Vegetable Garden Companion Planting Chart for vegetables and herbs

This post was most recently updated on January 22nd, 2021

Vegetable Garden Companion Planting can be a confusing business. It takes a while to get your head around companion plant combinations that work and don’t work together. Below, you can grab your free companion planting chart PDF.

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One of the first steps to freedom from relying on supermarkets for food is learning how to grow your own vegetables. Companion planting is a great way to improve your garden’s yield, while reducing your reliance on pesticides and herbicides.

What is Vegetable Garden Companion Planting ?

Companion planting is simply the practice of planting two or more plants together to the benefit of both plants. It can be an intimidating concept to the new gardener, but with some simple, well known combinations of plants, you will be a companion planting ninja very quickly.

Much of what the gardening community knows about vegetable garden companion planting has been learned by trial and error over many generations. Ask your Granny what plants she usually plants together.

Some plants work better with others and some are a terrible combination and they both struggle. Here are some well-known plant combinations that work and you should aim for. I have provided a printable pdf of vegetable and herb companion combinations that work well below for you.

DOWNLOAD YOUR companion planting chart PDF here companion-planting-list-piwakawaka-valley

Companion planting isn’t limited to just vegetables either, herbs and many flowers can be used as companion plants for the vegetables in your veggie patch, or with your fruit trees in the orchard.

Flowers that make good companion plants:

Many flowers make brilliant companion plants, and not only do they help their companions grow – they also attract and feed pollinators and beneficial insects.

Nasturtium (a flower) attracts caterpillars, aphids and whitefly. Therefore planting it alongside or around vegetables such as lettuces, cabbages, beans and tomatoes will protect them. The adults will lay the eggs on the nasturtium leaves instead.

The nasturtium can be pulled while the eggs are at a junior stage to rid the garden of this cycle. Also when they are flowering nasturtium attract bees and provide homes for beneficial bugs.

You should plant marigolds close to crops that suffer from aphids and greenfly. Marigolds emit a scent that repels aphids and attracts hoverflies, which are a predator of aphids.

Foxgloves as a companion plant have a growth-stimulating effect on all the plants near it. It is also said to protect the garden from disease and strengthen tender plants.

Certain flowers are grown as companion plants near edible crops in order to attract insects for pollination.

Capsicums and eggplants, which have smaller flowers, benefit from having flowers nearby to ensure they get pollinated.

Bee friendly companion plants include calendula, marigolds, sunflowers, poppies, clover, nasturtiums, Queen Anne’s Lace, echinacea, borage and purple tansy.

Borage is a great companion for your strawberries, attracting lots of bees for increased yields.

DOWNLOAD YOUR companion planting chart PDF here companion-planting-list-piwakawaka-valley

Herbs that make good vegetable garden companion plants

Many herbs make great companion plants, if you choose culinary herbs, or medicinal ones, they can be of multiple benefits to you and your garden.

Sage is a great herb to plant around celery crops, as it helps to keep aphids away.

Hyssop deters white cabbage butterfly from brassicas such as broccoli, cabbages and Brussels sprouts.

Basil improves the flavour of tomatoes when planted alongside. Basil can also be planted alongside capsicums.

Plant dill and rosemary next to broccoli.

RELATED: How to grow thyme

Great Vegetable combinations for successful companion planting

Grow carrots and leeks together. Both have strong scents that drive away each other’s pests. If you aren’t growing leeks, spring onions work well too.

Garlic planted among roses will help deter aphids.

Asparagus, basil, carrots, celery and parsley are ideal companion plants for tomatoes to help each other grow. Tomatoes are also compatible with chives and onion.

Sweetcorn does well planted with potatoes, peas, beans and squash.

RELATED: Why you MUST mulch

Why are some Companion Planting Charts Conflicting?

Not all companion planting charts are the same. This is because companion planting is not completely understood and what grows well together in some areas may compete for the same resources elsewhere.

Companion Planting Charts Are a Guideline Only

There are general guidelines for companion planting vegetables that work well in the majority of the world. I suggest that you use this chart as a guide, and modify it as you find what works (or doesn’t work) in your own garden.

Over time you will have a great resource for your area, and won’t need to rely on others’ companion planting charts anymore!

The Big Benefits of Companion Planting Vegetables and Herbs in your garden

There are many benefits for employing some companion planting in your garden:

Shelter – smaller plants are protected by larger ones from wind or too much sun.
Support – Some vegetables can climb others – like pole beans planted with corn use the corn as a trellis.
Beneficial Insects – attracting beneficial insects such as bees help spread pollen and other keep aphid numbers low.
Soil Improvement – some vegetable plants improve soil conditions for other plants. For example, legumes (beans, peas etc) draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to the soil around them.
Decoy Plants – there are plants that emit odors that aid in masking the odors of insect-desirable vegetable plants.

