Maximize Your Garden’s Potential with Companion Planting

If you’ve ever wondered how to get the most out of your garden without relying heavily on fertilizers or pesticides, companion planting might be your new favorite technique. This age-old practice involves strategically placing certain plants near each other to enhance growth, deter pests, and improve flavor—all by working with nature, not against it.

Each week, I’m out in real gardens—your gardens—digging into the questions you’ve been asking, right where the plants live and grow. Whether it’s daffodils that won’t bloom, mystery weeds taking over, or soil that just won’t cooperate, I’m here with boots on the ground (and dirt under the nails) to help you troubleshoot, learn, and grow better. Let’s get into this week’s garden adventure!

I’ll choose one gardening question, each week, submitted by a follower to feature here on From the Field Friday. Whether it’s a pruning question, a seasonal dilemma, or something you’ve just been curious about in your own yard, I’ll pick one that I think will be helpful & relatable, for the whole garden-loving community. The goal is to answer it in a way that not only helps you—but gives everyone a chance to learn something new. So keep those questions coming!

This weeks #fromthefieldfriday question: “Can you go over and explain companion planting and some good companion plant combos please?”

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is based on the idea that some plants benefit from growing near others. These benefits might include:

• Pest control: Certain plants naturally repel harmful insects.
• Improved growth: Some combinations encourage stronger, faster growth.
• Enhanced flavor: A few pairings are believed to improve the taste of fruits or vegetables.
• Efficient space usage: Some plants provide shade, ground cover, or vertical support for others.

The key is to understand the relationships between different species—and plan your garden accordingly.

Classic Companion Planting Combinations

Here are a few tried-and-true plant pairings that gardeners have used for generations:

• Tomatoes + Basil: Not only do these two taste great together, but basil also repels pests like whiteflies and aphids while potentially enhancing tomato flavor.
• Carrots + Onions: Onions help deter carrot flies, and carrots don’t mind sharing root space.
• Corn + Beans + Squash (The Three Sisters): A staple of Native American agriculture, this trio works symbiotically: corn provides a pole for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and squash spreads across the ground to block weeds and retain moisture.
• Cabbage + Dill: Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on cabbage pests like aphids and cabbage worms.

What to Avoid: Bad Plant Neighbors

Just as some plants help each other, others compete or even inhibit growth:

• Beans + Onions/Garlic: These members of the allium family can stunt the growth of beans.
• Tomatoes + Potatoes: Though they belong to the same family, planting them together increases the risk of disease transmission.

Tips for Getting Started

1. Plan Your Layout: Sketch out your garden and group compatible plants together.
2. Rotate Crops Annually: Even with companions, rotating plant families helps reduce soil-borne diseases.
3. Start small: Choose 1–2 pairings to test in your garden this season.
4. Observe and adapt: Every garden is different—pay attention to what works in yours.

Why Companion Planting Works

Companion planting is about biodiversity. Monoculture—growing one crop in large swaths—invites pests and diseases. But a mixed garden full of variety confuses pests, attracts beneficial insects, and mimics natural ecosystems.

VEGETABLE COMPANIONS: Vegetables & Their Best Buddies

Tomatoes
Best Friends: Basil & Marigold
Why: Basil boosts flavor & repels aphids. Marigolds deter nematodes.

Cucumbers
Best Friends: Nasturtium, Dill, Radish
Why: Nasturtiums act as aphid traps. Dill repels cucumber beetles.

Peppers
Best Friends: Basil, Oregano, Marigold
Why: Basil deters aphids. Oregano adds pest resistance.

Beans
Best Friends: Corn, Marigold, Cucumber
Why: Beans fix nitrogen. Marigolds ward off beetles.

Lettuce
Best Friends: Radish, Onion, Carrot
Why: Radishes loosen soil. Onions deter pests.

HERB HELPERS: Herbs That Protect & Boost Your Garden

Basil
Pairs well with: Tomatoes, Peppers
Boosts flavor and deters aphids & hornworms.

Dill
Loves: Lettuce, Broccoli, Cucumbers
Attracts ladybugs & parasitic wasps.

Oregano
Plant near: Beans, Cucumbers
Acts as a general pest deterrent.

