Companion Planting

Companion planting is all about creating plant communities which have mutual benefits to each other.

It can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests or it could help improve pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. Although there is limited scientific research surrounding companion gardening, many gardeners find it extremely beneficial to their plant’s performance.

Here are some of the best known partnerships in flowers, herbs and vegetables to help you improve the health of your garden plants without needing to resort to pesticides.

 

Hints and tips

 

Avoid monocultures. This is where the same type of plant is grown en masse or in rows. Monoculture makes it much easier for pests and diseases to find their favourite plants and then spread quickly.

Use tall plants such as peas or sweet corn to create partially shaded conditions for crops prone to bolting, such as coriander, lettuce and spinach.

Plant herbs throughout the garden and vegetable plot, as most have strongly scented leaves which help repel insects.

Try intercropping. This is where fast-growing crops such as lettuce or radishes are sown between widely spaced rows of slower-growing crops such as Brussels Sprouts or parsnips. It utilises the space available and helps prevent weeds growing (weeds take nutrients, light and water, and spread disease).

Plant lots of insect-friendly or bird-friendly plants, either amongst your crops or nearby. They attract natural predators such as birds which eat slugs, hoverflies which eat aphids and bees which pollinate your crops. For a list of wildlife-friendly plants click here.

Take care with some companion plants such as mint – these are fast-growing plants and will quickly smother your crop. Grow mint in containers to keep it under control.

 

 

Companion planting chart

Companion Plant 1                          Companion Plant 2/Why

Cabbage, kale, cauliflower           Nasturtium         Plant Nasturtiums as a sacrificial crop. Cabbage white butterflies will lay their eggs on Nasturtium plants, keeping caterpillars away from your Brassicas.

Cabbage, kale, cauliflower           Mint      Mint helps to deter flea beetles, which chew irregular holes in the leaves.

Courgette                                           Calendula (English Marigold)       Calendula flowers are highly attractive to pollinating insects which will in turn pollinate your courgette flowers.

Broad beans                                       Summer savory                Summer savory helps to repel blackfly, a common pest of broads beans.

Carrot                                                   Spring onions     Sow spring onions amongst your carrots – the smell of onion deters carrot root fly. The smell of carrots also deters onion fly from onions.

Carrot                                                   Leek      The smell of leeks deters carrot root fly. The smell of carrots also helps deter leek moth from leeks.

Carrot                                                   Mint      The aromatic leaves of mint help confuse carrot root fly, who find their host through scent.

Chrysanthemum                              Chives   The onion scent will deter aphids.

French /Runner beans                   Nasturtium         Plant Nasturtiums as a sacrificial crop – aphids love them and this will lure them away from your runner beans/French beans.

Onion                                                    Mint      The aromatic leaves of mint help to confuse and deter onion fly.

Radish   Mint                                      Mint helps to deter flea beetles, which chew irregular holes in the leaves.

Roses                                                    Garlic     The smell of garlic helps to deter aphids.

Roses                                                    Mint, Chives , Thyme     The strong scent of these herbs deters aphids and blackfly.

Runner beans                                    Sweet peas        Sweet peas will attract pollinating insects which will in turn help to pollinate your bean flowers.

Sunflower                                           Chives   The onion scent will deter aphids.

Tomatoes                                            Mint      The smell of mint deters aphids and other pests.

Tomatoes                                            French Marigold (Tagetes patula)             The pungent smell of French marigolds deters whitefly.

Tomatoes                                            Chives   The onion scent will deter aphids.

Tomatoes                                            Basil       Basil reportedly improves tomato flavour and the strong scent of their leaves also deters aphids. A perfect partnership in the kitchen too!