How to Companion Plant the Permaculture Way! | Off Grid Permaculture
Companion Planting The Permaculture Way

How to Companion Plant the Permaculture Way!

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Companion planting is a permaculture technique that increases garden yield and productivity by planting different crops in the same bed. Choosing good “companions” to plant together while avoiding bad combinations is the key to getting the most out of you land this year. Here is a chart of common crops with their good companions and pairing to avoid —

Anise

  • Likes: Coriander
  • Dislikes: Basil, Wormwood

Apple

  • Likes: Chives, Horsetail (Equisetum), Foxgloves, Wallflowers

Apricot

  • Likes: Basil, Tansy, Southernwood
  • Dislikes: Tomatoes, Sage

Asparagus

  • Likes: Basil, Carrots, Coriander, Dill, Marigolds, Parsley, Tomatoes
  • Dislikes: Garlic, Onions, Potatoes

Asparagus repels some pests in tomatoes. Marigolds, parsley and tomatoes protect against asparagus beetles.

Basil

  • Likes: Apricots, Asparagus, Beans, Beets, Bell Peppers, Cabbage, Chili Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Fennel, Marigolds, Oregano, Potatoes, Sweet Peppers, Tomatoes,
  • Dislikes: Anise, Rue

Increases yields of tomatoes when grown about a foot away. Widely beneficial to the flavor of many plants. Helps increase plant growth. Repels moquitoes

Beans

  • Likes: Beets, Brassicas, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Corn, Cucumber, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Gladioli, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Marigolds, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Sunflowers, Sweetcorn
  • Dislikes: Fennel, Garlic, Gladiola, Leek, Onion, Shallots

Nasturtiums and rosemary deter bean beetles. Potatoes and marigolds repel Mexican bean beetles. Catnip repels flea beetles. Plant Summer savory with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor. Discourages cabbage moths. Onions Sunflowers attract birds keep this in mind if you have a crop such as berries that birds savor. Sunflowers also attract Aphids.

Beet

  • Likes: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onion, Silverbeet
  • Dislikes: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Charlock, Field Mustard, Kohlrabi, Mustards, Onions , Pole Beans, Tomatoes

Beets are good for adding minerals to the soil. The leaves are composed of 25% magnesium. Pole beans are said to stunt growth of beets Pole beans and beets will compete for growth. Composted beet leaves add magnesium to soil when mixed. Magnesium plays an important role in photosynthesis.

Borage

  • Likes: Fruit Trees, Squash, Strawberry, Tomato

Repels tomato worms. Improves flavor and growth of companions. Borage attracts bees, deters tomato worm.

Broccoli

  • Likes: Basil, Beans (Bush), Beets, Buckwheat, Calendula, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Hyssop, Lavender, Lettuce, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtium, Onion, Onions, Oregano, Pennyroyal, Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Thyme, Wormwood
  • Dislikes: Asparagus, Cantaloupe, Climbing Beans, Marigolds, Mustard, Peppers, Pumpkins, Rue, Strawberry, Sweet Corn, Watermelon

Rosemary repels the cabbage fly that is detrimental to broccoli. Marigolds repel cabbage moths Nasturtiums repel aphids. Aromatic plants deter cabbage worms. Interplant thyme with Brassicas as it repels cabbage worm

Brussels Sprouts

  • Likes: Beans (Dwarf), Beetroot, Celery, Cucumber, Onions, Rhubarb, Chamomile, Dill, Oregano, Sage, Marigold, Nasturtium
  • Dislikes: Strawberries

Cabbage

  • Likes: Beet, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Chamomile, Chard, Dill, Hyssop, Kohlrabi, Lavender, Lettuce, Mint, Onions, Pennyroyal, Potatoes, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Thyme, Tomato
  • Dislikes: Rue, Strawberry.

Tomatoes, celery, thyme, and other aromatic plants repel cabbage worm. Chamomile improves flavor of cabbages. Clover planted with cabbage has reduces the native cabbage aphid and cabbage worm populations by interfering with the colonization of the pests and increasing the number of predator ground beetles. Hyssop, mint, and sage deter cabbage moths.

