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25 Plants You Should Grow Side-by-Side: The Power of Companion Planting
Gardening is more than just planting seeds and watering regularly—it’s a science and an art. One of the oldest and most effective strategies used by gardeners around the world is companion planting, a practice of growing certain plants next to each other to improve growth, deter pests, and boost yield. When done right, it mimics the way nature grows in harmony.
Here are 25 pairs of plants that thrive when grown side-by-side—and the reasons why these botanical friendships work.
1. Tomatoes + Basil
A classic combo, basil enhances the flavor of tomatoes and helps repel pests like aphids, mosquitoes, and whiteflies.
2. Carrots + Onions
Onions release a strong scent that confuses carrot flies, while carrots help deter onion flies—making this pair a win-win.
3. Corn + Beans + Squash (The Three Sisters)
A Native American trio: corn provides a stalk for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and squash shades the ground, suppressing weeds.
4. Cabbage + Dill
Dill attracts beneficial wasps and other insects that prey on cabbage worms and aphids, keeping your brassicas safer.
5. Lettuce + Radishes
Radishes grow quickly and break up the soil, helping lettuce roots thrive. They also help distract pests from delicate lettuce leaves.
6. Spinach + Strawberries
Spinach provides ground cover, reducing weeds around strawberry plants and helping keep their fruits cleaner.
7. Cucumbers + Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids and beetles, luring them away from cucumber vines.
8. Beets + Garlic
Garlic repels fungal diseases and pests that often bother beets. Plus, both thrive in similar soil conditions.
9. Peppers + Marigolds
Marigolds deter nematodes and aphids, while their bright blooms attract pollinators to help peppers set fruit.
10. Zucchini + Borage
Borage attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while improving the health and flavor of zucchini.
11. Potatoes + Horseradish
Horseradish repels Colorado potato beetles and enhances the disease resistance of potatoes when planted nearby.
12. Broccoli + Celery
Celery helps repel cabbage moths and aphids that love broccoli, making it a helpful companion in brassica beds.
13. Eggplant + Beans
Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which can help boost eggplant growth while also acting as a natural mulch.