Companion Planting Guide: Sow Easy
Here's a list of the 10 most popular vegetables to grow along with their friends (and enemies).
Companion planting is a great way to maximize the efficiency of your garden. For almost every vegetable you grow, there is likely to be a beneficial companion plant that will help increase soil nutrients, chase away pests, and help you get the most out of your garden. Here are the 10 most popular vegetables grown in the United States and their friends (and foes) in the garden.
Companion Planting For These Top 10 Veggies
1. Tomatoes
Friends: Basil and tomatoes were made to go together, not only in sauces but in the garden, too. This herb helps tomatoes produce greater yields and it repels both flies and mosquitoes. Marigolds are another good companion, repelling nematodes and other garden pests. Other friends to tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach.
Foes: Cabbage, beets, peas, fennel, dill, and rosemary. Corn and tomatoes both suffer from the corn earworm, and tomatoes and potatoes are affected by the same blight, so keep these plants separate to prevent the spread of pests or disease.
2. Peppers
Friends: Basil is a good friend to peppers, helping repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. It’s also thought that basil improves the pepper’s flavor. Other good companions include onions, spinach, and tomatoes.
Foes: Beans so the vines don’t spread among the pepper plants.
3. Green Beans
Friends: Corn and beans grow well together because beans will grow up the cornstalks, which means you won’t have to build them a trellis. Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil, which is good for the corn. Marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, and summer savory repel bean beetles, and summer savory improves growth rate and flavor. Other companions include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other members of the cabbage family along with cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.
Foes: Beets or anything from the onion family. Onions, in particular, impede the growth of bean plants.
4. Cucumbers
Friends: Plant marigolds and nasturtiums among your cucumbers to repel aphids and beetles,. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants.
Foes: Aromatic herbs such as sage which will stunt the growth of cucumbers.
5. Onions
Friends: Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly. Onions will also chase away the aphids, so plant them near aphid-prone (but onion-friendly) veggies. Other good friends of onions include beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips (which also suffer from carrot fly), tomatoes, and spices like marjoram, savory, and rosemary.
Foes: Asparagus, beans, and peas.
6. Lettuce
Friends: Plant mint among your lettuce to keep away the slugs that feed on lettuce leaves, or plant chives and garlic to repel aphids. Beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, radishes, and marigolds also work as good companion plants. Marigolds attract aphid-eating ladybugs.
Foes: Parsley, because it tends to grow into a small yet bushy plant and can crowd your lettuce.
7. Summer Squash/Zucchini
Friends: Corn and squash make good garden friends since the cornstalks give squash vines a place to grow. Squash also does well planted alongside beans, peas, radishes, dill, and marigolds.
Foes: Potatoes, as both plants are prone to blight.
8. Carrots
Friends: Carrots are heat sensitive, which is why they go well with tomato plants that can provide them a bit of shade. Tomatoes are also known to produce solanine, which is a natural insecticide that targets pests affecting carrot plants. Tomatoes benefit from carrots, too. Carrots aerate the soil around the roots of the tomato plants, allowing more air and water to reach the roots. Leeks and carrots are also good companions since leeks repel carrot flies and carrots repel leek moths and onion flies. Rosemary, sage, and chive also help repel carrot flies.
Foes: Coriander and dill, as they both produce compounds that can harm carrot plants, and parsnips suffer from the same diseases and pests as carrots, so keep them apart to minimize a potential infestation.
9. Radishes
Friends: Radishes can be planted among cucumbers to attract cucumber beetles away from the cukes. They also do well among carrots because they are harvested before the carrots and they loosen the soil as the carrots start to take off. Onions, beets, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, and squash are also good friends for radishes.
Foes: Hyssop.
10. Sweet Corn
Friends: Corn loves veggies that fix nitrogen in the soil—like green beans. Cornstalks also make a great trellis for vining or trailing plants including beans, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, and melons. Zucchini also does well planted among corn.
Foes: Tomatoes, as they and corn are attacked by corn earworms. Plant these two far apart to minimize the spread of these pests.