Calendula

  • Likes: Chard, Radish, Carrots, Tomatoes, Thyme, Parsley

Calendula is a nutrient accumulator.

Carrots

  • Likes: Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Chives, Early Potatoes, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley , Peas, Peppers, Radishes, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato, Wormwood
  • Dislikes: Dill, Pole beans, Lettuce, Strawberries

Rosemary deters carrot flies. Chives improve flavor. Dill stunts growth Sage can be planted with carrots to enhance their growth. Onions, leeks, and wormwood repel carrot flies. Catnip Plant in borders protects against flea beetles.

Cauliflower

  • Likes: Beet, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Lavender, Mint, Onion, Pennyroyal, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
  • Dislikes: Beans, Nasturtiums, Rue, Strawberry, Tansy

Thyme and other aromatic plants repels cabbage worm. Tomatoes and Celery repel cabbage worms.

Celery and Celeriac

  • Likes: Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Leeks, Lovage, Tomato
  • Dislikes: Dill, Parsnip, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Wheat

Chamomile

  • Likes: Cabbage, Mint, Onions

Plant Chamomile with cabbage and onions. Improves growth and flavor

Chard

  • Likes: Celery, Mint, Lettuce, Root crops, Radish

Chayote

  • Likes: Corn, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Peppers, Squash
  • Dislikes: Celery, Mint, Snap Beans

Chervil

  • Likes: Dill, Coriander, Radish

Radishes improve growth and flavor

Chives

  • Likes: Apples, Berries, Carrots, Grapes, Parsley, Peas, Roses Tomatoes Peas, beans

Chives improves the growth and flavor of carrots, tomatoes, and other companions. Plant chives around base of fruit trees to discourage insects from climbing trunk. Deters aphids and Japanese beetles.

Citrus

  • Likes: Guava

Collards

  • Likes: Tomatoes

Comfrey

Comfrey is a nutrient accumulator and useful mulch crop.

Cilantro / Coriander

  • Likes: Anise, Cabbages, Carrots, Chard, Chervil, Dill, Radish
  • Dislikes: Fennel

Corn

  • Likes: Beans, Cucumber, Marigold, Marjoram, Melon, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Soybeans, Squash, Sunchokes, Sunflowers, Zucchini
  • Dislikes: Tomatoes

Sweet corn requires large amounts of nitrogen, and will grow better when inter-planted with nitrogen fixers. Climbing beans, corn, and squash (aka “the three sisters”) is a classic trio of companion plants. Corn stalks will support climbing beans while they fix nitrogen. Squash provide ground cover and fill in the bottom story of the mini ecosystem.

Planting sunflowers with corn is said by some to increase the yield. Soybeans deter chinch bugs.

Tomato worms and corn ear worms feed of both plants, making them more prone to disease when planted together.

Cucumbers

  • Likes: Beans, Cabbage, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Marigold, Nasturtium, Okra, Onions, Peas, Potatoes (Early), Radish, Savory, Sunflowers
  • Dislikes: Potato (Late), Any Aromatic Herbs

Radishes deter cucumber beetles. Cucumbers encourage blight in late potatoes.

Dill

  • Likes: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Coriander, Cucumber, Fennel, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato

Improves flavor and growth of cabbage family plants.

Eggplant (Aubergine)

  • Likes: Beans, Okra, Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach, Tomatoes
  • Dislikes: Fennel, Tarragon

Fennel

  • Likes: Dill
  • Dislikes: Beans, Coriander, Kohlrabi, Tomatoes, Wormwood

Not a good companion for most annuals.

Flax

  • Likes: Carrots, Potatoes

Foxglove

  • Likes: Apples, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Fruit trees

  • Likes: Borage, Bulbs, Carrots, Chives, Columbine, Comfrey, Daylilies, Garlic, Nasturtiums, Plantain, Strawberries

Fuchsias

  • Likes: Basil, Gooseberries, Tomatoes

Garlic

  • Likes: Apples, Cabbage, Cane Fruits, Fruit Trees, Lettuce, Peaches, Raspberries, Roses, Tomatoes
  • Dislikes: Beans, Cabbages, Legumes, Peas, Potatoes, Strawberries

Plant garlic around everything but beans.

