There is something truly magical about walking through a garden where everything seems to thrive together in harmony. And if there's one gardening secret I wholeheartedly believe in, it's companion planting.

I've seen firsthand how it transforms not only the health of my garden but also its beauty and productivity. It's like matchmaking for your plants—pairing up vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a way that helps them thrive together.

Companion planting is one of those time-tested techniques that can make your garden more vibrant, resilient, and, honestly, a lot more fun to plan.

Let me share what I've learned, how herbs and flowers benefit your garden, and who plays well with whom in the garden beds! You’ll also get to download my companion planting chart, which you can always refer back to for easy planning and planting!

Contents:

What is companion planting?
The benefits of companion planting
Companion planting with herbs
Companion planting with flowers
Companion planting chart for vegetables
Plants to avoid planting together
Other companion planting tips to consider

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is when you grow different plants near each other for mutual benefit. Some plants offer protection by deterring pests, others enhance growth, improve flavor, or attract beneficial insects. Every plant contributes something unique and valuable.

This isn't a new concept—many traditional and Indigenous gardening practices have used companion planting for centuries. Think of the classic Three Sisters method: corn, beans, and squash support and benefit one another beautifully.

Modern studies have also started confirming what gardeners have known for generations.

For example:

Studies found that interplanting flowers like marigolds reduced aphid populations in vegetable plots.
Research from Rappahannock Community College supports using basil near tomatoes to improve flavor and pest resistance.
Studies from agricultural schools have found that intercropping (growing multiple crops together) can reduce pest outbreaks and increase yield.

So, while not every pairing is backed by science yet, many of these old gardening tricks are proving to be quite smart.

I think of it like hosting a garden party where everyone gets along: the basil keeps the mosquitoes at bay, the marigolds charm the pollinators, and the tomatoes thrive thanks to their supportive neighbors.

The Benefits of Companion Planting

There are so many reasons I love companion planting, and the benefits extend beyond just having pretty plant combinations:

Pest Control: Strong-smelling herbs like basil and rosemary can deter pests like aphids and cabbage moths.
Pollinator Attraction: Flowers like calendula and nasturtium invite bees and butterflies, which help your fruits and veggies flourish.
Soil health: Certain plants fix nitrogen, improving soil for others and enriching the soil with diverse root systems.
Improved Growth and Flavor: Some plant pairings enhance each other's flavor and productivity. Basil with tomatoes is a classic!
Space Optimization: Companion planting lets you make the most of every square inch of garden space. You can use vertical growers to give shade to more delicate ground plants.
Weed Suppression: Dense planting helps keep weeds at bay.
Reduced need for chemicals: Fewer pests and healthier plants mean you can often skip the sprays

Friend, I do want to add a sidenote here: Companion planting is not a 100% guarantee against pests in the garden. It’s still Mother Nature, and pests can multiply and take over before you even know it! When you have a serious infestation, more intensive methods and treatments may be needed. See companion planting as one way to prevent, rather than cure ;-)

You can also try this DIY natural organic pesticide when needed.

Companion Planting with Herbs

Herbs are like garden multitaskers. They smell amazing, attract pollinators, repel pests, and even boost the flavor and health of nearby plants. I always scatter herbs throughout my vegetable beds—not just in their own little section.

Here are a few of my favorite herb pairings:

Basil: Loves tomatoes, peppers, and even lettuce. It helps repel flies, aphids, and hornworms. Plus, the flavor magic is real, especially next to tomatoes.
Chives: A natural repellent for aphids and carrot flies. I plant them near carrots, lettuce, and even strawberries.
Cilantro: Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and lacewings, which prey on aphids. It does great near spinach and peas.
Rosemary: Strong-scented and excellent at repelling cabbage moths and beetles. I plant it near broccoli, kale, and carrots.
Sage: Another pest repellent, especially for brassicas. I tuck it around cabbage, carrots, and beans.
Dill: A pollinator magnet! It also draws beneficial predators and pairs beautifully with cucumbers, cabbage, and lettuce.
Thyme: Helps deter cabbage worms and moths. I often pair it with eggplant and squash.