Chives
Good for: Carrots, Roses
Repels aphids, improves flavor.

Mint (Container Only)
Helps: Cabbage, Broccoli
Repels cabbage moths—but spreads aggressively!

Thyme
Great for: Strawberries, Brassicas
Repels cabbage loopers.

FLOWER POWER: Flowers That Work Overtime

Marigolds
Pest-fighting champs. Protect roots & deter beetles and nematodes.

Nasturtiums
Beautiful & self-sacrificing—trap pests like aphids away from your veggies.

Calendula
Draws bees & deters unwanted insects. Great near greens.

Borage
Bee magnet! Loves strawberries, squash & tomatoes.

Zinnias & Cosmos
Attract butterflies, bees & ladybugs. Perfect in veggie beds!

Sunflowers
Offer shade, structure, and support climbing plants like beans.

Vegetables & Their Best Companion Plants

Vegetable	Companion Plants	Why They Work
Tomatoes	Basil, marigolds, nasturtiums, carrots, onions	Basil enhances flavor; marigolds/nasturtiums deter pests
Carrots	Onions, chives, lettuce, tomatoes	Onions deter carrot flies; lettuce provides shade
Cucumbers	Nasturtiums, radishes, dill, marigolds	Nasturtiums trap aphids; dill repels beetles
Lettuce	Carrots, radishes, strawberries, onions	Radishes grow fast and break up soil
Beans	Corn, cucumbers, marigolds, savory	Beans fix nitrogen; savory repels bean beetles
Peppers	Basil, onions, marigolds, oregano	Basil repels aphids; marigolds deter nematodes
Zucchini	Nasturtiums, marigolds, radishes, corn	Nasturtiums deter squash bugs
Broccoli	Dill, rosemary, onions, nasturtiums	Dill attracts beneficial insects
Corn	Beans, squash, cucumbers, sunflowers	Classic “Three Sisters” planting with beans & squash

Herbs & Their Companion Roles

Herb	Good Companions	Benefits
Basil	Tomatoes, peppers, oregano	Enhances flavor and repels pests
Dill	Cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli	Attracts beneficial insects
Oregano	Peppers, beans, cucumbers	General pest deterrent
Thyme	Cabbage, strawberries, tomatoes	Deters cabbage worms
Chives	Carrots, tomatoes, roses	Deters aphids and improves flavor
Rosemary	Beans, cabbage, carrots	Deters bean beetles and cabbage moths
Parsley	Tomatoes, carrots, asparagus	Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
Mint	Cabbage, broccoli (plant in pots!)	Repels cabbage moths but spreads aggressively

Flowers That Help the Garden

Flower	Companions	Benefits
Marigolds	Almost everything	Repels nematodes, aphids, beetles
Nasturtiums	Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini	Trap crop for aphids, beetles, squash bugs
Calendula	Lettuce, beans, brassicas	Attracts pollinators, repels pests
Borage	Strawberries, tomatoes, squash	Attracts bees, deters worms
Sunflowers	Corn, beans, squash	Provide shade and support; attract pollinators
Alyssum	Leafy greens, carrots	Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies
Cosmos	General flower beds	Draws pollinators and predatory insects
Zinnias	Around vegetable beds	Attracts bees, butterflies, and ladybugs

Quick Tips for Companion Planting Success

• Keep mint in pots—it spreads like crazy.
• Don’t forget flowers in your veggie beds.
• Rotate crops + companions every season.
• Plant a mix of herbs at the garden’s edge for pest protection.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, experimenting with companion planting can be both fun and rewarding. Try a few pairings this season and see what nature can do!

Companion planting is more than a gardening trick—it’s a way to build a healthier, more balanced ecosystem right in your backyard. It can save you time, reduce your need for synthetic inputs, and make your garden more beautiful and productive.

Give it a try this season and let nature do some of the work for you!

Thanks for joining me on this week’s From the Field Friday! I hope today’s question shed some light—and maybe even sparked a few new ideas for your own garden. Got something you’re stumped by or curious about? Send your questions my way, and you just might see yours featured next week. Until then, happy gardening!

From my garden to yours! See ya next time

XO, Carly