by Green Life Soil in WA
Companion planting is the careful placement of plants (especially vegetables and herbs) which have been shown to have beneficial effects on one another. Sometimes, this comes down to simple physical reasons – taller plants provide shelter from sun and wind for plants that need protection. Climbing plants can be trained up over taller plants to maximise production in small spaces. Some plants make good companions because their roots grow to different depths, so simply do not compete with each other for water and nutrients.
Plants in the legume family (eg. Peas and beans) promote growth in nearby plants with their nitrogen fixing ability – nodules on the roots enable plants to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form used by plants. Also they tend to be deep rooted, which promotes aeration of the soil, thus benefiting their neighbours.
The shape of some plants and their flowers can visually confuse insect pests. Other plants, especially herbs, contain strong smelling substances released by their leaves. These scents can swamp odours emitted by other plants and confuse insects seeking out a target.
Still other plants emit chemicals from their roots which can act as growth stimulants for other plants, or can act negatively to retard germination of seeds.
So you see it can get rather complicated! For whatever reason, studies have shown that companion planting really does work. It is unlikely to prove 100% successful in preventing insect attacks, but it is just one of the practices used by organic gardeners.
Another trick promoted in permaculture is planting in scattered groupings rather than rows of vegetables in a neat, straight line. This again helps to confuse pests, and can act as an ‘isolation ward’ – one group of plants may be attacked but with a bit of luck the other groups may go undetected! With a straight line of the same plants, pests can simply munch their way across your vegie patch!
So what plants like growing near each other? Some books and charts do tend to give different opinions, but we have compiled a list here of good and bad companions where a general consensus seems to exist!
| Plant | Good Companion | Bad Companion |
| Artichoke | Cucumber | Potatoes |
| Asparagus | Basil, parsley, tomatoes, marjoram | - |
| Beans | Carrot, celery, cabbage family, peas, cucumber, potatoes, parsnip, lettuce, parsley, eggplant, marigolds | Beetroot, onion, garlic, kohl rabi |
| Beetroot | Kohl rabi, onion, silverbeet, lettuce, cabbage family, dill, marjoram | Beans, tomatoes |
| Cabbage family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) | Beetroot, celery, dill, chamomile, onion, mint, potatoes, thyme, lavender, nasturtium, beans, peas, coriander, marigolds, lettuce | Strawberries, tomatoes, garlic |
| Carrots | Chives, lettuce, onion, leek, peas, rosemary, tomatoes, radish | dill |
| Celery | Beans, cauliflower, cabbage, leek, tomatoes, dill | - |
| Corn | Beans, cucumber, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, melons, parsnip, zucchini | - |
| Cucumber | Beans, chives, corn, peas, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, nasturtium | - |
| Eggplant | Beans, marjoram, potatoes | - |
| Leek | Carrot, celery, onion | Beans, peas |
| Lettuce | Carrot, cucumber, onion, radish, strawberries, beetroot, marigolds | - |
| Onions, Garlic | Beetroot, chamomile, carrot, lettuce, radish, cabbage family, tomatoes, silverbeet, strawberries | Peas, beans, potatoes |
| Parsnip | Peas, potatoes, beans, radish, garlic | Carrot, celery |
| Peas | Beans, carrot, cucumber, corn, radishes, swede, turnip, squash | Onion, garlic, potatoes, shallots |
| Potatoes | Beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, marigolds, peas, nasturtium, parsnip | Cucumber, pumpkin, sunflower, onions, tomatoes, rosemary |
| Pumpkin/squash, zucchini | Corn, nasturtium, marjoram | Potatoes |
| Radish | Carrot, lettuce, peas, onions, nasturtium, parsnip | - |
| Spinach | Strawberries, beetroot, onion | - |
| Silverbeet | Lavender, marigolds | - |
| Strawberries | Bush beans, lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, onion (not garlic) | Cabbage family, tomatoes, garlic |
| Swede | Onions, peas | - |
| Tomatoes | Asparagus, basil, carrot, chives, mint, nasturtium, parsnip, onion, corn, parsley, marigold, celery | Rosemary, potatoes, dill, kohlrabi, strawberries |
| Turnip | Peas, nasturtium | - |
(References: ‘Companion Planting in Australia ’ by Brenda Little, Reed Books & ‘The Backyard Organic Garden’ by Keith Smith, Lothian Press)
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Other Countries who Really CARE for their PEOPLE do Not Sell Weedicides and Pesticides. We have been JUPED - when We Choose to Go with NATURE that is the BEST WAY so Come On Aussies, SIDE with NATURE. It's So Much Better for Your HEALTH. Especially for Babies and Nursing Mums, Toddlers and Little Kids!
Many Family Health ISSUES are due to the USE of CHEMICALS in Agriculture and Home Gardens. Lets be WISE and Expose the LIES that BIG AG has Sold Us - We Don't Really Need That Stuff. If you do some Research, all the SICK Countries Use CHEMICALS. So lets break FREE of that! Will You Join ME?
My Companion Planting Guide For Veggies, Herbs And Salad Veggies
Some More Items Included in My List - Made By Researching Different Websites!
I Will be Writing Another Article on ORGANIC Gardening in the Near Future.