When you add a few of these aromatic helpers nearby, you'll be amazed at how much healthier your veggies are.

Companion Planting with Flowers

Let's talk about the beauty queens of the garden—flowers. They're not just there for looks (although they sure make the garden pop). Flowers play a critical role in pest control, pollination, and even soil health.

Some of the best flowers to include in your companion planting layout:

Calendula: These sunny little blooms attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies. I love planting calendula near tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce.
Marigold: Probably the most famous companion flower, marigolds repel nematodes and aphids and confuse beetles. I plant them all over, especially near cucumbers and squash.
Nasturtiums: These are like sacrificial plants—they attract aphids, whiteflies, and squash bugs away from your veggies. I let them ramble under cucumbers, squash, and beans.
Borage: A bee magnet! It's great near tomatoes and strawberries. It also helps deter tomato hornworms and is said to add trace minerals to the soil.
Chamomile: This sweet little daisy improves the flavor and health of many plants. It pairs exceptionally well with brassicas and herbs like basil and sage.
Geranium: Works hard to deter beetles, especially when planted near brassicas like broccoli and kale.
Alyssum: A low-growing flower that attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. I use it to edge beds, especially around potatoes and carrots.

Adding flowers isn't just practical—it also makes your garden a peaceful, joyful space. You'll be surprised how much time you spend there when it's buzzing with life.

Keep reading for your companion planting chart regarding your favorite vegetables!

Visit the gardening section of my blog for more info on growing some of these herbs and flowers!

Companion Planting chart for Vegetables

Here's how these garden friends help each other out. You can also download this companion planting chart PDF

🥦 Broccoli Companions

Rosemary: Deters cabbage moths and other pests.
Beet: Doesn't compete for nutrients and grows well underneath.
Calendula: Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Geranium: Repels cabbage worms and Japanese beetles.
Kale: Both are brassicas that grow similarly, and planting them together makes crop rotation easier.
Oregano: Has insecticidal properties.

🥬 Cabbage Companions

Kale: Another brassica—it's good to keep the family together (though rotate next season!).
Chamomile: Enhances cabbage flavor and attracts beneficial bugs.
Sage: Repels cabbage moths, flea beetles, and slugs.
Dill: Attracts parasitic wasps and lacewings that feast on cabbage pests.
Corn: Offers some shade, which cabbage appreciates in the heat.
Borage: Deterrent to cabbage worms and brings in bees.
Beans & Squash: Create a micro-ecosystem where all three thrive, especially in large beds.
Nasturtiums: Deter insect pests such as beetles and aphids.

🥒 Cucumber Companions

Marigold: Repels nematodes and beetles.
Nasturtium: Acts like a pest magnet (in a good way) to pull aphids away and helps improve growth and flavor.
Dill: Encourages pollinators and predatory insects to visit your cucumbers and deters aphids and mites.
Radish: Repels cucumber beetles and flea beetles.

🥕 Carrot Companions

Chives: Repel carrot flies and aphids, and improve the growth and flavor.
Onions: Their scent masks carrots from pests.
Peas: Fix nitrogen in the soil, which helps carrots grow strong.
Radishes: Loosen the soil, helping carrots establish better.
Rosemary & Sage: Both help deter carrot flies.

🧄 Garlic Companions

Beets & Carrots: Grow well near garlic without competing.
Tomatoes: Garlic helps prevent red spider mites.
Cucumber: Garlic repels aphids and beetles.
Peppers: Help reduce fungal diseases and pests.

READ MORE: How to grow garlic cloves

🍆 Eggplant Companions

Thyme: Helps keep moths at bay.
Spinach: Can grow in the shade of taller eggplants.
Amaranth: Attracts beneficial insects and confuses pests.
Peppers: Similar water and nutrient needs—good companions.

