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!
