Companion Planting

Companion planting is based on the idea that when planted in groupings, plants can assist in the over- all well being of the garden. For example; some plants add nitrogen into the soil that is needed for the healthy growth of other plants. Beneficial insets are attracted to certain types of plants, and some plants repel insects. Other plants can provide protection from the sun and wind for more delicate plants. Some weeds have a beneficial quality also. The benefits of companion planting include a natural method of pest control, a higher produce yield, and a garden that is visually more appealing.

With the exception of fennel, most herbs planted in or near vegetable beds will have a beneficial effect. Try planting herbs at the corners of beds to ward off flies and various insects and to attract bees.

The following charts have been created to help in your research of companion planting:

Good (and bad) companion plants.

Beneficial herbs.

Attracting beneficial insects.

Plants beneficial in repelling insects.

Good And Bad Companion Plants

Plant	Good Companions	Bad Companions
Asparagus	Tomato, Basil, Parsley	Potatoes
Beans	Carrots, Cabbage, Cucumber, Cauliflower	Leeks, Chives, Garlic, Onions
Broad Beans	Potatoes, Lettuce	Fennel
Bush Beans	Strawberries, Grapes	Garlic, Onions
Dwarf Beans	Beetroot, Kohlrabi
Beetroot	Kohlrabi, Dwarf Beans, Onions, Chives	Runner/Climbing Beans, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Cabbage, Leaf Mustard
Broccoli	Dill, Celery, Chamomile, Sage, Rosemary	Tomatoes, Strawberries, Oregano
Brussel Sprouts	Potatoes, Sage, Hyssop, Thyme	Strawberries, Rosemary
Cabbage	Beetroot, Potatoes, Beans, Onions, Sage	Tomatoes, Garlic, Strawberries, Celery, Dill, Mint, Thyme, Oregano
Capsicum	Basil
Carrots	Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Tomatoes	Dill, Parsnip, Chives, Sage, Rosemary, Radish
Cauliflower	Celery, Celeriac, Beans, Oregano	Strawberries, Rue, Peas, Potato, Nasturtium
Celery	Leeks, Beans, Cabbage, Tomatoes	Parsnip, Potato, Wheat
Corn	Melons, Squash, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Parsnips, Artichokes, Jerusalem Artichokes
Cucumber	Beans, Peas, Radish, Celery, Carrots	Potatoes, Sage, Cauliflower, Basil
Chives	Carrots, Tomatoes, Parsley, Parsnips, Fruit Trees
Eggplant (Aubergine)	Beans, Potato, Marjoram
Horseradish	Potatoes, Fruit Trees
Kohlrabi	Beetroot, Onion, Dwarf Beans	Pole Beans, Tomatoes, Cucumber
Leeks	Carrots, Celery, Celeriac, Strawberries
Lettuce	Strawberries, Cabbage, Carrots, Onions	Parsley, Beans, Beetroot, Parsnip
Nasturtium	Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber	Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Potato, Radish, Squash, Zucchini, Fruit Trees
Onions	Cabbage, Carrots, Beetroot, Lettuce	Beans, Peas, Parsnip, Parsley, Leeks
Potato	Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Horseradish	Pumpkin, Squash, Cucumber, Dill, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Raspberries
Peas	Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Beans, Radish	Onions, Garlic, Shallot
Pumpkin	Sweet corn, Marjoram	Potato
Radish	Cucumber, Lettuce, Kohlrabi, Melon	Hyssop, Squash, Peas, Nasturtium
Spinach	Broad Beans, Strawberries, Fruit Trees
Tomato	Asparagus, Basil, Lima Beans, Cabbage	Beetroot, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Potato, Rosemary, Carrots, Chives, Dill, Onions, Parsley, Parsnip, Nasturtium
Zucchini	Corn, Marjoram, Nasturtium

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Beneficial Herbs

Basil - Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor and to repel flies and mosquitoes. Do not plant near rue.	Chamomile - Improves flavor of cabbages and onions.	Horseradish - Plant in potato patch to keep away potato bugs.	Rue - Deters Japanese beetles in roses and raspberries.
Bay Leaf - A fresh bay leaf in each storage container of beans or grains will deter weevils and moths.	Chervil - Companion to radishes for improved growth and flavor	Hyssop - Companion plant to cabbage and grapes, deters cabbage moths. Do not plant near radishes.	Sage - Companion plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots to deter cabbage moths, beetles, and carrot flies. Do not plant near cucumbers.
Bee Balm - Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor	Chives - Improves growth and flavor of carrots	Lovage - Improves flavor and health of most plants.	Summer Savory - Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor. Discourages cabbage moths.
Borage - Companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries. Deters tomato worms.	Dill - Improves growth and health of cabbage. Do not plant near carrots.	Marjoram - Improves flavor of all vegetables.	Tansy - Plant with fruit trees, roses, and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants.
Caraway - Good for loosening compacted soil.	Garlic - Plant near roses to repel aphids.	Mint - Deters white cabbage moths, and improves the health of cabbages and tomatoes.	Thyme - Deters cabbage worms.
Catnip - Deters flea beetles.	Gopher Purge - Deters gophers and moles.	Rosemary - Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies.	Wormwood - Keeps animals out of the garden when planted as a border.

