Companion Planting Chart: What To Plant Next To Each Other In A Garden

To have a good garden, it’s important to plan carefully. Just because a plant looks good in one spot of your yard doesn’t mean it will grow well there. To keep your plants healthy, you can use companion planting. This means growing plants next to each other that help each other grow. From edible plants to flowers, there are a handful of plants that can help avoid diseases, deter pests, and provide shade for nearby company.

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is a key part of gardening, especially for growing food plants. “It’s a way of growing plants together that helps both types,” says Carrie Spoonemore from Park Seed and co-creator of From Seed to Spoon. For example, many gardeners grow herbs next to veggies because they help to repel hungry pests.

Another key part of partner planting is thinking about which plants do not grow well together. “Spoonemore says some plants can grow too tall and create too much shade.” “Some plants attract the same pests, so it’s important to keep them apart.”

Benefits of Companion Planting

There are many good reasons to put certain crops together:

• Keeping pests away: One of the main tasks for gardeners is dealing with pests. Sure, you can spray pesticides, but these are very blunt tools that have major repercussions for nontarget species, including beneficial bugs. It’s better to plant partner plants. Growing one type of food in big sections, which many people do, makes it easier for pests to find and harm them. However, strong evidence supports the homesteader’s hunch that intermingling crops makes for fewer nemeses.
• Some plants can attract helpful animals: Borage draws in bees that help with pollination and small wasps that eat pests. Researchers have confirmed that plants that attract helpful insects are a good choice. This supports gardeners who create “pollinator strips,” which are rows of plants designed to bring in pollinators and natural bug fighters.
• Shade regulation: Big plants give shade to smaller plants that need protection from the sun, like how corn shades veggies.
• Tall plants: like corn and sunflowers, can help support shorter, spreading plants like cucumbers and peas.
• Better plant health: When one plant takes in certain nutrients from the soil, it can alter the soil in a way that benefits nearby plants.
• Improving soil fertility: Some foods, like beans, peas, and other legumes, help to make nitrogen more available in the soil. Plants with long taproots, such as burdock, help pull up nutrients from deep in the ground. This makes the dirt better, which benefits plants with shallower roots.
• Weed control: Planting spreading crops such as potatoes alongside tall plants reduces empty spaces where weeds can grow.

Companion Planting Chart

More Companion Gardening Tips

Companion planting often takes into account how tall different veggies grow.

• Lettuce, radishes, and other quick-growing plants sown between hills of melons or winter squash will mature and be collected long before these vines need more legroom.
• Leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard can grow in the shade of corn.
• Bush beans can grow well in the partial shade from corn. They have roots at different soil levels, so they don’t fight for water and nutrients.
• Don’t worry too much about matching crops together. Proper space, sunlight, water, and good soil care are the key factors for healthy plant growth.
• Why not begin with a few marigold and zinnia seeds? You’ll see helpful bugs show up! What other choices do we have to begin with? What do you think about marigold, nasturtium, basil, and borage?

Common Mistakes in Companion Planting

Gardeners often make some common mistakes when planting partner plants, which can lead to stress for their plants. First, don’t pick plants that have competing root systems because this can slow down their growth. Also, remember to consider how each plant grows. Spoonemore advises to think about how tall and big plants will get to ensure they have enough space to grow.

One common mistake is putting plants that don’t get along too close to each other. “It’s important to know that plants can have friends and enemies,” says Spoonemore. Always check to make sure plants are compatible before putting them next to one another.

Tips for Watering Companion Plants 

 1. Know the Needs: Different plants have different water needs. Check how much water each type requires. 

2. Water at the Right Time: Water plants early in the morning or late in the afternoon to prevent evaporation. 

 3. Keep Soil Moist: Ensure the soil stays damp but not soaked.

When planting different types of plants together, group them based on how much water they need. Plant deep-rooted veggies, like tomatoes and asparagus, together in the same garden bed. They grow better with less frequent but deeper watering that reaches the soil well.

On the other hand, plants with short or medium roots, like beans and chard, need to be watered more often. It’s enough to soak just the top few inches of the soil. Wind soaker hoses around your plants and connect them to dual outlet electronic timers to easily manage your watering schedule for different beds.

Companion planting helps your garden grow strong plants and produce a lot of crops. Taking care of a garden takes a lot of work, so it’s important to invest the time, effort, and learning to grow plants that support each other. Gilmour’s guide to companion planting makes it easier for you by reducing the guessing!