Follow these companion planting guidelines to boost yields, minimize pest or disease problems and make garden management easier!
Be sure to check our Planting Guides for the top 10 veggies here and don’t forget to check our Gardening by the Moon Calendar to see the best times to plant.
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental and green living topics. Her article on woolly worm caterpillar folklore appears in the 2020 Farmers' Almanac.
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
Can I grow carrots and beets in 20 gallon round pots? What kind of soil should I use?
Also, can I grow zucchini and cantaloupe together in a raised bed?
Hi Sindy, yes, you can grow them together in a raised bed (they won’t cross pollinate). As for soil, potting soil is best used when you’re starting seed. Topsoil is best combined with outdoor soil that already exists in your garden bed. However, plants in containers do better in potting soil. This is because topsoil can sometimes be too moist for container gardens, which can cause root rot.
Terrific post, thank you
Thank you, Denise! Glad you found it helpful.
How far apart should vegetables that do not go well together be spaced. I have a 3 x 7 raised bed are opposite sides sufficient?
Thanks!
Hi Oklahoma, yes, opposite sides are sufficient. Many gardeners subscribe to the “double the larger plant root” spacing, about 3-4′ apart.
I will have a fenced in garden that is 12′ x 15′ behind my home. We are cutting down a tree in the Spring before transplanting and sowing outdoors. Are brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli good to grow together? Are there any companion plants for those three vegetables to repel insects and diseases?
As long as you don’t want to collect seeds from your plants, you can grow Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli together. Companion plants would be onions, carrots, and radishes.
Much thanks to you such a lot of fascinating to find out about nurseries. I’m a first time grower discovered this data accommodating.
Hello, I’m looking at planting a 10×10 garden this spring with a separate nearby section for herbs with a pathe between. How close do some of the plants that repel pests need to be to be effective?
Hi Nathan, you always want to give them the distance they need to grow healthy roots and not crowd each other out, so it’s really dependent on the vegetable, some of which spread. Like tomatoes. Just plan on having the companion plant close by. I’d grow the companions on the same side of the aisle of your garden bed. It takes a lot of planning which is why graphing things on paper is a good idea. Check out the subheading of “Good Measure” in this article.
Hi. I’m trying to do plant companion. This is what I have planted: tomatoes, peppers (hot and sweet), lettuce, spinach, cilantro,oregano, dill, eggplant, butterfly milkweed, sunflower, mint, lavender, borage, bee balm, garlic, a mix of edible flowers
Sounds like an excellent garden, Philana!
Why are cucmbers and sage not compatable
Hi Zoe, “Gardeners agree on this one: cucumber and sage do not get along. The reason seems to be that sage is pretty powerful, and its intense aroma can actually affect the flavor of your cukes!”
Can i plant carrots,lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and squash together?
Good day, can you please post links to prove the statement that marigolds are good companion plants for Zucchini/Summer Squash. I am familiar with the data that marigolds can assist in the control of root-knot nematodes and I could find literature on the positive effects of marigolds on the growth of tomatoes. However, I fail to find scientific reports on the positive effects of marigolds on the Squash. Can you please help me by posting links proving that? Thank you for your help. Much appreciated.
Hi Reinie, In some cases, marigolds are a decoy plant which attract pests to. So they’ll stay off your plants. In the case of zucchini, the marigolds emit a scent that bugs detest, keeping them away from your zucchini. Here is a helpful link here.
Can I plant Zucchini in the same bed as tomato but distant away from them
Hi P, Yes, you can plant them together. Tomato roots go about 3 feet deep into the soil and also produce lots of feeder roots near the top of the soil. Zucchini has a tap root that needs room to grow. Your bed should have enough space for both and good drainage (they hate wet roots). A box that’s 36 inches deep and wide would work.
Is swiss chard a friend or foe to anything? I am planting a small raised bed and have peas, radish,cukes, summer squash, yellow beans,tomato chard, and marigolds all around.
