Vegetable garden companion planting for abundant harvests

Some years your vegetable garden is a success—others, not so much. Gardening has its ups and downs! Of course, there are many factors behind your successes and failures. Companion planting is one of them. Yes, without realizing it, you’ve probably made some good, and some bad, vegetable combinations in your garden!

What is vegetable companion planting?

Good combinations in the vegetable garden

Companion planting is the practice of planting different vegetable, flower, and herb species side by side so that they can offer benefits to one another. Growing these species together creates an environment conducive to the development of strong, healthy plants, especially vegetables. For example, some flowers and herbs attract beneficial insects, such as pollinators; others repel pests, such as aphids; and some even prevent weed growth.

But be careful. Whereas some types of plant partnerships are beneficial, you should avoid others. Indeed, some plants can harm their neighbors when the two species compete for the same nutrients in the soil.

Why use companion planting?

First Nations used the technique of identifying companion vegetables long before the arrival of Europeans. At the time, they paired grains with legumes to produce an abundant harvest. Today, companion planting has been gaining renewed interest thanks to the organic gardening trend and the benefits good planting companions can provide, like these:

Attracting pollinators (e.g., sunflowers attract bees)
Reducing the invasion of harmful insects and use of pesticide (e.g., chives repel aphids)
Preventing weed growth and reducing the herbicide use (e.g., radishes deter weeds)
Adding nitrogen to the soil (e.g.: legumes provide nitrogen for tomatoes and cucumbers)
Adapting to lighting needs (e.g., lettuce grows well in the shade of tomato plants)

How to achieve successful companion planting

It is important to understand that you should locate plants and vegetables that help each other and promote growth alternately in rows next to each other, in squares side-by-side, or one at the base of the other. Keep vegetables and plants that are natural enemies at least 1.5 m (5 ft) apart.

Here’s a companion growing chart for your vegetable garden. It lists the best combinations to make and those to avoid.

Download your copy

In addition, to boost your harvests, we suggest a few useful tips to combine with your companion growing technique in this article: Tips and Advice for Beginners : How to Grow a Successful Vegetable Garden!

Myth or fact?

Some people doubt the effectiveness of companion planting. For others, the addition of companion plants has changed their lives. So put on your gardening gloves and give it a try. You’ll see for yourself the results of this proven technique.

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Happy gardening!

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Companion planting in the vegetable garden: Which vegetables should be planted next to each other?

What is vegetable companion planting?

Why use companion planting?

How to achieve successful companion planting

Myth or fact?