Companion Planting
Which crops help each other, which to keep apart, and how to stack them by layer and season — so one bed does more work with less effort.
What makes a good pairing
Relationships
Plants that pull their weight — flowers that draw in the wasps and ladybugs that eat aphids, legumes that fix nitrogen, herbs that mask a crop's scent from pests.
Layers
Stack tall, mid, and ground-cover plants so they share light and root space instead of fighting for it — like tall okra over a living mulch of sweet potato.
Timing
Grow partners in the same window, or relay them — one crop going in as another matures — so the bed is always covered and never crowded.
Companion planting chart
A quick reference. Tap a crop for the full guide — with the reason behind every pairing and how to lay it out.
| Crop | Grow with | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Tomato, Dill, Parsley, Basil, Cilantro / Coriander | Onions, Garlic & other Alliums, Beets, Potatoes, Common Beans |
| Basil | Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Lettuce, French marigold | Fennel, Sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and lavender, Rue |
| Beans | Corn, Winter squash / pumpkin, French marigold, Sweet alyssum, Dill & cilantro | Onions & other alliums, Fennel, Beets |
| Beets | Sweet alyssum, Dill, Cilantro / coriander, French marigold, Lettuce | Swiss chard & spinach, Fennel, Pole / runner beans and English peas |
| Cabbage | Dill, Sweet alyssum, Onion, Thyme, Sage | Other brassicas / cole crops, Fennel, Strawberry, Tomato |
| Carrots | Onion, Leek, Chives, Radish, Lettuce | Dill, Fennel, Parsnip, celery, parsley and other carrot-family crops |
| Corn | Pole beans, Winter squash / pumpkin, Buckwheat, Cowpea, Sunn hemp | Tomato, Fennel, Cole crops |
| Cucumber | Nasturtium, Buckwheat, Sweet alyssum, Dill, Blue Hubbard squash | Other cucurbits intermixed, Potato, Sage and aggressive aromatic mints, Fennel |
| Eggplant | Sweet alyssum, Dill, Cilantro / coriander, Buckwheat, French marigold | Potato, Tomato, Black walnut, Fennel |
| Garlic | Tomatoes, Cabbage & other brassicas, Lettuce, Celery, Sweet alyssum | Onions, leeks, shallots & chives |
| Melon | Blue Hubbard squash, Buckwheat, Sweet alyssum, Dill, Radish | Other cucurbits, Potato, Fennel |
| Okra | Cowpea / Southern pea, Bush / snap bean, Peanut / groundnut, Sunn hemp, French marigold | Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper, Cotton and ornamental hibiscus, Pumpkin / winter squash, Fennel |
| Peas | Sweet alyssum, Cilantro / coriander, Brassicas, Sweet corn or squash, Spinach | Onions, garlic, and other alliums, Fennel, Beans and other legumes |
| Pepper | Basil, French marigold, Sweet alyssum, Buckwheat, Dill | Fennel, Black walnut, Potatoes and other nightshades, Brassicas |
| Potato | Bush beans, Peas, Tansy, Coriander / Cilantro, Sweet alyssum | Tomato, Eggplant, Sunflower, Squash / pumpkin |
| Radish | Cucumber, Lettuce, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet alyssum | Other brassicas, Fennel, Potatoes, Hyssop |
| Spinach | Sweet alyssum, Cilantro and dill, Tomatoes, Radish, Nasturtium | Beets and Swiss chard, Fennel, Potatoes |
| Squash | Pole beans, Corn, Blue Hubbard squash, Nasturtium, Sweet alyssum | Other cucurbits crowded together, Potato, Brassicas |
| Strawberries | Garlic, Chinese chives, Alfalfa, Sweet alyssum, French marigold | Solanaceous crops, Brambles / caneberries, Brassicas / cole crops, Fennel |
| Sunflowers | Winter squash / pumpkin, Cucumber, Sweet alyssum, Buckwheat, Dill and cilantro | Potato, Pole beans, Grasses and small grains |
| Sweet Potato | French/African marigold, Cowpea / southern pea, Peanut, Coriander / cilantro, Basil | Squash, pumpkin, melon & cucumber, Tomato, pepper & eggplant, Okra, Wild morning glory & water spinach |
| Tomato | Hairy vetch, French marigold, Basil, Sweet alyssum, Dill | Potato, Fennel, Corn, Black walnut |
| Watermelon | Blue Hubbard squash, Cowpea, Buckwheat, Sweet alyssum, Dill | Other food cucurbits, Potato, Fennel |