Free Companion Planting Chart:

DOWNLOAD YOUR companion planting chart PDF here companion-planting-list-piwakawaka-valley

Vegetable	Good Companions	Antagonists	Reason
Asparagus	Basil, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Carrots, Tomatoes, Marigolds	Garlic, Potatoes, Onions	Marigolds, Parsley, Tomato protect from asparagus beetles
Beans	Beets, Brassicas, Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Celery, Chards, Corn, Eggplant, Peas, Potatoes	Alliums (chives, garlic, leeks, onions), Peppers, Tomatoes For Broad Beans: Fennel	Corn is a natural trellis, and provides shelter for beans. Beans provide nitrogen to the soil.
Beets	Brassicas (ie. broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kohlrabi, turnip), Kohlrabi, Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Sage	Pole and Runner Beans	The beans and beets compete for growth. Composted beet leaves add magnesium to the soil when mixed.
Broccoli	Basil, Bush Beans, Chamomile, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Lettuce, Marigold, Mint, Onion, Potato, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Tomato	Grapes, Mustard, Oregano, Strawberry, Tomato	Rosemary repels cabbage fly. Dill attracts wasps for pest control.
Brussels Sprouts	Dill, Potato, Thyme	Strawberry, Tomato	—
Cabbage	Beets, Bush Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Mint, Onion, Potato, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage	Beans (Pole and Runner), Mustards, Peppers, Strawberry, Tomato	Celery, onion and herbs keep pests away. Rosemary repels cabbage fly.
Carrots	Beans (Bush and Pole), Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Rosemary, Tomato	Dill, Parsnip	Beans provide nitrogen in soil which carrots need. Onion, parsley and rosemary repel the carrot fly
Cauliflower	Beans, Celery, Oregano, Peas, Tomato	Strawberries	Beans provide the soil with nitrogen, which cauliflower needs.
Celery	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Dill, Leeks, Marjoram, Tomatoes	Parsnip, Potato	—
Chives	Basil, Carrots, Marigold, Parsley, Parsnip, Strawberries, Tomato	Beans	—
Corn	Beans, Cucumbers, Marjoram, Parsnip, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini	Tomato	Tomato worm and corn earworm like both plants. Beans and peas supply nitrogen.
Cucumber	Beans, Celery, Corn, Dill, Lettuce, Peas, Radish	Potato, Sage, strong aromatic herbs, Tomato	Cucumbers grow poorly around potatoes and sage.
Dill	Cabbage, Corn, Cucumbers, Dill, Fennel, Lettuce, Onions	Coriander, Tomato	Cross-pollinates with coriander, ruining both. One only a few plants that grows well with Fennel.
Eggplant	Beans, Marjoram, Pepper, Potato	—	—
Kohlrabi	Beets, Lettuce, Onions	Strawberries, Pole Beans, Tomato	Lettuce repels earth flies.
Leek	Carrots, Celery, Lettuce, Onions	Beans, Peas	Companion attributes are the same as garlic, onion, chives (alliums).
Lettuce	Beans, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Marigold, Onions, Peas, Radish, Strawberries	Parsley	Mints repel slugs (which feed on lettuce).
Marigold	Brassicas (broccoli, etc), Cucurbits (cucumber, etc), Peppers, Tomato, and most other plants	—	It is said that you can plant Marigolds throughout the garden, as they repel insects and root-attacking nematodes (worm-like organisms). Be aware they may bother allergy sufferers.
Onions	Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Lettuce, Marjoram, Rosemary, Savory, Strawberry, Tomato	Beans, Peas	Repels aphids, the carrot fly, and other pests.
Parsley	Asparagus, Beans, Radish, Rosemary, Tomato	Lettuce	Draws insects away from tomatoes.
Peas	Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsnip, Potato, Sage	Alliums (Chives, Garlic, Onion, Shallots)	—
Potato	Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Eggplant, Horseradish, Marjoram, Parsnip	Celery, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Rosemary, Strawberries, Tomato	Cucumber, tomato and raspberry attract harmful pests to potatoes. Horseradish increases disease resistance.
Pumpkin	Beans, Corn, Radish	Potato	—
Radish	Cabbage, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsnip	—	Radish is often used as a trap crop against some beetles(flea and cucumber).
Sage	Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberries	—	Repels cabbage fly, some bean parasites.
Spinach	Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Strawberries	—	Natural shade is provided by beans and peas, for spinach.
Squash	Fruit trees, strawberries	—	Similar companion traits to pumpkin.
Strawberries	Borage, Bush Beans, Caraway	Broccoli, Cabbages	The herb, Borage, is likely the strongest companion.
Tomatoes	Alliums, Asparagus, Basil, Borage, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Marigold, Peppers	Brassicas, Beets, Corn, Dill, Fennel, Peas, Potatoes, Rosemary	Growing basil about 10 inches from tomatoes increases the yield of the tomato plants.
Turnip	Peas	—	—
Zucchini	Flowering herbs (for pollination)	—	Attracts bees

For more information about when to plant and harvest different crops read here.

For more information about crop rotation read here

Here is a great video on some of the research behind the benefits of companion planting:

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