Companion Planting Guide [Best Veg+Herbs to Plant Together] (2024)

When you’re planning a garden you’ll want to plant multiple different species together. You will need to be careful though as not all plants are compatible together. Some plants work very well together and will even help each other out. Other plants can be detrimental to each other. When it comes to mint, you need to be extra careful about which plants you grow in its vicinity. Today we’re going to cover companion planting with regard to vegetables, herbs and fruits. First, though, I’ll cover an introduction to companion planting including the benefits of planting the right plants near or next to each other. Then I’ll describe what you need to look for in good companion plants for the food that you’re growing. And finally, I’ll walk you through what are good companion plants and what makes bad companion plants.

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What is Companion Planting?

As you’ve probably guessed from my introduction, companion planting refers to planting multiple species of plants together. It goes a bit further than that, though. Not only are you going to plant different species together, but you want them to benefit each other. That’s the real definition of companion planting: growing multiple species of plants in the same garden that benefit each other.

You’ll find details of the best companion plants and the worst companion plants for vegetables, herbs, fruits and other plants that we grow on Let’s Grow Cook further in this article. And there are separate pieces of content for specific plants. Let’s kick off with the whys and hows of companion planting.

What are the Benefits of Companion Planting?

Plants in the wild do not have the option of having their own little spot of soil. They have to grow wherever they can, competing with whatever plants are in their space. It’s safe to say then, that plants have adapted over the years to be mutually beneficial to each other. Again, this is not true for every plant. Some plants should not be planted together and their proximity to each other means that one (or both of them) will die. But, there are also lots of plants that will “eagerly” help each other out when planted near each other.

Some things that plants will help each other with include:coo

• Attracting pollinators
• Deterring pests & predators
• Improving nutrient supply & availability
• Shade for plants that aren’t sun tolerant
• Support for weaker plants
• Weed suppression

Attracting Pollinators through Companion Planting

Creating a garden with a lot of different scents is very enticing to pollinators. If you plant multiple companion plants together, you’re likely to see an increase in butterflies and bees. Attracting pollinators will only further help your garden. They will help your existing plants to grow healthier while also enabling new crops to sprout.

Deterring Pests with Companion Planting

Many companion plants are good at deterring pests which can be beneficial to those plants unable to protect themselves. Mint, for instance, has a very pungent (and very pleasant) odour that protects many plants from a wide range of pests. Besides deterring pests, mint plants may also attract bugs that will eat the pests. Bugs like ladybirds are drawn to certain herbs like dill and coriander. Ladybirds aren’t harmful to those herbs, but they will eat aphids that can kill plants. Asparagus and tomatoes work well together (read more here)

Improve Nutrient Supply & Availability through Companion Planting

Companion plants can help restore the balance of nutrients in the soil, helping other plants to grow. Vegetables like beans and peas help fix the imbalance of nitrogen in the soil which helps plants that use nitrogen to grow, like brussels sprouts and rhubarb.

Using Companion Planting to Create Shade for Plants

Some plants do better when they’re growing in partial or full shade rather than directly out in the sun. In all of our growing guides, we include details of sun and shade requirements for specific vegetables, herbs, and fruits.

Those plants that do better in the shade include carrots and lettuce. Plants that grow taller, like sweetcorn, can provide shade for those that need it.

Companion Planting for Weed Suppression

We all know how common weeds can be in the garden and how frustrating they can be. When there are empty spots in and around plants, it is ample opportunity for weeds to pop up. And even if you’re on the ball with your weeding, it’s a lot of work. Weeds will take the nutrients from the soil or compost that your vegetables and herbs need!

Companion planting helps fill in any gaps and ensure that there is no space for weeds to pop up. Having plants that completely cover the bare earth also prevents the soil from drying out.

Besides helping each other out, companion planting can make your life as a gardener easier. Planting several different vegetables together can help you know which row is which. It can also help you understand which plants are fast-growing versus which ones grow slowly.

What not to do with Companion Planting

As I mentioned earlier, some plants simply do not do well together. In general, you won’t want to put plants together that are too similar. If their growing conditions are the same (like nutrient needs, space, water, light, etc.), they will compete with each other and they won’t grow well.

You also don’t want to grow plants together that grow the same way. For example, you won’t want to grow two plants that spread using rhizomes (e.g. mint). You also wouldn’t want to grow two plants that both use above ground root systems. You get the idea.

Plant disease and pests can be a big problem when you’re growing things nearby. You’ll want to plant plants that protect each other from various diseases and pests. Equally, it’s best not to plant vegetables and herbs close together if they’re susceptible to all the same things.

Our Guides to Companion Planting

I’ve written specific guides on companion planting for some of my favourite vegetables, herbs and fruits and you can find them below.

• What to plant with Thyme – Thyme Companion Planting Guide
• What to plant with Sage – Sage Companion Planting Guide
• Mint Companion Plants – what to plant with Mint
• Oregano Companion Planting Guide + Can you Grow Tomatoes with Oregano?
• Can you plant Rosemary with Tomatoes?

FAQs on Companion Planting

Got questions about companion planting? Or want to know more about how to use companion planting in the vegetable garden and we haven’t answered your questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about how to make companion planting work for you below, or ask us yours in the comments.

What vegetables should not be planted next to each other?

You’ll want to check our individual articles on vegetable companion planting, but here are some highlights. These are some of the top vegetables that should not be planted near each other

• Carrots and celery
• Rosemary and cucumber – my cucumber growing guide is here
• Onions and Beans – read about growing onions here
• Garlic and Asparagus – my asparagus growing guide is here
• Garlic and Lettuce
• Rosemary and Tomatoes – read more about that here

Sometimes where you plan a vegetable or herb can have an impact on your garden, so I wrote about whether planting rosemary by your garden gate is a myth or useful. Read it here.

What is the point of companion planting?

Companion planting allows complimentary plants to help each other. It lets you use your space more efficiently, which leads to bigger harvests. Companion planting also helps plants to boost growth, improve flavour and repel pests for each other.

Is there another name for Companion Planting?

Companion planting is also called polyculture.

Final Words on Companion Planting

Companion planting is practiced across the world. It’s a great idea and a great way to both help and protect your vegetable garden. However, when you’re considering companion planting, you need to know which plants will go well with one another. Some plants will cause each other to suffer, while other plants will help each other to thrive. Companion planting simply requires a bit of practice. But, if you’re willing to put in the work and watch your plants as they grow, you’ll find yourself on your way to a successful garden.

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