Companion planting is when you plant another species of plant next to your food crop to help look after it. Planting a different species in the same place can help through a number of ways such as encouraging pests to leave your food alone and reducing weeds.
Aromatic herbs such as Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Oregano produce a rather enticing smell, making them excellent companions to a lot of fruit and vegetables. Another benefit of companion planting is that it reduces the need for herbicides and insecticides which often affect a lot of minibeasts including the helpful ones that we want such as bees.
Give these great combinations a try:
Asparagus, Parsley, Basil and Tomatoes
Tomatoes aid in protecting asparagus from asparagus beetles whilst chemicals in asparagus can kill the bad bacteria that affect tomatoes. Parsley and asparagus help each other to grow better, and basil grows happily with parsley and improves the flavour of tomatoes whilst repelling mosquitos and flies.
Squash, Beans and Sweetcorn
Referred to as the three sisters, it is estimated that this plant combination has been practiced by indigenous Americans for between three and ten thousand years and with good reason. Beans are another plant help to restore nitrogen to the soil aiding the squash and sweetcorn. The sweetcorn in turn shades the squash and provides a support for the beans to climb whilst the squash acts as a groundcover suppressing weeds and preventing moisture loss.
Vegetable Companion Guide
| Plant species | Good Companions | Bad Companions |
| Asparagus | Tomatoes, Basil, Parsley | |
| Bean | Cucumbers, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Beets, Marigold, (leek and celeriac in moderation | Chives, Onions, Garlic |
| Beet | Bush beans, onions, Kohlrabi, Lettuce | Pole beans, Field mustard, Charlock |
| Broccoli | Potatoes, Beets, Onions, Celery, Dill, Chamomile, Sage, Peppermint, Rosemary | Tomatoes, Pole beans, Strawberries |
| Cabbage | Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Chamomile, Dill, Hyssop, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Wormwood | Tomatoes, Pole beans, Strawberries |
| Carrot | Onions, Leeks, Rosemary, Sage, Wormwood | Dill |
| Cauliflower | Celery | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Celeriac | Scarlet runner beans | |
| Celery | Leeks, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Bush beans, Celery | Potatoes |
| Corn | Peas, Beans, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Potatoes, Squash, Melons, Marigolds | Tomatoes |
| Cucumber | Corn, Radishes, Beans, Pears, Sunflowers | Potatoes, Aromatic herbs |
| Horseradish | Potatoes | |
| Garlic | Beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Peas, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Sage, Thyme | Beans, Peas |
| Kale | Cabbage, Potatoes, Late beans and peas | Tomatoes, Turnips |
| Kohlrabi | Beets, Onions, Cucumbers, Aromatic herbs | Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pole beans |
| Leek | Celery, Onion, Carrots | |
| Lettuce | Onions, Cucumbers, Carrots, Strawberries, Radishes | Parsley |
| Pea | Carrots, Cucumbers, Corn, Radishes, Turnips, Beans, Potatoes, Aromatic herbs | Onion, Garlic |
| Peppers | Basil, Carrots, Cucumber, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Thyme | Beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower |
| Pumpkin | Corn | Potatoes |
| Radish | Beets, Carrots, Cucumber, Melon, Spinach, Tomatoes, Bush beans, Pole beans, Lettuce, Nasturtiums, Mustard | Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Turnip, Hyssop |
| Shallot | Onions, Garlic | Pea, Beans |
| Spinach | Strawberries | |
| Tomato | Asparagus, Chives, Onions, Garlic, Carrot, Gooseberry, Parsley, Marigold, Nasturtium | Cabbage family, Fennel, Dill, Corn, Apricots |
| Turnip | Peas, Clover, Hairy vetch | Cabbage family, Hedge mustard, Knotweed |
Herb and Flower Companion Guide
| Plant Species | Good Companions | Bad Companions |
| Basil | Peppers, Tomatoes, Oregano, Sage, Thyme | Rue, Silverbeet |
| Cilantro | Spinach, Sage, Thyme | |
| Dill | Broccoli, Cucumber, Corn, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Onion, Sage, Thyme | Carrots, Tomatoes |
| Marigold | Potatoes, Strawberries, Melon, Roses, Tomatoes, Sage, Thyme | Beans |
| Nasturtium | Broccoli, Potatoes, Radishes, Melons, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Cabbage family, Sage, Thyme | |
| Oregano | Broccoli, Cauliflower, Peppers, Basil, Sage, Thyme | |
| Parsley | Carrots, Chives, Corn, Roses, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Onions, Peppers, Sage, Thyme | Lettuce |
| Rosemary | Beans, Broccoli, Peppers, Cauliflowers, Carrots, Sage, Thyme | Potatoes |
| Roses | Garlic, Onions | |
| Sage | Broccoli, Beans, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Corn, Leeks, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Peppers, Spinach, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Dill, Garlic, Marigold, Nasturtium, Aromatic herbs, Sunflowers | Cucumbers |
| Sunflowers | Cucumber, Corn, Melon Sage, Thyme | Climbing beans, Potatoes, Garlic |
| Thyme | Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Chives, Cucumber, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Lettuce, Leeks, Melon, Peas, Peppers, Spinach, Tomatoes, Basil, Sage, Dill, Sunflowers |