25 Companion Planting Pairs for a Productive Garden

Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves planting certain plants together to benefit each other in various ways, such as deterring pests, enhancing growth, or improving flavor. Here are 25 companion planting pairs that can help create a productive and healthy garden:

Tomatoes and Basil: Basil helps repel pests that commonly affect tomatoes and can improve their flavor.

Cucumbers and Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums deter aphids, cucumber beetles, and other pests from cucumbers.

Carrots and Onions: Carrots and onions work well together, with onions deterring carrot flies and carrots deterring onion flies.

Corn, Beans, and Squash (Three Sisters): Native American gardeners have long practiced this trio. Corn provides a trellis for beans, while squash shades the ground, reducing weeds.

Lettuce and Radishes: Radishes deter aphids that can harm lettuce, and they mature quickly, making use of space until the lettuce grows.

Cabbage and Dill: Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on cabbage pests like aphids and cabbage worms.

Potatoes and Horseradish: Horseradish can deter potato pests like the Colorado potato beetle.

Peppers and Marjoram: Marjoram enhances the flavor of peppers and deters some pests.

Strawberries and Borage: Borage deters pests, attracts pollinators, and improves the flavor of strawberries.

Eggplant and Beans: Beans can provide shade and help deter pests around eggplants.

Cabbage and Chamomile: Chamomile can improve the flavor of cabbage and deter pests.

Broccoli and Catnip: Catnip can deter flea beetles, which often attack broccoli.

Tomatoes and Marigolds: Marigolds are known for repelling a variety of garden pests, including nematodes that affect tomatoes.

Zucchini and Radishes: Radishes can help deter squash borers that affect zucchini.

Cauliflower and Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums can deter aphids and other pests from cauliflower.

Beans and Potatoes: Beans can deter Colorado potato beetles and add nitrogen to the soil, benefiting potatoes.

Lavender and Roses: Lavender can help repel aphids and other pests that affect roses.

Onions and Beets: Onions can deter pests that affect beets while beets help deter onion pests.

Spinach and Strawberries: Strawberries provide a ground cover that shades out weeds and complements the growth of spinach.

Garlic and Roses: Garlic can deter aphids, Japanese beetles, and other pests that affect roses.

Tomatoes and Carrots: Carrots can help break up the soil for tomatoes’ deep roots, and tomatoes can provide some shade for carrots.

Cucumbers and Sunflowers: Sunflowers provide shade to cucumbers and can also attract beneficial insects.

Sage and Cabbage Family: Sage can deter cabbage moths and improve the flavor of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Radishes and Squash: Radishes can deter squash vine borers and serve as a sacrificial crop.

Beans and Cabbage Family: Beans can help repel cabbage moths and improve the soil for cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Keep in mind that while companion planting can be beneficial, it’s not a guarantee of pest control or increased yields. Factors like soil quality, climate, and specific plant varieties also play a role in the success of your garden. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your unique garden conditions.