COMPANION PLANTING - REVISITED

[Dianne Caswell]

Companion Planting Chart for Growing Vegetables

I put this Discussion up 2 years ago but thought it might be worth revisiting as we have a few new members who may be interested.

Companion Planting is the practice of Planting two or more plants together for mutual benefit. Companion Planting with Vegetables leads to enhanced quality and growth. Much of what is known about Companion Planting has been learned by trial and error. I have found it works for me in most instances. You won’t know if you don’t try it.

The Benefits of Companion Planting Vegetables

1. Beneficial Insects - attracting Beneficial Insects such as Bees help spread Pollen.
2. Soil Improvement - some vegetable plants improve soil conditions for other plants. For example, members of the Legume family (Beans etc.) draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to the soil around them.
3. Decoy Plants - there are plants that emit odors that aid in masking the odors of insect-desirable vegetable plants.

Companion Planting Chart

Please find a guideline for Companion Planting with Vegetables.

Vegetable	Companions (Likes)	Dislikes	Why
Asparagus	Basil, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Carrots, Tomatoes, Marigolds	Garlic, Potatoes, Onions	Marigolds, Parsley, Tomato protect from Asparagus Thrips
Beans	Beets, Brassicas, Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Celery, Chards, Corn, Eggplant, Peas, Potatoes, Spinach	Alliums (Chives, Garlic, Leeks, Onions), Capsicums, Tomatoes For Broad Beans, Fennel	Corn is a natural trellis, and provides shelter for Beans. Beans provide nitrogen to soil.
Beets	Brassicas (ie. Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Kohlrabi, Turnip), Kohlrabi, Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Sage	Pole and Runner Beans	The Beans and Beets compete for growth. Composted Beet leaves add magnesium to soil when mixed.
Broccoli	Basil, Bush Beans, Chamomile, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Lettuce, Marigold, Mint, Onion, Potato, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Tomato	Grapes, Mustard, Oregano, Strawberry, Tomato	Rosemary repels Cabbage Moth. Dill attracts Wasps for pest control.
Brussel Sprouts	Dill, Potato, Thyme	Strawberry, Tomato	--
Cabbage	Beets, Bush Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Mint, Onion, Potato, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage	Beans (Pole and Runner), Mustards, Capsicums, Strawberry, Tomato	Celery, Onion and Herbs keep pests away. Rosemary repels Cabbage Moth/White Butterfly.
Carrots	Beans (Bush and Pole), Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Rosemary, Tomato	Dill, Parsnip	Beans provide nitrogen in soil which Carrots need. Onion, Parsley and Rosemary repel the Carrot Weevil and Beetle
Cauliflower	Beans, Celery, Oregano, Peas, Tomato	Strawberries	Beans provide the soil with nitrogen, which Cauliflower needs.
Celery	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Dill, Leeks, Marjoram, Tomatoes	Parsnip, Potato	--
Chives	Basil, Carrots, Marigold, Parsley, Parsnip, Strawberries, Tomato	Beans	--
Corn	Beans, Cucumbers, Marjoram, Parsnip, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini	Tomato	Tomato Caterpillars (also known as Budworms), and Corn Earworm like both plants. Beans and Peas supply nitrogen.
Cucumber	Beans, Celery, Corn, Dill, Lettuce, Peas, Radish	Potato, Sage, Strong Aromatic Herbs, Tomato	Cucumbers grow poorly around Potatoes and Sage.
Dill	Cabbage, Corn, Cucumbers, Dill, Fennel, Lettuce, Onions	Coriander, Tomato	Cross-pollinates with Coriander (ruining both, so don’t grow together or near). One only a few plants that grows well with Fennel.
Eggplant	Beans, Marjoram, Capsicum, Potato	--	--
Kohlrabi	Beets, Lettuce, Onions	Strawberries, Pole Beans, Tomato	Lettuce repels Sciarid Flies/Fungus Gnats Bradysia pauper.
Leek	Carrots, Celery, Lettuce, Onions	Beans, Peas	Companion attributes are the same as Garlic, Onion, Chives (Alliums).
Lettuce	Beans, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Marigold, Onions, Peas, Radish, Strawberries	Parsley	Mints repel slugs (which feed on Lettuce).
Marigold	Brassicas (Broccoli, etc), Cucurbits (Cucumber, etc), Capsicums, Tomato, and most other plants	--	It is said that you can plant Marigolds throughout the garden, as they repel insects and Root-Attacking Nematodes (Worm-Like Organisms). Be aware they may bother allergy sufferers.
Onions	Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Lettuce, Marjoram, Rosemary, Savory, Strawberry, Tomato	Beans, Peas	Repels Aphids, the Carrot Fly, and other pests.
Parsley	Asparagus, Beans, Radish, Rosemary, Tomato	Lettuce	Draws insects away from Tomatoes.
Peas	Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsnip, Potato, Sage	Alliums (Chives, Garlic, Onion, Shallots)	--
Potato	Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Eggplant, Horseradish, Marjoram, Parsnip	Celery, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Rosemary, Strawberries, Tomato	Cucumber, Tomato and Raspberry attract harmful pests to Potatoes. Horseradish increases disease resistance.
Pumpkin	Beans, Corn, Radish	Potato	--
Radish	Cabbage, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsnip	--	Radish is often used as a trap crop against some beetles,flea and Cucumber).
Sage	Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberries	--	Repels Cabbage Moth/ White Butterfly, some Bean parasites.
Spinach	Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Strawberries	--	Natural shade is provided by Beans and Peas, for Spinach.
Squash	Fruit trees, Strawberries	--	Similar companion traits to Pumpkin.
Strawberries	Borage, Bush Beans, Caraway	Broccoli, Cabbages	The Herb, Borage, is likely the strongest companion.
Tomatoes	Alliums, Asparagus, Basil, Borage, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Marigold, Capsicums	Brassicas, Beets, Corn, Dill, Fennel, Peas, Potatoes, Rosemary	Growing Basil about 20cms from Tomatoes increases the yield of the Tomato plants.
Turnip	Peas	--	--
Zucchini	Flowering Herbs (for pollination)

[Andrew Cumberland]

I've go to try to remember this is here Dianne.  Very useful. 

[Dianne Caswell]

Andrew I think it a good ideas to go back to older info that is on the site sometimes. I think that a lot of us have got court up in our Native Bees lately and have not be addressing Worm Farms or Compost lately so I personally would like to go back to some of those great entries, that is why it is very important for everyone when they make an entry to not forget to fill in the Tags to help us find anything we may be interested in.

[Christa]

Great info Dianne, do you mind if I print it out and keep it on the wall to remind me.  It is a good way to confuse the bugs and make it easy to loose just one plant rather than many.  We have sacrificial plants that I just let go to the bugs.  

I love to see marigolds and rosemary amongst the veggies.  It makes me want to have another go at vegetable growing. 

Thanks for the reminders, we need them. 

[Dianne Caswell]

Yes of course you can Christa and everyone else who wants it can print it off.