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Attracting Beneficial Insects

INSECT YOU WANT	PLANT
Assassin Bug	Alfalfa, Carrot, Goldenrod
Big-Eyed Bug	Alfalfa, Carrot, Goldenrod
Bees	Borage, Catnip, Dill, Horehound, Hyssop, Plumbago, Sage Salvia, Sweet William
Butterflies	Basil, Hyssop, Plumbago, Salvia, Sweet William
Cabbage Butterfly	Sage
Damsel Bug	Alfalfa
Japanese Beetle	White Flowered Scented Geranium
Lacewing	Carrot
Lady Beetle	Alfalfa, Artemisia, Morning Glory, Yarrow, Goldenrod
Parasitic Wasp	Alfalfa, Carrot, Goldenrod, Horehound, Yarrow, White Clover,
Syrphid Fly	Buckwheat, Candytuft, Fennel, Horehound, Morning Glory
Tachinid Fly	Coriander, Fennel, Ivy, White Sweet Clover
Yellow Jacket, Wasps	Anise, Artemisia, Caraway, Carrot, Ivy, White Sweet Clover

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Repelling Insects

PEST	REPELLANT
Ants	Catnip, Mint, Onion, Peppermint, Spearmint, Tansy, Wormwood
Aphids	Anise, Catnip, Chives, Coriander, Dried & Crushed Chrysanthemum, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Feverfew (attracts aphids away from Roses), Garlic, Larkspur, Marigold, Mint, Mustard, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Petunia, Sunflower
Asparagus Beetle	Basil, Parsley, Petunia, Pot Marigold, Tomato
Bean Beetle	Rosemary, Savory
Black Flea Beetle	Artemisia, Sage
Cabbage Looper	Dill, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Hyssop, Peppermint, Nasturtium, Onion, Pennyroyal, Sage, Southernwood, Spearmint, Thyme, Wormwood
Cabbage Maggot	Garlic, Marigold, Radish, Sage, Wormwood
Cabbage Moth	Artemisia, Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Thyme
Cabbage Worm	Celery, Thyme, Tomato
Carrot Fly	Leeks, Lettuce, Onion, Rosemary, Sage, Tobacco, Wormwood
Colorado Potato Beetle	Catnip, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Green Bean, Marigold, Nasturtium, Onion, Tansy
Corn Earworm	Cosmos, Geranium, Marigold, Radish (gone to seed)
Cucumber Beetle	Catnip, Marigold, Nasturtium, Radish, Rue, Tansy
Cutworm	Spiny Amaranth
Flea	Artemisia, Pennyroyal
Flea Beetle	Catnip, Garlic, Mint, Rue, Sage, Southernwood, Tansy, Tobacco, Wormwood
Fly	Basil, Pennyroyal, Rue, Tansy
Imported Cabbageworm	Dill, Garlic, Geranium, Hyssop, Mint, Nasturtium, Onion, Pennyroyal, Sage, Southernwood, Tansy, Thyme
Japanese Beetle	Ageratum, Arbortivae, Artemesia, Ash, Begonia, Boxwood, Caladium, Catnip, Chives, Cockscomb, Garlic, Hydrangea, Juniper, Pansy, Rue (with Roses & Raspberries), Tansy, White Geranium, Yew
Leafhopper	Dried & Crushed Chrysanthemum, Geranium, Petunia
Mexican Bean Beetle	Marigold, Petunia, Rosemary, Savory
Mice	Tansy, Wormwood
Mosquitoes	Basil, Garlic, Geranium, Pennyroyal
Mole	Castor Bean, Narcissus
Moths	Lavender (combine with Southernwood), Wormwood, and Rosemary for an anti-moth sachet)
Peach Borer	Garlic
Nematode	Marigold
Onion Fly	Garlic
Potato Bug	Dead Nettle, Flax, Horseradish
Rabbit	Garlic, Marigold, Onion
Snails	Artemisia, Fennel, Garlic, Rosemary
Slugs	Artemisia, Fennel, Garlic, Rosemary, Sage
Spider Mite	Coriander
Squash Bug	Catnip, Mint, Nasturtium, Petunia, Radish, Tansy
Squash Vine Borer	Radish
Striped Cucumber Beetle	Tansy
Striped Pumpkin Beetle	Nasturtium
Ticks	Garlic
Tomato Hornworms	Dill, Borage, Marigold, Petunia, Pot Marigold, Opal Basil
White Cabbage Moth	Mint
Whitefly	Basil, Marigold, Oregano, Peppermint, Thyme, Wormwood

Discover the secrets of a naturally pest-proof vegetable garden:

(click the picture below)

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