Swiss chard, beets, and spinach are all members of the same family (goosefoot). So what works for one, should work for all.
What is a good companion plant for dill ? I have never had good luck with it, any advise ?
Hi Grandma B, You could use a companion planting technique if you want to help other plants, but if your dill plants are yellowing for example, it could be a lack of light, which can cause some dulling in leaves. Excess fertilizer can also cause dill to turn yellow. Dill prefers well-drained soil that is not too fertile and slightly acidic. Try testing your soil and growing it in pots.
I love this article….it has helped me a lot!
Hi Sharon, we’re glad it was helpful!
Your site is very informative
Can you plant cucumbers and peas near each other?
based on the picture in this article it says yes to peas and cucumbers together
Can I plant cucumber in the same bed as tomato but distant away from them
What’s good next to eggplant?
eggplant is in the same family as tomatoes and peppers, nightshade. You may be able to plant similar items with eggplant that you would other nightshades.
Where can and what can I combine with dill. Also what goes with sage?….thanks in sdvance
Carrots grow well with sage plus chives and onions
What about okra? What are good companions vs bad for them? Thanks!
Put the seeds in refrigerator for a few days they will come up much better
This does not answer my question unfortunately. My plants are in the ground already.
Your question wasn’t answered properly I see. The best companion plants for okra would be melons, eggplants, and sweet peppers. I think there may be something else, but these are what I can think of right now. I hope I didn’t answer you too late! Good luck with your plant babies!
Fantastic all the way around!
Fantastic all the way around!!
How far away from onions or beets must I plant bush beans?
Hi Jack, we recommend far enough away that their roots are not sharing any soil.
Thank you for this great resource! I love to plant a variety of pumpkins and gourds. I always plant them on the opposite end of the garden from tomatoes. Are there companion plants or enemies I can be aware of?
thank you so much for this website my mom loved it and we planted so much i hope you put more things up
Is it recommended to companion plant when planting in containers?
Hi Misty, you certainly can! Because it most cases, certain plants repel pests, and it doesn’t matter if they’re in the soil or in pots next to each other.
As long as the container is big enough. I’ve found that if a tomato has a thyme or marjoram companion, or a few chives, they taste better and keep longer off the vine.
Basil is too hungry a hog to share a container tho imo.
I planted marigolds and nasturtiums with my squash plants last year and never saw one squash bug. Thats the first time ever I didn’t have to deal with squash bugs!
Thank you so much for this information. I have been planting wrong vegetable plants combination.
I have limited space for my raised bed and want to grow pickling cucumbers. Can I train them up a trellis?
Yes! I planted Wisconsin summer pickling cucumbers up a slanted trellis last summer and it worked wonderfully.
Can u grow any kind of peppers together?
In my experience, peppers grow well rogether, except chillies.If they are too nearby, I found that some of the peppers turned out hot.But that was in Spain.Lots of sunlight has an impact on that as well.
Thanks for your comments. We sold our house and traveled the country last summer…I miss my garden you are helping me with the withdrawal…appreciate life in the soil!!!
My son will benefit with your expertise thanks
Hi I now live in the mountains at 4900 feet, our growing season is short. I used to live in Vacaville, Ca. The best place to grow anything. I Miss my lovely garden.
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Corn, beans and squash grow well together. Native Americans call these plants The Three Sisters, because each one of them contribute to the health and growth of the others. Here’s a link to an article.
Blessings,
Kate
Due to COVID-19 we are putting in a garden I have 105 tomato plants about 1 inch tall inside making daily 4 to 6 hour visits outside. My tilled garden is 48 feet x 80 feet. The ph is 6.0 I have raised rows about 10 inches high 48 long. I’ll have 5 feet between rows for my 4 foot tiller behind my tractor to till for fresh tilled soil to be pulled up on the long mounds With a 4 foot landscaping rake keeping a watering V in the top. I have 100 3/4/ inch bamboo poles 6 foot. Best companion plants can I use in the water V in the 3 feet between tomato plants. Never tried 100 at a time before. Right now I have 9 raised rows I figer 6 for the tomato’s. Beans and greens and peppers will be in the last 3 rows.
