Companion planting has been has been practised by gardeners for a long time and works in several ways. Part of the aim is to plant a diversity of plants (Polyculture rather than monoculture) this helps to confuse pests, provide homes and food for a range of beneficial insects and allows certain plants to provide support for each other.
Plants can support each other in a range of ways as an example members of the legume family (peas, beans and clovers to name a few) carry special nitrogen fixing bacteria on their roots. Try growing beans with your corn, the beans will provide nitrogen and the corn will provide a support for you beans. Check out The Three Sisters garden – and ancient method of companion planting that works brilliantly!.
Members of the Umbelliferae family (I always remember this group as having ‘umbrella’ shaped flowers) e.g. carrots, parsnips, coriander, and parsley, provide lots of nectar for a range of predator species such as Hoverflies and ladybirds which will love to eat your aphids and other small pests.
Members of the onion family (Alliums) and Marigolds (Tagetes) have strong smells which deter and/or confuse a range of pests such as aphids and caterpillar species.
Planting certain species together side by side can also help to maximise your growing space.
For example planting lettuces among your brassicas allows you to keep the ground covered, provide lettuces with some shade, and by the time brassicas need the space your lettuces are likely to have finished.
Enjoy the diversity in your gardens today.
Plant |
With |
NOT With |
| Apple | Chives, Marigold, Garlic, Horseradish, Lemon Balm, Mustard, Nasturtium, Spinach, Tansy, Yarrow | Grass, Potato |
| Apricot | Basil, Marigold, Garlic, Horseradish, Lemon Balm, Mustard, Nasturtium, Spinach, Sunflower, Tansy, Yarrow | Grass, Tomato |
| Asparagus | Basil, Chives, Marjoram, Parsley, Tomato | |
| Basil | Apricot, Asparagus, Cucumber, Fennel, Tomato | Rue, Silverbeet |
| Beans | Cabbages, Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Marigold, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsley, Parsnip, Potato, Rosemary, Sage | Chives, Fennel, Garlic, Onions, Shallots |
| Broad Beans | Cabbages, Corn, Lettuce, Marjoram, Potato, Spinach | Chives, Fennel, Garlic, Onions |
| Bush Beans | Beets, Cabbages, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Marjoram, Potato, Strawberries, Sunflower | Chives, Garlic, Onions |
| Climbing Beans | Cabbages, Corn, Lettuce, Marjoram, Radish | Beets, Chives, Garlic, Onions, Sunflower |
| Beets | Bush Beans, Cabbages, Dill, Lettuce, Marjoram, Onions, Potato, Silverbeet | Climbing Beans, Tomato |
| Borage | Cabbage, Cucumber, Strawberry, Tansy, Tomato | |
| Broccoli | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, Borage, Coriander, Cucumber, Dill, Marigold, Marjoram, Nasturtium, Potato, Tomato | Rue, Strawberry |
| Brussell Sprouts | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, Borage, Coriander, Cucumber, Dill, Marigold, Marjoram, Potato, Strawberry, Sunflower | |
| Cabbage | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, Borage, Celery, Coriander, Cucumber, Dill, Marigold, Lavender, Lettuce, Marjoram, Mint, Nasturtium, Onions, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Tansy, Thyme | Garlic, Rue, Strawberry |
| Chamomile | Cabbages | Mint |
| Carrots | Beans, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Dill, Fruit Trees, Leeks, Lettuce, Marjoram, Onions, Radish, Rue, Tomato | Parsnip |
| Cauliflower | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, Borage, Celery, Coriander, Cucumber, Dill, Marigold, Marjoram, Potatoes, tomatoes, | Rue, Strawberries |
| Celery | Bush Beans, Cabbages, Dill, Leeks, Marjoram, Tomatoes | Parsnip, Potatoes |
| Cherry | Chives, Marigold, Garlic, Horseradish, Lemon Balm, Lettuce, Mustard, Nasturtium, Silverbeet, Spinach, Tansy, Yarrow | Grass, Potatoes |
| Chervil | Coriander, Dill, Lettuce, Radish | |
