Companion Planting in the Vegetable Garden
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🌿 Companion Planting in the Vegetable Garden
How to Grow a Thriving, Balanced Garden — Naturally
“In nature, everything is connected — so let your plants work together, too.”
Companion planting is the beautiful art (and science) of growing certain plants near each other for mutual benefit. Some plants protect each other from pests, some improve flavor or growth, and others attract helpful pollinators or predators.
Whether you’re working with a few raised beds or a sprawling backyard garden, this method is a natural, organic, and sustainable way to grow more with less.
🌼 What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting uses the natural relationships between plants to create healthier, more productive gardens. Certain combinations:
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Repel pests
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Improve soil health
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Attract beneficial insects
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Enhance growth or flavor
According to the University of Minnesota Extension, research supports companion planting as a helpful technique for home gardeners when used alongside crop rotation and healthy soil practices.
🪴 Companion Planting Breakdown (With Timing + Tips)
Here’s a list of classic pairings I’ve used successfully in my own garden, along with when and how to plant them.
🍅 Tomatoes + Basil + Marigold
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Why it works: Basil improves the flavor of tomatoes and repels whiteflies and hornworms. Marigolds deter nematodes and aphids.
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When to plant:
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Tomatoes after last frost (typically mid to late May)
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Basil + Marigolds at the same time or a few weeks after
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Planting tip: Interplant basil every 1-2 tomato plants. Surround with marigolds along the bed edge.
🥕 Carrots + Onions
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Why it works: Onion’s scent deters carrot flies; carrots help break up the soil.
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When to plant:
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Both can be direct-seeded in early spring (April–early May)
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Planting tip: Sow alternating rows or a checkerboard pattern for natural pest defense.
🥬 Lettuce + Radishes + Chives
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Why it works: Radishes grow fast and break up soil; chives deter aphids and slugs.
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When to plant:
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All three can be planted early spring and again in late summer for fall harvest.
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Planting tip: Radishes make great row markers between lettuce. Scatter chives throughout.
🫘 Pole Beans + Corn + Squash (The Three Sisters)
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Why it works: Beans fix nitrogen for the soil, corn provides support, and squash shades weeds.
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When to plant:
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Corn first (mid-May), then beans when corn is ~6” tall, squash a week later.
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Planting tip: Use hills or clusters, not straight rows, for best effect. Water deeply.
🥒 Cucumbers + Nasturtium + Dill
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Why it works: Nasturtiums repel cucumber beetles; dill attracts ladybugs and lacewings.
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When to plant:
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Cucumbers after danger of frost; nasturtiums & dill at the same time.
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Planting tip: Let dill and nasturtium self-seed for ongoing support all summer long.
🌻 Bonus: Flowers That Help the Veggies Thrive
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Calendula: Attracts pollinators + traps aphids
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Borage: Boosts flavor of strawberries + attracts bees
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Zinnias: Draw in butterflies and hoverflies (who eat pests!)
- Nasturtium:
🌺 Nasturtium — The Unsung Garden Hero
Nasturtiums are more than just a pretty face in the garden. These vibrant, edible flowers are powerful companions for your vegetables — especially cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and brassicas.
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🐛 Repels aphids, cucumber beetles, whiteflies, and squash bugs
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🌸 Attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
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🥗 Edible! Leaves and flowers are peppery and great in salads
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🌿 Low-maintenance and fast-growing — perfect for borders and bed edges
✨ Try planting nasturtiums along the edge of your raised beds or letting them sprawl near squash and cucumbers. They act as a trap crop, luring pests away from your veggies and keeping your garden naturally balanced.
✨ Tips for Success
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Rotate beds each year to prevent pest buildup.
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Do ignore spacing rules and plant a little more densely. I know most will tell you not to but I find it helps keep weeds down and moisture up.
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Think in layers — roots, leaves, and height can all play a role.
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Observe and take notes! Companion planting works best when customized to your own space and microclimate
🧡 Why I Love Companion Planting
For me, companion planting is about more than saving space or deterring pests. It’s about working with nature, letting your garden become a whole living system — a little community of green things helping each other grow.
And just like any community, it gets stronger every year. 🌱