Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (2024)

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (1)

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

Step back in time to embrace some gardening wisdom your grandparents may have practiced: The concept of companion planting, or planting combinations of specific plants for their mutual benefit. "The theory behind companion planting is that certain plants may help each other take up nutrients, improve pest management, or attract pollinators," says Tom Maloney, horticulture educator for Penn State Extension. "Some research, such as how to attract beneficial insects like lacewings to the garden to fight pests, has been studied, so we know it's effective. We're still researching other aspects of companion planting."

While you're you're planning your companion garden, consider making your yard more inviting to some other friends by including flowers that attract hummingbirds or flowers that attract butterflies. Make the space appealing to the younger members of your family by including the best plants for kids or even a whimsical fairy garden. Add some pretty and practical structure to the garden with garden fence ideas. Don't forget to make space for some of the best flowers that bloom in summer. But be sure to set aside an area, whether it's a small plot or a raised bed, to try out these common-sense companion combinations in your garden. Then sit back and reap the benefits.

Nasturtium + Cucumber

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (3)

"For me, companion planting is about bringing pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden to improve biodiversity," says Amy Stross, blogger at TenthAcreFarm.com and author of The Suburban Micro-Farm. Stross grows cukes up a trellis, and lets the nasturtiums, which have a unique scent that seems to repel pests, grow in a colorful tumble underneath.

Melons or Squash + Flowering Herbs

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (4)

These are all vegetables that require pollinators to produce, so invite insect visitors into your garden by planting flowering herbs such as dill, fennel, and parsley near melons and squash. "You won't get any yield if you don't have pollination for these veggies," says Maloney.

Sweet Alyssum + Swiss Chard

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (5)

Alyssum is an annual that's easy to grow from seed in between rows of vegetables. "It's a big attractor of hover flies, which are beneficial insects that control aphids," says Stross. Plant pretty Swiss chard as a border, interspersed with these delicate low-growing flowers.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Corn + Pole Beans + Squash or Pumpkin

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (6)

This Native American example of companion planting is often called the "Three Sisters." Corn gives the beans a place to climb. Beans convert atmospheric nitrogen to a form the plants can use. The spreading leaves of squash or pumpkin create a living mulch that reduces weeds and holds moisture.

Calendula + Broccoli

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (7)

These flowers exude a sticky substance on their stems that attract aphids and traps them there, says Stross. She finds that planting it next to her brassica crops, specifically broccoli, keeps the aphids off the broccoli. Plus, it brings in beneficial ladybugs to dine on the aphids.

Lettuce + Tomatoes or Eggplants

"Pairing plants with different growth habits together is referred to as 'intercropping,' and we do have some data to show it's effective," says Maloney. In this case, tomatoes and eggplant grow tall and eventually can shade cool season crops such as lettuce, which doesn't like heat. This trick may extend your lettuce season slightly.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Radishes + Carrots

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (9)

These two plants take up nutrients from different places in the soil so they aren't competing for resources. Radishes mature quickly and don't grow as deeply as carrots, which have a long tap root and take more days to mature, says Maloney.

Tomatoes + Basil or Cilantro

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (10)

Some gardeners believe basil improves the flavor of tomatoes, but it's primarily planted because its strong scent may repel pests. Plus, if you let some of your basil or cilantro go to flower, it brings in the pollinators, says Stross.

Lettuce + Chives or Garlic

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (11)

Aphids steer clear of smelly plants like chives or garlic, so try it near your lettuce. Or add alyssum nearby to bring in the beneficial insects, says Stross.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Roses + Geraniums or Chives

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (12)

Plants with a strong odor or taste are said to discourage beetle and aphids. While there's no guarantee it works, it's certainly worth giving it a try to prevent roses from getting eaten by these pesky little bugs, which seemingly multiply overnight.

Chamomile + Cabbage

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (13)

Chamomile brings in the beneficial insects for brassicas such as cabbage. In the fall, chop it up and toss on the bed to decompose, while leaving the roots intact to decay and enrich the soil, suggests Stross. "Maybe there's not always a lot of scientific evidence behind some of these pairings, but just start trying and see what works," says Stross. After all, experimentation is half the fun in the garden!

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (14)

Arricca Elin SanSone

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

Plants You Should Always Grow Side-by-Side (2024)

FAQs

What plants Cannot grow next to each other? ›

Broccoli and Cauliflower: Don't plant near peppers, squash, strawberries, tomatoes. Tomatoes: Don't plant near broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, cucumbers. Dill: Don't plant near carrots. Sunflowers need to be planted at least 12 inches away from any other plant.

What are the only 2 things plants need to stay alive? ›

To survive, all plants need sunlight, water, air, food (nutrients from good soil), and the right temperature .

What not to plant near marigolds? ›

Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.

How many plants should you group together? ›

Three plants creates balance

Though three can be tricky in human relationships, this number fits expertly in a landscape. The trick is in the arrangement. Three plants in a row is dull because you know what to expect. If you have enough space, group them in an equilateral triangle.

What flowers should not be planted near vegetables? ›

Oleander and Foxglove, while beautiful, shouldn't be planted near your vegetables. All parts of these plants are toxic and harmful to your health. Gladiolus should be kept out of the garden especially if you're growing legumes like peas and beans.

What vegetables grow best side by side? ›

Try planting basil and tomatoes together. Other friends to tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach. Corn and beans grow well together. Also broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other members of the cabbage family along with cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.

What is the best layout for a vegetable garden? ›

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Do plants do better next to other plants? ›

There are many potential benefits of companion planting including repelling or trapping pests, weed suppression, improved soil fertility, improved pollination and increased crop productivity.

Do plants do better next to each other? ›

Planting different plant types together can help keep your soil moist and prevent erosion then. Open soil patches would be a waste of valuable garden space. Plants like cucumber and squash do a wonderful job shading the soil. Shading soil can be useful in times of drought.

What flowers can you plant next to each other? ›

Planting annual and perennial flowers next to each other is a good idea. Most annuals will remain in bloom throughout the growing season, while some perennials may need some time to emerge or take a break during the high heat. Some good examples are black-eyed Susans, which pair well with cosmos, daylilies, or phlox.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6380

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.