Companion Planting: What Actually Works

Basil repels aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms. May improve tomato flavor.

Carrots loosen soil around tomato roots. Tomatoes provide shade for carrots in summer.

Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on cucumber pests.

Classic Three Sisters: beans fix nitrogen, corn provides support for climbing beans.

Radishes mark rows and break up soil. Harvest radishes before lettuce needs the space.

Onion scent deters carrot fly. Carrots deter onion fly.

Basil repels aphids and spider mites from pepper plants.

Beans fix nitrogen which feeds heavy-feeding eggplant.

Peas fix nitrogen and provide light shade for heat-sensitive spinach.

Part of Three Sisters planting. Squash leaves shade soil and deter weeds.

Just like with bell peppers, basil repels aphids and spider mites from hot pepper plants. They share the same growing conditions — full sun and warm soil.

Borage attracts pollinators that improve strawberry fruit set and some gardeners report it improves strawberry flavor. Borage also attracts beneficial insects that prey on strawberry pests.

Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, drawing aphids away from cucumbers. They also attract predatory insects and add beautiful edible flowers to your garden.

Garlic planted around rose bushes helps repel aphids, Japanese beetles, and other rose pests. The strong sulfur compounds in garlic act as a natural pest deterrent.

French marigolds suppress root-knot nematodes in the soil and may repel whiteflies from tomatoes. They also attract hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids.

Dill attracts parasitic wasps and other beneficial insects that prey on cabbage worms and aphids — two of kale's biggest pest problems.

Young dill repels aphids and attracts beneficial insects near tomatoes. However, mature dill can inhibit tomato growth, so harvest dill regularly or pull it before it gets large and goes to seed.

Marigolds help deter flea beetles, which are one of the most common and damaging pests for eggplant. They also attract beneficial insects to the area.

Peas fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits carrots planted nearby. Carrots' light feathery foliage does not compete with peas for light. Both are cool-season crops with similar timing.

Spinach grows as a living mulch under strawberry plants, keeping soil cool and moist. They share similar watering needs and spinach is harvested before strawberries need the space.

Basil repels aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies from eggplant. They both love full sun and warm conditions, making them natural garden bed partners.

Sunflower stalks can serve as natural trellises for cucumber vines, and their large blooms attract pollinators that improve cucumber fruit set. Plant sunflowers first and let them establish before training cucumbers up the stalks.

Nasturtiums serve as a trap crop, luring squash bugs and aphids away from zucchini plants. Their bright flowers also attract pollinators that improve squash fruit set.

Fast-growing radishes break up soil crust and mark rows, making it easier for slower-germinating spinach to establish. Radishes are harvested well before spinach needs the room.

Borage attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to tomato plants. Some gardeners also report it deters tomato hornworms. Its deep taproot can bring up minerals from lower soil layers.