, nasturtium, peas, radish, tansy

Borage attracts insect pollinators and improves growth and flavor. Nasturtium deters aphids and squash bugs and improves growth and flavor. Radish and tansy repel squash bugs.

Keep away from: Potato, pumpkin. Potato is a heavy feeder, competing for nutrients. Pumpkin, which is closely related to squash, can cross-pollinate, affecting seed saved for the next year’s crop.

STRAWBERRY

Companions: Beans, borage, caraway, chives, garlic, lettuce, onion, sage, spinach, thyme

Alliums such as garlic and chives repel predatory insects. Borage attracts pollinators and repels strawberry pests while increasing disease resistance. Caraway attracts beneficial insects such as wasps that kill strawberry pests. Planting lettuce, spinach, and strawberry together can enhance productivity.

Keep away from: Plants that are susceptible to verticillium wilt such as eggplant, pepper, potato, and tomato should not be planted nearby. Strawberry can inhibit the growth of brassicas such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Learn more about how to grow strawberries.

TOMATO

Companions: Asparagus, basil, borage, carrot, celery, chives, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, onion, parsley

Asparagus repels nematodes that attack tomato plants. Basil improves tomato growth and deters pests such as flies and tomato hornworm. Borage improves growth and flavor and repels tomato hornworm.

Keep away from: Don’t plant near dill or brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, as they can stunt tomato growth. Keep away from corn, which attracts tomato hornworm.

Benefits of growing tomatoes: Plant tomatoes near asparagus to repel asparagus beetle.

Learn more about how to grow tomatoes and tomato companion plants.