🌶 Peppers Companions

Basil: Enhances flavor and deters aphids and spider mites.
Chives & Garlic: Natural pest repellents.
Spinach: Fits nicely beneath peppers, making use of space.

🥔 Potatoes Companions

Beans: Improve nitrogen in the soil for potatoes and improve the size of potato tubers.
Corn: Doesn't compete directly and can provide shade.
Peas: Another nitrogen fixer that is good for soil enrichment.
Alyssum: Attracts beneficial predatory insects.
Coriander: Repels potato beetles.
Spinach: A cool-weather plant that fits well between potato rows.
Cilantro: Protects against potato beetles, aphids, and spider mites.

🌿 Spinach Companions

Beans: Give nitrogen to the soil.
Cilantro: Attracts hoverflies, which love to eat aphids.
Eggplant: Offers a bit of shade.
Oregano: Repels pests while staying low to the ground.
Peas: Grow tall to provide shade and enrich the soil.
Rosemary: Adds pest control with its strong scent.
Strawberries: Both enjoy similar growing conditions.

🎃 Squash Companions

Nasturtiums: Deter squash bugs and look beautiful trailing through the vines.
Thyme: Repels worm pests.
Corn: Acts as a living trellis.
Pole Beans: These three together—corn, beans, and squash—make the perfect trio.
Calendula: Deters beetles and root nematodes.

🍅 Tomato Companions

Basil: Enhances flavor and repels tomato hornworms, whiteflies, mosquitoes, spider mites, and aphids.
Borage: Deterrent to tomato worms and adds trace minerals to the soil.
Calendula: Attracts predatory insects to eat pests.
Lettuce: Grows well in the shade of taller tomato plants.
Alliums (onions, garlic, chives): Repel spider mites and aphids.
Dill: Can support parasitic wasps that attack pest caterpillars.

Plants to avoid planting together

Not all plants are friends. Some just don't play well together and can stunt each other's growth or attract the wrong kind of pests. Here are a few examples:

Tomatoes + Corn: They both attract the same worm (ugh, corn earworm).
Carrots + Dill: Dill can stunt carrot growth if it is too close.
Beans + Onions or Garlic: Alliums inhibit the growth of legumes.
Potatoes + Tomatoes: Both are in the nightshade family and can spread diseases between each other.
Cucumbers + Sage: Sage can stunt cucumber growth.
Basil + Rue: Rue can be toxic to basil and other herbs.

Always do some research before planting something new next to your existing crops. A little planning can go a long way!

Other Companion Planting Tips to Consider

Here are a few more things I've learned over the years:

Don't overcrowd your plants in the name of companionship. Even friends need personal space!
Rotate your crops yearly, even with good companions, to reduce disease and pest buildup.
Use flowers generously: Calendula, nasturtiums, alyssum, and marigolds are not just beautiful; they're functional powerhouses in any garden.
Mix flowers and herbs throughout—you don't need a separate herb bed. Let them mingle!
Observe and adjust—gardens are living ecosystems. Take notes each season and tweak your planting to suit your microclimate.
Use vertical space with climbing companions like pole beans or cucumbers on trellises, freeing up room for shade-lovers underneath.
Interplant fast and slow growers, such as radishes (quick) and carrots (slow), in the same row.
Watch the sunlight and spacing: Taller plants can offer beneficial shade, but they can also block light if not placed thoughtfully.

The more I observe my plants and experiment with new combinations, the more convinced I am that companion planting is the secret to a thriving, low-stress garden.

It's not about perfection but about creating a more thoughtful, balanced, and joyful garden space. And honestly, watching my basil cozy up to my tomatoes while bees flit between the calendula and borage brings me so much peace.

So this season, before you plant, think about partnerships. Let your garden become a little community where every plant has a friend.

Happy growing!

Annette xx

Your Companion Planting Chart for a Healthier, Happier Garden