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Companion Planting Guide

Find good plant partners for your garden. Our interactive chart shows beneficial companions, combinations to keep apart, and the reasoning behind companion planting. Results are approximate and intended for planning purposes only — local conditions vary, so consult a professional before finalising your planting plan.

Good companion
Avoid

Companion Relationship Wheel — click a plant to explore

Click a plantto see companions

How to Use the Companion Planting Chart

  1. 1

    Find your main crop

    Select or search for the primary plant you want to grow. The chart will highlight all its companions and plants to avoid.

  2. 2

    Check compatibility

    Green cells indicate beneficial companions that improve growth, repel pests, or enhance flavor. Red cells show plants that should be kept apart.

  3. 3

    Read the reasoning

    Click on any plant to see why certain combinations work or don't. Understanding the 'why' helps you make better garden layout decisions.

  4. 4

    Plan your layout

    Group compatible plants together in your garden beds. Use the spacing calculator to determine how many of each plant you need.

Pro Tips

  • The 'Three Sisters' (corn, beans, squash) is the most famous companion planting combination — beans fix nitrogen, corn provides support, squash shades the ground.
  • Aromatic herbs like basil, rosemary, and mint are excellent companions because their strong scents confuse and repel many common garden pests.
  • Marigolds are a popular companion flower — plant them throughout your vegetable garden to help deter nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies.
  • Avoid planting the same family together in successive years (crop rotation). This prevents disease buildup and nutrient depletion.
  • Tall plants like corn and sunflowers provide natural shade for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce and spinach.
  • Nasturtiums serve as excellent trap crops — aphids prefer them over your vegetables, protecting your harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is companion planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing certain plants near each other for mutual benefit. Benefits include pest control (strong scents repel insects), pollination (flowers attract bees), nutrient sharing (legumes fix nitrogen), and physical support (corn stalks for bean vines).
Does companion planting really work?
Many companion planting benefits are supported by horticultural research — for example, marigold root secretions are widely reported to suppress nematodes, and nitrogen fixation by legumes is well established. Other traditional pairings have less research behind them and rest mainly on generations of gardener experience, so treat them as helpful guidance rather than firm rules.
How close should companion plants be?
Most companion benefits work within 2-4 feet. Aromatic herbs are most effective when planted directly adjacent to or interplanted with the crops they protect. Use our Plant Spacing Calculator to determine optimal distances.
What plants should never be planted together?
Key avoid combinations: tomatoes and brassicas (broccoli, cabbage), onions and beans/peas, potatoes and tomatoes (share diseases), fennel and almost everything (inhibits growth of most plants).
Can I grow tomatoes and peppers together?
Yes! Tomatoes and peppers are good companions. They're both nightshades with similar growing requirements. Just ensure adequate spacing (18-24 inches apart) so they don't shade each other.
What flowers are best for a vegetable garden?
Marigolds (repel nematodes and aphids), nasturtiums (trap crop for aphids), sunflowers (attract pollinators), lavender (repels moths and fleas), and zinnias (attract butterflies and beneficial insects) are all excellent choices.

Results are approximate and intended for planning purposes only. Material densities, coverage rates, and quantities are estimates that may vary based on actual conditions, product specifications, and installation methods. Always consult a professional for final specifications.

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