Companion Planting

This age-old technique has been used by farmers and gardeners for centuries. Companion planting has been based around the idea of putting certain plants side by side in order to bring out the `best` in both of them, encouraging mutual growth and controlling pests naturally. This will thus reduce the need for fertilizers and other chemicals needed to enhance growth. Below is a list of which plants to place beside one another, and which ones you should avoid.

Vegetables That Help Each Other Grow

Asparagus + basil, parsley, tomato
Beans + carrot, cucumber, potato
Broccoli + beet, onion, potato
Cabbage + beet, onion, potato
Carrots + beans, lettuce, onion
Peas + beans, carrot, radish
Peppers + carrot, onion, tomato
Tomato + asparagus, carrot, cucumber

Avoid Planting Together

Beans + garlic, shallot, onion (stunts growth of beans)
Beets + pole beans (stunts the growth of one another)
Carrots + dill (stunts growth of carrots)
Corn + tomato (the same worm attacks them both)
Peas + onion (stunts growth of peas)
Strawberry + cabbage (stunts growth of strawberries)
Tomato + kohlrabi (stunts the growth of one another)

Plants Helping Plants

Tomatoes + marigold (The strong scent of marigold repels bugs that eat the tomatoes)
Broccoli + nasturtium (Nasturtium flowers keep away aphids that attack broccoli crops)
Clematis + baby`s breath/marigolds (Because clematis plants prefer to have cooler roots, the shade of baby`s breath or marigolds will be a benefit)
Spinach + peas/beans (The peas or beans will provide shade for the spinach, allowing it to grow)
Lettuce + tomato (Tomato crops will provide shade for the lettuce during hot, summer months)

Planting strong and sturdy plants alongside weaker ones will provide a natural wind break, and taller crops can provide shade for those that prefer shade.