Companion Planting Guide (PHOTOS)

Companion planting is one of the most beneficial and miraculous gardening techniques. Whether you decide to match vegetables with other vegetables, vegetables with herbs, or vegetables with your favorite flowers, this symbiotic relationship benefits you, your garden and the environment. Companion planting increases harvest rates, serves as natural pest control, fertilizes soil, creates shade and reaps an impressive garden.

Did you know that lettuce is a companion plant to carrots, radishes, cucumbers and strawberries? Or that beans improve herb growth?

Before you marry off your garden, check out our slideshow of seven options for companion planting. As always, we want to hear from you. Tell us about your successful companion planting pairings in the comments.

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Vegetable Marriages

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Companion plant corn, squash and beans are called the “three sisters." This vegetable triumvirate was created by Native Americans who planted the companion plants together to ensure a balanced diet. The tall stalks from the corn shade the growing beans while the squash shelters the soil, which deters weed growth, protecting the corn and bean crop. Cabbage, cauliflower, collards, broccoli, and kale are often coupled with onions. Sugar snap peas benefit radishes. Perhaps, the most surprising of vegetable marriages is that of chamomile and onions. Chamomile is believed to improve the growth rate and flavor of onions. However, some matches aren't meant to last. Beans and onions or corn and tomatoes will only cause some marital woes.

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Companion plant corn, squash and beans are called the “three sisters." This vegetable triumvirate was created by Native Americans who planted the companion plants together to ensure a balanced diet. The tall stalks from the corn shade the growing beans while the squash shelters the soil, which deters weed growth, protecting the corn and bean crop. Cabbage, cauliflower, collards, broccoli, and kale are often coupled with onions. Sugar snap peas benefit radishes. Perhaps, the most surprising of vegetable marriages is that of chamomile and onions. Chamomile is believed to improve the growth rate and flavor of onions. However, some matches aren't meant to last. Beans and onions or corn and tomatoes will only cause some marital woes.

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CindyM272 said on 3 Tuesday 2010 pm31 5:40 pm: Hmm...try solar lights posted in and around the garden and foil plates/tin cans as noise makers - and if they get past that, a radio will work. If you have a dog, let him/her do their #1 business near the garden - the rabbits will smell the predator urine. The lights and noise will make them think humans are around and they won't come near your veggies. Good luck! :-)

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Fave Companion Plants

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not necessary where's my trowel?

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Comments

[cabinetmaniac]

03:15 PM on 08/04/2010

The beans add nitrogen to the soil which is needed by the heavy feeding corn. The corn gives the beans structure to grow upon.

If you plant hot peppers and tomatoes together the tomato seeds could yield "hot" flavored tomatoes.

I like to plant marigolds and nasturtiums in all my beds.

The local squirrels plant peanuts all over my yard. I just let them grow and till them under later. I have beans and peas from previous plantings which I just let grow wherever they sprout.

Full Florida sun is brutal. Use of shade is very important. I use row covers to prolong the growing season from spring into summer.

Companion plants are great. That said I have ants living in my peppermint patch.

Beneficial insects love my yard. You need to be careful what you wish for though. Beneficial insects in an organic vegetable garden include bees and wasps. They don't bother me but my girlfriend doesn't like them.

☮

[Angie Cordeiro]

11:56 AM on 08/04/2010

Companion planting; good for the earth, good for humans, the insects and just look at those veggies and herbs :-)

[DigitalDeb]

03:36 AM on 08/04/2010

Companion planting is part of a complete sustainable gardening system. It is used extensively in Permaculture. Check out http://www.friendsofthetrees.net/ for info on classes on Permaculture, wildcrafting and learning what plants love.

[smaj]

11:03 PM on 08/03/2010

More of this please HuffPo and less 'X slams Y' headlines!

If anyone has any other handy websites with this kind of info, I would greatly appreciate it!

[DigitalDeb]

03:40 AM on 08/04/2010

For more info on creating sustainable gardens, check out http://www.friendsofthetrees.net/ . A class with Michael Pilarski will teach you so much about plants.

Also, check out his youtube interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gluNlrT4sYU&feature=related

[I3addog]

06:12 PM on 08/03/2010

This was very informative and worthwhile. Thanks Hufpo.

[CindyM272]

05:33 PM on 08/03/2010

Plants in the aster family attract ladybugs - who eat nasty aphids.
Great article, thank you for some more tips!

[barkingcat]

02:29 PM on 08/03/2010

The article mentions clover as a crop for replenishing soil nitrogen.

In fact, clover -- in particular those varieties with small leaves -- works well for a yard currently planted all in grass/monoculture. If you want to improve the quality of your lawn, seed it with clover.

I've been using micro clover for a while now with great results. In fact, I like it much better than grass overall and in particular for planting in areas for erosion control.

And, the soil is improved, as well.

[KathyBellant]

12:12 PM on 08/03/2010

Loved this article. We have been doing that in our garden for a long time and didn't know that it had any logic behind it. Inpatients and begonias always go under our fir tree and bloom until first frost. I have always planted my basil with my tomatoes. They just naturally go together. Not to mention the aroma of the tomato leaves and the basil is incredible. I guess if we follow our instinct it won't let us down to much. Thanks for the great pics too.

[KarlaElisa]

12:43 PM on 08/03/2010

I'm doing the basil, tomato, carrot thing this year and EVERYBODY is going gang busters and you're right...when I water the scent that arises is unspeakably awesome.

I love articles like this. So informative.

I also learned that by taking clippings from my peppermint and bee balm and scattering them under the plants I repel insects that do damage to plants. Is working great in my cole crop bed.

[KathyBellant]

02:43 PM on 08/03/2010

That's a great idea. Is your bee balm blooming? This is the first year I've tried it and no blooms yet. But here in Oregon everything is late. Would that work with any kind of mint? Fanned and faved for great ideas

[millcitymiss]

10:49 AM on 08/03/2010

I wish garlic repelled rabbits. Little devils ate all my cabbage.

[CindyM272]

05:40 PM on 08/03/2010

Hmm...try solar lights posted in and around the garden and foil plates/tin cans as noise makers - and if they get past that, a radio will work. If you have a dog, let him/her do their #1 business near the garden - the rabbits will smell the predator urine.
The lights and noise will make them think humans are around and they won't come near your veggies. Good luck! :-)

[MJinCanada]

10:08 AM on 08/03/2010

Wonderful! This article cleared up a little mystery for me. Statice is the plant my mom grew in the garden one year and had it pop up as a volunteer plant for years thereafter. Such a pretty thing -- we had to pull it out as a weed in most rows, but Mom would let it grow around the border and in any row where the beets, corn or whatever just failed to germinate.