Vegetable plants require soil that drains well and is rich in nutrient. Water should also be provided regularly without oversaturation as this could lead to damaged roots or plant diseases like blight.
Vegetables that share similar nutritional needs can live happily together. But some vegetables don’t make good neighbors; garlic should not be planted near beans or asparagus for instance.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are popular warm-season vegetables that require lots of sunlight for optimal growth, as well as heavy feeders needing soil with ample nutrition. Unfortunately, tomatoes are sensitive to various pests and diseases like verticillium wilt and blossom-end rot; companion planting with natural defenses may help safeguard against such threats.
Basil is an excellent companion plant for tomatoes as it repels many common vegetable pests such as thrips and tomato hornworms naturally. Additionally, basil serves as a natural mosquito deterrent and can attract beneficial insects that help control weeds in your garden. Marigolds provide color to any garden while dispelling root-knot nematodes which damage tomato plants.
Carrots, onions and peppers also grow well when planted alongside tomatoes as their watering and fertilization needs overlap nicely with those of tomatoes. Furthermore, these crops provide shade for tomatoes to protect them from direct sunlight that could otherwise result in scorching.
Cucumbers and squash make excellent companion crops for tomatoes. Both these plants tend to grow slowly while maturing at roughly the same time, providing essential nutrients as well as serving as natural pest deterrents and deterring any possible slugs or snails that might be eating your tomatoes!
Avoid planting broccoli family (Brassicaceae) plants near tomatoes as these cruciferous species compete for nutrients found in the soil and may become vulnerable to blight, potentially harming both species simultaneously.
Add some flowers to your tomato garden as companion plants to draw in pollinators and benefit the vegetables. Nasturtiums, in particular, attract bees and other pollinators with their bright colors that lure them in; additionally they’re edible making a wonderful addition to summer salads! Alternatively, plant sunflowers, zinnias, calendula or cosmos alongside your tomatoes to attract pest-eating bees or beneficial insects and make harvesting tomatoes even easier!
Carrots
Carrots make an ideal addition to any vegetable garden and can be one of the most enjoyable (and rewarding) crops to cultivate. Their ease of cultivation means you’ll soon be enjoying them in salads or as roasted snacks! Carrots also offer children an engaging introduction into gardening as their rewarding fruits can provide satisfying satisfaction when pulled out of the soil and enjoyed!
Carrots differ from most vegetables in that they don’t need to be planted in rows; instead they can be grown along any row’s edge. Before planting carrots it is important to loosen the soil by using a long trowel (hori hori) or similar tool to break up large soil clumps and remove pebbles or debris; adding compost or well-rotted manure could also help loosen things further before sowing your seedlings.
As is true for other root vegetables, carrots require ample phosphorus in order to flourish. If planted too closely to other crops that also need the same level of phosphorus, their resources could become limited and their growth limited as a result.
Sow some seeds of radish with your carrot seeds to increase their chances of success and avoid crowding out each other in the soil. Radishes are one of the quickest-growing vegetables, reaching maturity within 30 days; on the other hand, carrots may take up to 80 days. Radishes’ roots will keep carrot seeds from competing with one another and loosen it for easier root development in your soil.
Beans, fennel, leeks, onions, parsley, chives and mint have long been recognized as perfect companions for carrots. Together these plants act as natural pest deterrents while adding flavor. It is best to avoid pairing carrots with dill, parsnips and potatoes as these plants could attract pests and diseases that harm carrots.
To ensure that your carrots can take full advantage of their environment, plant them in full sunlight. Companion planting, mulching and crop rotation are also effective strategies for encouraging optimal soil conditions for carrot growth.
Beets
Beets add a crunchy crunch to salads and soups, and are one of the easiest vegetables to cultivate at home gardens. From their vibrant red roots to their bright tops and delicious leafy greens, beets flourish best during early spring and fall weather conditions, lending themselves well for use as microgreens, hearty salads or even pickled condiments!
As with other root crops and leafy vegetables, beets can be grown alongside various companion plants for various benefits ranging from natural pest control to improved soil fertility. Some companion plants are even known to enhance taste and texture when grown together with beets; just make sure not to pair them with plants that might inhibit their growth or compete for resources, like tomatoes and fennel!
As they share similar growth habits and nutritional requirements, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, chard, arugula and lettuce make excellent companion crops to beets. These crops mature quickly and can be planted either early in spring or late in summer when beets nearing maturity are nearing harvest time.
Legumes such as peas and bush beans make excellent companion plants for beets, providing nitrogen to enrich the soil and promote healthier beet growth. However, pole beans should not be planted nearby as this may inhibit its development.
Radishes and carrots make great companions to beets, as both crops mature quickly while helping break up the ground with long taproots. Furthermore, these leafy veggies can be planted at the same time to extend the garden’s growing season.
Garlic is an invaluable companion for beets, helping deter insects that could otherwise damage the crop while also improving taste and quality of beets. Alternating rows with garlic and beets or spacing them out offset rows is recommended for optimal results; additionally, garlic also adds nutrients to the soil to enable stronger beets growth.
Herbs
Herbs can make an ideal addition to any vegetable garden, not only because they add flavor, but they can also act as pest deterrents while improving both yield and health of nearby veggies. Traditional kitchen gardens combined vegetables, herbs and flowers together; pairing these elements appropriately can ensure healthy plants flourishing even in limited spaces.
Basil, marigolds and dill are great herbs to pair with most veggies for an effective organic deterrent of pests, including tomatoes, peppers, squash and carrots. These essential oil-producing plants repel asparagus beetles, carrot flies and tomato hornworm while also keeping away aphids, flea beetles and flies that may threaten other vegetables. Tomato plants grown alongside basil or parsley also tend to produce more fruit.
Chives and other umbelliferous herbs (those that produce flower clusters on short stems) make an ideal companion for green beans, kale and spinach, helping reduce aphid populations while drawing natural predators such as ladybugs closer. Furthermore, planting these herbs around rose bushes may ward off rose hornworm infestation and improve growth and health.
Thyme, another versatile herb that complements nearly any vegetable crop, works especially well when grown alongside radishes and peas. Thyme helps reduce the number of aphids on radish plants while deterring their feeding on peas; additionally it keeps away nematodes that attack cabbage-related brassicas as well as repels potato beetles from attacking potatoes.
Nasturtium and rosemary are among the many herbs that add value to any vegetable garden, and provide great companion plants to many vegetables by protecting against harmful insects as well as drawing beneficial ones into their vicinity. Basil, for instance, repels asparagus beetles while nasturtium and rosemary help deter aphids, flea beetles, maggots, whiteflies and other nuisance insects from invading.
When creating your vegetable garden, referring to a planting chart is key for making sure you grow what grows well with other vegetables in your region. They typically offer guidance for sowing seeds at an optimal spacing and advice on when and how to thin sprouted seedlings to prevent overcrowding. A planting chart may also help determine whether multiple vegetables should be planted together or in separate rows or beds.