Hey man, i searched this stuff up for a math assignment im doing lol
Mid Mo.
I live in mid mo. I just bought several plants from a local grower! My question is the leaves on tomatoe plant and spinach plant are looking dropy, I have them inside the house till the weather warms up to transplant. What do I need to do to salavage these! I have already a garden area in back yard
You can transplant them into a larger container. From a nursery they might be root bound. Water tomatoes from the root. They don’t like wet leaves
Spinach does well in the cold, go ahead and plant outside as long as they’re hardened off. Water tomato and you can plant them early June or late may in your area and cover at night to protect from frost. I do that with milk jugs and the bottom cut off. It’s not the prettiest yet it works! This chart is handy and is also in amazon.
Is it ok to plant cabbage next to green peppers, spinach, beets or green (bush) beans?
Is potatoes ok next to asparagus?
Hi Kris, Avoid planting potatoes near asparagus, Brassicas, carrots, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower, and turnips. Plant asparagus with asters, basil, cilantro, dill, cilantro, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, sage, and thyme.
I have raised beds that butt up to each other. They are divided by a 2″ x10″x4′ board. Is that far enough?
Can I grow carrots from carrots ..or do I need seeds???
Hi Julie, For carrots you need seeds.
If you plant a carrot top, it will grow the flower stalk and give you seeds. Carrots are biennials (two growing seeds to complete their life cycle).
How to get rid of ants naturally that have built inside my pots outside
Ants don’t like cinnamon…I sprinkle it everywhere.
Only is issue it can wash away. I’ve had decent luck with it.
Hello I have mustard and collard greens growing in separate containers What can I add in those containers to helps keep pest at bay
Hey, Wanda, I was wondering if you got an answer to your question. I have the same question too.
Thank You! I loved it and it was very helpful!
Thank you, Luke! We’re glad you enjoyed it.
I want to try growing brussel sprouts for the first time. What companion plant (veggie) goes well & which does not
Green Beans are great with Brussel sprouts as well as cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes. Do not plant them with beets, or onion family members as they will impede growth.
Thank you so much for the info. Be safe!!
Thank you so much. I am a first time planter during this covid 19 crisis and found this information very helpful.
Same! Covid-19 has me searching for a new hobby!
Thank you so much interesting to learn about gardens… Lenetta from Indiana
Spring
Thanks for the info I just planted my garden sunday I think I was plant (vegetable) friendly.
I planted something new this year ASPARAGUS BEANS.
Be save and keep your hands clean and away from your face
Could cucumber and zucchini be planted in the same 4x8ft raised bed?
Hi Katie, yes! Cucumbers and zucchinis are from the same family — Cucurbitaceae, or the squash family so these cousins can be planted together. Just make sure you are giving them optimal growing conditions. Cucumbers thrive in well-drained soil, plus they need full sun and plenty of room to grow. Once threat of frost has passed, cucumber seeds can go into the ground in early spring. Zucchinis also like full sun, but wait until the soil is at least 75F, otherwise, the seeds may not spout. Planting dates will vary depending on what U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone your garden is in.
They both need alot of room
Hi I planted kale in a pot over winter. It did ok, but it’s gone now. What plant would grow well in that soil?
I’m helping my church school teacher with their garden this year and I need a little advice. they each have their own little plot not much more than 2ft by 3ft I was wondering if after planting the seedlings putting down a lot of straw to keep the weeds away could be the best thing
Straw can go a heck of a garden of straw, which is worst than some other weeds.
I want to plant spinach, wat is good to plant around it and what should I avoid
Hi Filna, spinach is pretty easy-going, although some gardeners recommend not planting near cabbage, mustard, or potatoes. Happy gardening!
I love these hints thank you very much. have a nice day.
Thank you, Moises!
This will be my first time to plant something. I want to start with kale. I do not see kale info on your list. Please suggest some good companion plants with it. Thank you.