Organic gardeners can avert a great many crop ailments and pests by using thoughtful companion planting. The chart below, which includes information found in one of my favorite garden resource books, The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C.
Companion Planting
Smith, as well as from a variety of other sources, can help you determine which vegetables to plant together, and which ones to space far apart for maximum effectiveness at deterring various insects and diseases.
Asparagus
Garden Friends: Basil, nasturtium, parsley, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Garlic, onion
Bean, bush
Garden Friends: Beet, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, leek, marigold, parsnip, pea, potato, radish, rosemary, strawberry, sunflower
Garden Adversaries: Basil, fennel, kohlrabi, onion family (see bottom of this chart for members)
Bean, pole
Garden Friends: Carrot, cauliflower, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, marigold, pea, potato, rosemary, strawberry
Garden Adversaries: Basil, beet, cabbage, fennel, kohlrabi, onion family, radish, sunflower
Beet
Garden Friends: Bush bean, cabbage family (see bottom of this chart for members), corn, leek, lettuce, lima bean, onion, radish
Garden Adversaries: Mustard, pole bean
Broccoli
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celery, chard, cucumber, dill, kale, lettuce, mint, nasturtium, onion family, oregano, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Lima, pole, and snap bean, strawberry
Brussels Sprouts
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celery, cucumber, lettuce, nasturtium, onion family, pea, potato, radish, spinach, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Kohlrabi, pole bean, strawberry
Cabbage
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celery, cucumber, dill, kale, lettuce, mint, nasturtium, onion family, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach, thyme
Garden Adversaries: Pole bean, strawberry
Canteloupe
Garden Friends: Corn
Garden Adversaries: Potato
Carrot
Garden Friends: Bean, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chive, leaf lettuce, leek, onion, pea, pepper, red radish, rosemary, sage, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Celery, dill, parsnip
Cauliflower
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celery, cucumber, dill, kale, lettuce, mint, nasturtium, onion family, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach, tomato
Garden Adversaries:
Celery
Garden Friends: Bush bean, cabbage family (especially cauliflower), leek, parsley, pea, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Carrot, parsnip
Corn
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumber, morning glory, parsley, pumpkin, squash
Garden Adversaries: Tomato
Cucumber
Garden Friends: Bush bean, cabbage family, corn, dill, eggplant, lettuce, nasturtium, pea, radish, sunflower, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Potato, sage
Eggplant
Garden Friends: Bush bean, pea, pepper, potato
Garden Adversaries: None
Kale
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, cabbage, celery, cucumber, lettuce, nasturtium, onion, potato, spinach, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Pole bean
Kohlrabi
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, celery, cucumber, lettuce, nasturtium, onion, potato, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Lima, pole, and snap bean, strawberry
Leek
Garden Friends: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celeriac, celery, onion, parsley, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Pole bean
Lettuce
Garden Friends: Everything, but especially carrot, garlic, onion family, and radish
Garden Adversaries: None
Lima Bean
Garden Friends: Beet, radish
Garden Adversaries: None
Onion Family
Garden Friends: Beet, cabbage family, carrot, kohlrabi, leek. early lettuce, parsnip, pepper, spinach, strawberry, tomato, turnip
Garden Adversaries: Asparagus, bean, pea, sage
Parsley
Garden Friends: Asparagus, corn, tomato
Garden Adversaries: None
Parsnip
Garden Friends: Bush bean, garlic, onion, pea, pepper, potato, radish
Garden Adversaries: Caraway, carrot, celery
Pea
Garden Friends: Bean, carrot, celery, chicory, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, radish, spinach, strawberry, sweet pepper, turnip
Garden Adversaries: Onion family
Pepper
Garden Friends: Carrot, eggplant, onion, parsnip, pea, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Fennel, kohlrabi
Potato
Garden Friends: Bush bean, cabbage family, corn, eggplant (as trap crop), marigold, parsnip, pea
Garden Adversaries: Cucumber, pumpkin, raspberry, rutabaga, squash family, sunflower, tomato, turnip
Pumpkin
Garden Friends: Corn, eggplant, nasturtium, radish
Garden Adversaries: Potato
Radish
Garden Friends: Bean, beet, cabbage family, carrot, chervil, corn, cucumber, leaf lettuce, melon, nasturtium, parsnip, pea, spinach, squash family, sweet potato, tomato
Garden Adversaries: Hyssop
Rutabaga
Garden Friends: Nasturtium, onion family, pea
Garden Adversaries: Potato
Spinach
Garden Friends: Cabbage family, celery, legumes, lettuce, onion, pea, radish, strawberry
Garden Adversaries: Potato
Squash
Garden Friends: Celeriac, celery, corn, dill, melon, nasturtium, onion, radish
Garden Adversaries: Potato
Strawberry
Garden Friends: Bean, borage, lettuce, onion, pea, spinach
Garden Adversaries: Cabbage family
Sweet Potato
Garden Friends: Aromatic herbs such as summer savory (helps deter sweet potato weevils), thyme, oregano, and dill.
Garden Adversaries: Squash, watermelon, or anything similar that has a vine that spreads on the ground
Tomato
Garden Friends: Asparagus, basil, bee balm, bush bean, carrot, celery, chive, cucumber, garlic, head lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium. onion, parsley, pepper, pot marigold
Garden Adversaries: Dill, fennel, pole bean, potato
Turnip
Garden Friends: Onion family, pea
Garden Adversaries: Potato
What is the Cabbage Family?
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower
What is the Onion Family?
Chives, leeks, garlic, onion, scallions