Happy Together, A Guide to Companion Planting

By Paul Rodman (paulgrow)
April 21, 2011

Happy Together, a song that the Turtles had on the charts in 1967 is appropre when it comes to plants. Some plants do extremely well when planted together; other plants just give up when planted closely with plants they don’t care for. Thanks to Uncle Lokes Feedstore in Troy, Mi for sharing information

Here's some suggestions for Companion Planting; plants that will enhance each other and plants that can't stand each other.  

Plant Name	Friend	Foe	Notes
ASPARAGUS	Basil, Parsley, Tomato	None	Parsley and asparagus are mutually beneficial in promoting one another's health and vigor; Tomatoes contain a substance called solanine, which protects against asparagus beetles, but tomatoes also attract the natural predators of the asparagus beetle. Asparagus Rust, Fusarium, Needle Blight, Purple Spot. Pests: Asparagus Aphid, Asparagus Beetles.
BASIL	Bell Pepper, Carrots, Marigold, Parsley, Tomato	Rue	Rue and basil are natural enemies
BEANS, BUSH (Butter, Green, Snap, String, & Wax)	Beets, Cabbage Family, Carrot, Celery(plant sparingly), Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Marigold, Potato, Radish, Rosemary, Savory, Strawberry, Tansy, Tomato	Fennel, Gladiolus, Onions and Other Alliums	Only scented Marigolds will work, but not the Mexican variety: they act as a herbicide on beans and cabbage; Carrots help beans, but beans don't help carrots; Strawberries and bush beans grow much better together than separately.
BEANS, POLE	Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Radish, Savory, Tansy	Beets, Cabbage, Gladiolus, Kohlrabi, Fennel, Onion and other Alliums, Sunflower	Carrots help beans, but beans don't help carr
BEETS	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onions, Sage	Mustard, Pole beans	These plants grow at different levels in the soil, so they do not compete for nutrients and maximize planting space; Mustard inhibits growth.
BLACKBERRIES and other cane fruit	Tansy	Raspberries	Raspberries and Blackberries should be kept apart because of virus disease; Tansy repels harmful insects.
CABBAGE FAMILY (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Rutabaga, Turnip)	Beets, Bush Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Geranium, Hyssop, Marigolds, Mint, Nasturtiums, Onions, Potatoes, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Tansy, Thyme.	Grapes, Mexican marigolds, Pole Beans, Rue, Strawberries, Tomato.	Mint is very invasive, but it enhances growth and health and discourages aphids, ants, flea beetles, white cabbage moths and even bunnies and other rodents; Marigolds must be scented to ward off insects, but not the Mexican variety, which acts as a herbicide on cabbage and beans; Rosemary and Sage deter cabbage moths; Thyme deters the cabbageworm; Garlic wards off pests; Chamomile improves the flavor of cabbage and enriches the soil with calcium, potassium and sulfur; Cabbage and grapes are ‘natural enemies' - chemical warfare may be involved.
CARROTS	Chives, Flax, Leeks, Leaf Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato	Dill, Anise	Dill and anise will reduce carrot crop; Parsley and sage protect against carrot flies by masking the carrot odor that attracts the flies; Leeks improve growth and repel carrot flies.
CELERY	Bush Beans, Bush Beans, Cabbage Family, Leeks, Tomatoes	None	Leeks improve its growth and repel carrot flies
CORN	Amaranth, Beans, Cucumber, Geranium, Marigolds (any), Melon, Peas, Pumpkin, Potatoes, Squash, Sunflower	Tomatoes	Sunflower increases corn yield and relieves fall army worm/corn protects sunflower from insects; Ground vine plants shade the soil, aiding in moisture retention and their prickly vines may discourage raccoons and other corn predators; Climbing vine plants help anchor the corn stalk and make it less vulnerable to wind damage; Geranium repels Japanese beetles and cabbage worms; Peas and beans replenish nitrogen in the soil; Tomatoes and corn are subject to the same pest, the tomato fruit worm/corn earworm.
CUCUMBER	Beans, Chamomile, Corn, Peas, Carrot, Nasturtium, Radish, Sunflower, Cabbage	Aromatic Herbs - esp. sage, Potatoes	Nasturtium deters cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs and other pests. Flowers are edible; Chamomile improves the flavor of cucumbers and enriches the soil with calcium, potassium and sulfur.
EGGPLANT	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Spinach	None	Growing among bush beans protects from attacks of the Colorado potato beetle.
DILL	Cabbage, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Onions	Carrot, Tomato	Protects tomatoes against red spider infestation; Garlic inhibits the growth of peas and beans.
GARLIC	Roses, Tomatoes	Aromatic Herbs, Beans, Peas, Aromatic Herbs, Beans, Peas, Potatoes	Protects tomatoes against red spider infestation; Garlic inhibits the growth of peas and beans.
FENNEL	None	Disliked by most vegetables and herbs, inhibited by coriander and wormwood	Plant by itself, away from any other plants
GRAPES	Elm trees, Geranium, Hyssop, Mulberry trees, Roses	Cabbage	Cabbage and grapes are ‘natural enemies'- chemical warfare may be involved; Grapes growing on elm or mulberry trees have been found to be mildew and brown-rot free; Hyssop increases yield.
LETTUCE	Beans(all varieties), Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Onions, Radishes, Strawberries	None	Lettuce grows well with its companions; Onions may repel rabbits and other pests.
