ASPARAGUS | Calendula Petunias Tomatoes | Calendula, tomatoes, and petunias are thought to deter asparagus beetles. |
BASIL | Peppers Purslane Tomatoes | Purslane is used to shade the soil around basil plants, helping them to remain fresh in hot weather. Basil improves the growth and flavor of tomatoes and peppers. |
BEANS
| Beets Corn Lovage Nasturtium Rosemary Squash Strawberries Sunflower | Nasturtiums can be used as a trap plant to entice aphids away from beans. Lovage and rosemary also have excellent insect-repellent qualities. Sunflowers can be used to create shade for sun-stressed crops. Corn will benefit from the beans’ nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Pole beans provide structural support. |
BEETS | Brassicas Bush beans Garlic Lettuce Onion family | Beets are companions for chicory and endive. Onions protect against borers and cutworms. Beets add minerals to the soil, as beet leaves are composed of 25% magnesium. |
BROCCOLI | Oregano Other Brassicas (Cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.) | Oregano has insecticidal properties. Plant Brassicas together so that they can all be covered with nets to protect from pests such as cabbageworms. They also all like lime added to the soil. |
CABBAGE | Garlic Nasturtium Sage | Nasturtiums deter insect pests such as beetles and aphids. Garlic planted alongside cabbage repels insects with its odor. Sage deters cabbage moths. |
CARROTS | Chives Leeks Onions Peas Radishes Rosemary Sage | Chives improve the growth and flavor of carrots and deter aphids, mites, and flies. Rosemary and sage repel carrot fly. Leeks are thought to repel many flying pests (including carrot rust fly).
Foes: Dill can reduce the yield of carrots. Dill, coriander, and other members of the Carrot family should not be planted near carrots (they tend to cross-pollinate). |
CORN | Beans (pole) Cucumbers Dill Melons Peas Squash Sunflower | Dill is thought to protect against aphids and mites. Beans can provide more nitrogen to the corn. Sunflowers can act as a structure and a windbreak for the corn, and dwarf sunflowers bring in ladybugs to control aphids. Pole beans are sometimes interplanted with corn, adding nitrogen and providing structural support. Spinach grows well in the shade of corn, keeping corn roots cool. |
CUCUMBERS | Beans Borage Dill Lettuce Nasturtiums Oregano Radish Sunflowers Tansy | Dill is thought to protect against aphids and mites. Nasturtium deters aphids, beetles, and bugs and improves growth and flavor. Oregano deters pests in general. Radish, Nasturtium, and Tansy repel cucumber beetles; radish also repels flea beetles. Tansy also deters ants, beetles, bugs, and flying insects, as does borage, improving flavor and growth. |
LETTUCE | Chives Onions Oregano Peas Poached Egg plants Radishes Scallions Zinnia | Chives, onions, and garlic deter aphids and other pests by masking the scent of the lettuce with their aroma. Basil is thought to improve the flavor and growth of lettuce. Radishes can be used as a trap crop for flea beetles. Poached egg plants (Limnanthes), a wildflower, will bring hoverflies and other beneficials that eat aphids. |
ONIONS | Beets Cabbage Carrot Chard Lettuce Strawberry Tomatoes | Onions protect against borers and cutworms. Their aroma disorients pests. Onions benefit from marigolds as the smell of marigolds reduces the egg laying of onion maggot fly. |
PEAS | Alyssum Carrot Chives Corn Grapes Lettuce Mint Radish Spinach Turnip | Chives deter aphids. Mint improves health and flavor. Alyssum brings in pollinators and encourages green lacewings, which eat aphids.
Foes: Do not plant near garlic and onion, as they will stunt the growth of peas |
PEPPERS | Basil Marjoram Onions Oregano | Herbs like basil, oregano, and marjoram have a protective, insecticidal quality. |
POTATOES | Basil Beans Calendula Catmint Cilantro Garlic Horseradish Oregano Peas Tansy | Beans can improve the size of potato tubers. Cilantro protects against aphids, spider mites, and potato beetles. Calendula, Tansy, and horseradish planted at the corner of a potato patch ward off Colorado potato beetles. (Note: Tansy is considered invasive in some areas. See local guidelines before planting.) Catmint also repels Colorado potato beetles but can bring cats into the vegetable garden, so it is a good idea to plant it in pots around the edge of the plot. |
RADISHES | Chervil Lettuce Nasturtium Peas | Chervil improves growth and flavor. Nasturtiums are a good trap crop for radishes. Radishes are often used as trap crops for flea beetles. Peas give nitrogen to the soil, which benefits radishes. |
WINTER SQUASH and PUMPKINS | Beans (pole) Buckwheat Calendula Corn Marigold Nasturtium Oregano | Buckwheat brings in pest predators, which reduce insect pests. Nasturtiums protect against pumpkin and squash beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection. Calendula deters beetles and root nematodes. Squash is traditionally planted with corn and beans (“three sisters”) to disorient the adult vine borer. |
SPINACH | Beans Cilantro Eggplant Oregano Peas Rosemary Strawberries | Peas and beans provide natural shade for spinach. Cilantro, oregano, and rosemary are thought to repel insects. |
TOMATOES | Asparagus Basil Borage Calendula Dill Garlic Nasturtium Onion Parsley Thyme | Calendula deters general garden pests Asparagus repels nematodes. Basil repels whiteflies, mosquitoes, spider mites, and aphids. Basil also attracts bees, which improves pollination, tomato health, and flavor. Borage repels hornworms. Dill makes it difficult for cutworms to lay their eggs and supports parasitic wasps that attack pest caterpillars. Thyme reduces egg laying by armyworms. |
ZUCCHINI/ SUMMER SQUASH | Buckwheat Oregano Nasturtium Zinnia | Buckwheat brings in pest predators which reduce insect pests. To attract pollinators, plant oregano and zinnias. Nasturtium protects against aphids and whiteflies. |