| Chives | Basil, Carrots, Cherry, Marjoram, Parsley, Parsnip, Roses,Strawberries, Tomatoes | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans |
| Coriander/Dill | Cabbages, Carrots, Chervil, Dill, Parsnip | |
| Corn | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Cucumber, Marjoram, Parsnip, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Zucchini | |
| Cucumber | Basil, Beans, Bush Beans, Borage, Cabbages, Carrots, Corn, Dill, Lettuce, Marjoram, Nasturtiums, Radish, Sunflower, Tansy | Potatoes, Sage |
| Fennel | Basil, Dill | Beans, Broad Beans, Coriander, Lavender, Tomatoes |
| Marigold | Apricot, Beans, Cabbages, Carrots, Cherry, Fruit Trees, Lettuce, Potatoes, Raspberry, Roses, Strawberries, Tomatoes | |
| Fruit Trees | Chives, Marigold, Garlic, Lemon Balm, Mustard, Nasturtium, Silverbeet, Spinach, Tansy, Yarrow | Grass |
| Garlic | Apricot, Chervil, Fruit Trees, Lavender, Rosemary, Roses | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Cabbages, Sunflowers |
| Grape Vine | Beans, Mustard, Tansy, Tomatoes, Yarrow | |
| Lettuce | Beans, Broad Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, cabbages, Carrots, Cherry, Chervil, Cucumber, Marigold, Marjoram, Onions, Parsnip, Radish, Strawberries | Parsley |
| Marjoram | Asparagus, Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, Beets, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Chives, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lavender, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnip, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radish, Sage, Silverbeet, Spinach, Tomatoes, Zucchini | |
| Mulberry | Chives, Marigold, Garlic, Grape Vine, Grass, Lemon Balm, Mustard, Nasturtium, Silverbeet, Spinach, Tansy, Yarrow | |
| Nasturtium | Apricot, Cabbages, Cherry, Cucumber, Fruit Trees, Potatoes, Radish, Roses, Tomatoes | |
| Onions | Beets, Cabbages, Carrots, Leeks, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsley, Parsnip, Roses, Silverbeet, Strawberries, Tomatoes | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Climbing Beans, |
| Parsley | Asparagus, Beans, Chervil, Mints, Roses, Tomatoes | Lettuce, Mint |
| Peas | Beans, Borage, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsnip, Potatoes, Raspberry, Sage | Chives, Garlic, Onions, Shallots |
| Pennyroyal | Cabbages, | |
| Potatoes | Beans, Broad Beans, Bush Beans, Beets, Cabbages, Corn, Eggplant, Horseradish, Marjoram, Nasturtiums, Parsnip, | Celery, Cherry, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Rosemary, Sunflower, Tomatoes |
| Pumpkin | Corn, Marjoram | |
| Radish | Climbing Beans, Carrots, Chervil, Corn, Cumber, Lettuce, Marjoram, Nasturtiums, Parsnip | |
| Rosemary | Beans, Cabbages, Carrots, Garlic, Parsley, Sage | Tomatoes |
| Roses | Chives, Marigold, Garlic, Horseradish, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Nasturtiums, Onions, Parsley, Rue, Sage, Tansy, Thyme | |
| Rue | Raspberry, Roses, | Basil, Cabbages, Sage |
| Sage | Beans, Cabbages, Carrots, Parsnip, Rosemary, Roses, Strawberries | Cucumber, Grass, Rue |
| Savory | Beans, onions | |
| Silverbeet | Beets, Cherry, Fruit Trees, Lavender, Marjoram, Onions | Basil |
| Spinach | Apricot, Broad Beans, Cherry, Fruit Trees, Marjoram, Strawberries | |
| Squash | Borage, Corn, Marjoram, Nasturtiums, Sunflower, Tansy | |
| Strawberry | Bush Beans, Borage,Chives, Marigold, Lavender, Lettuce, Onions, Sage, Spinach | Cabbages, Garlic |
| Stinging Nettle | Apricot, Fruit Trees, Horseradish, Tomatoes | |
| Sunflower | Apricot, Bush Beans, Cucumber | Climbing Beans |
| Tomato | Asparagus, Basil, Borage, Carrots, Celery, Chives, Dill, Marigold, Gooseberry, Grape Vine, Marjoram, Mints, Nasturtiums, Onions, Parsley, Parsnip, | Apricot, Beets, Cabbages, Fennel, Rosemary |
| Yarrow | Apricot, Chervil, Fruit Tress, Grape Vine, Grass, Tansy | |
| Zucchini | Corn, Marjoram, Nasturtiums | |
Further Reading:
The Old Farmers Almanac Website