LEEK	Beets, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Onions	Beans, Peas	Carrots benefit leeks and they in turn repel the carrot fly.
MELONS	Corn, Morning Corn, Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Radish, Sunflower	Potato	Morning Glory thought to assist in melon seed germination.
ONION	Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Chamomile, Cucumbers, Leeks, Lettuce, Pepper, Rosemary, Squash, Strawberries, Tomato	Beans, Peas, Sage	Leeks improve onion growth and repel carrot flies; Chamomile improves the flavor of onions and enriches the soil with calcium, potassium and sulfur; Beets improve production of onions.
PEAS	Carrots, Cucumbers, Corn, Turnips, Radishes, Beans, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs	Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots	Carrots produce a compound that greatly enhances pod production and quality
PEPPER	Asparagus, Basil, Beets, Eggplant, Lettuce, Parsley, Rhubarb, Spinach, Tomato	Fennel	Growing requirements similar to basil; Peppers are brittle plants, so they benefit from being next to the taller plants for wind-protection.
POTATO	Bush Beans, Cabbage Family, Corn, Eggplant, Flax, Pea	Cucumber, Melons, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Squash, Sunflower, Tomato	Bush beans protect against the Colorado potato beetle; the potato protects the bean against the Mexican bean beetle; Flax contains tannin that repels the Colorado Potato Bug; Tomatoes make potatoes more susceptible to potato blight; Raspberries make potatoes susceptible to blight; Flax enhances growth and repels the Colorado potato beetle.
PUMPKIN	Corn, Radish	Potato	Potato and Pumpkins inhibit one another's growth.
RADISH	Beans, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Nasturtium, Squash, Spinach, Parsnips	Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Hyssop, Kohlrabi, Turnips	Nearby lettuce may make radishes more tender; Beans increase nitrogen in the soil.
RASPBERRY(Red)	Garlic, Tansy	Blackberries, Black Raspberry, Potato	Garlic and tansy repel insects; Blackberries and black and purple raspberries should be planted at least 600 feet away from the red varieties because of virus disease susceptibility.
ROSE	Chives, Garlic, Geranium, Hyssop, Lupine, Onion, Shallots, Tansy, Tomato	Boxwood and other woody plants with prolific root systems	Garlic causes roses to produce a stronger perfume; Parsley protects against rose beetles; Onions repel rose chaffers; Lupines increase soil nitrogen and invite earthworms; Tomatoes protect from black spot disease; Hyssop deters flea beetles and cabbage moths; Woody plants with large root systems will compete for soil nutrients. Taste of cabbage and beans is improved by Rosemary; Grows well with sage.
ROSEMARY	Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage	None	Taste of cabbage and beans is improved by Rosemary; Grows well with sage.
SAGE	Cabbage, Carrot, Rosemary	Rue	Sage improves the taste of cabbages.
SHALLOTS	Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Chamomile, Mint, Sage, Thyme	Beans, Peas	The herbs improve the flavor of shallots; Beets and carrots grow at different levels in the soil, so they do not compete for nutrients.
SPINACH	Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant	None	Spinach is rich in saponin, a soil-beneficial compound.
SQUASH	Corn	Potato	Potato
STRAWBERRY	Borage, Bush Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach	Cabbage and family members	Borage increases beneficial natural minerals in the soil. It also controls insects.
SUNFLOWER	Corn, Cucumber	Pole Bean, Potato	Corn and cucumber yield is increased by nearby sunflowers; Sunflowers are also useful in aphid control.
TOMATO	Asparagus, Basil, Borage, Carrots, Celery, Chives, Bell Pepper, Horehound, Mint, Monarda (Bee Balm), Nasturtium, Onion, Parsley	Corn, Dill, Kohlrabi, Potato, Fennel	Basil improves flavor and protects against insects; Horehound encourages fruiting; Bee Balm aids in both growth and flavor (caution: Bee Balm is a mint and is invasive!); Potatoes inhibit the growth of tomatoes.
THYME	Cabbage family, Eggplant, Onion, Potato, Sage, Tomato	None	May be planted with all plants. It enhances the fragrance of other herbs, protects against insects, improved taste of companion vegetables, and is an all-around nice and useful plant.

About Paul Rodman   Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 45 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is President Emertius of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan. He currently serves as the greenhouse chairman of this group. Rodman has amassed over 5500 volunteer hours in the Master Gardener program. Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the Organic Gardening.com web site. He is a certified Master Canner and has taught classes on Home Food Preserving for 7 years. He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan. His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.

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Discussion about this article:

Subject Topic Starter Replies Views Last Post companion plants steele13 0 13 Apr 26, 2011 1:27 PM good stuff jazzy1okc 0 7 Apr 26, 2011 4:24 AM Thanks, Paul! Bookerc1 5 33 Apr 25, 2011 9:03 PM

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