Garlic accumulates sulfur, a naturally occurring fungicide which will help in the garden with disease prevention. Garlic discourages aphids, flea beetle, Japanese beetle, and spider mites.

Geraniums

  • Likes: Grapevines

Gladioli

  • Likes: Strawberries, Beans, Peas

Gooseberry

  • Likes: Tansy, Tomatoes

Grape

  • Likes: Geraniums, Mulberries, Hyssop, Basil, Tansy

Guava

  • Likes: Citrus

Horseradish

  • Likes: Fruit trees, Potatoes

Horseradish discourages from potato beetles and bugs. It also discourages circulios from attacking plum trees.

Hyacinth

  • Likes: Carnations

Hyssop

  • Likes: Cabbage, Grape, Roses
  • Dislikes: Radishes

Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes)

  • Likes: Corn

Kohlrabi

  • Likes: Beetroot, Beets, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Lavender, Mint, Onions, Pennyroyal, Potatoes, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
  • Dislikes: Beans, Fennel, Rue, Strawberry, Tomatoes

Plant thyme Kohlrabi as it repels cabbage worm.

Lavender

  • Likes: Broccoli, Cabbage

Leeks

  • Likes: Onions, celery, carrots

Lettuce

  • Likes: Beet, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Onions, Radish, Strawberry
  • Dislikes: Cabbage, Celery, Cress, Parsley

Lovage

Best dispersed throughout entire garden

Marigold

  • Likes: Lettuce, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Roses, Beans

Marijuana (Cannabis)

  • Likes: Basil, Borage, Cabbages, Chamomile, Dill, Garlic, Geraniums, Ginger Marigolds, Mint, Onions, Tansy, Yarrow

Onions repel beetles and aphids. Geraniums, marigolds, and dill keep away insects and pests.

Tansy is a good all-round bitter insect repellent, and it concentrates potassium in the soil.

Marjoram

Plant marjoram dispersed throughout the garden

Melon

  • Likes: Corn, Morning Glory, Okra, Sunflowers
  • Dislikes: Potatoes

Mint

  • Likes: Cabbage, Chamomile, Nettles, Tomatoes,
  • Dislikes: Parsley

Nasturtium

  • Likes: Apples, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Cucumbers, Radishes, Tomatoes

Plant nasturtium under fruit trees. Helps deter aphids and pests that attack cucumber.

Nettle

Increases oil content of most herbs.

Okra

  • Likes: Melons, Cucumbers, Sweet Peppers, Eggplant

Onion

  • Likes: Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Chard, Cucumber, Lettuce, Peppers, Roses, Silverbeet, Squash, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Tomato
  • Dislikes: Beans Peas

Do not plant onions or other members of the Amaryllidaceae family in the same soil for more than one season. Crop rotation helps reduce spread of disease.

Plant Chamomile with onions to improve both growth and flavor.

Alliums stunt growth in some varieties.

Oregano

  • Likes: Cabbages

Parsley

  • Likes: Asparagus, Carrots, Chives, Roses, Tomato
  • Dislikes: Potatoes

Parsnips

  • Likes: Beans, Garlic, Peas, Potatoes, Peppers, Radishes
  • Dislikes: Carrots, Celery, Caraway

Peaches

  • Likes: Basil, Garlic, Tansy

Pears

  • Likes: Aromatic Herbs, Bean, Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Potatoes, Radish, Squash, Turnips
  • Dislikes: Garlic, Gladiolus, Onions, Shallots

Peppers, Bell (Sweet Peppers, Capsicum)

  • Likes: Amaranth, Basil, Beans, Carrots, Geraniums, Lovage, Marjoram, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Tomatoes
  • Dislikes: Apricot, Fennel, Fruit Trees, Kohlrabi, Tomatoes

Peppers, Hot (Chilli)

  • Likes: Basil, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Escarole, Lovage, Marjoram, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Rosemary, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomato,

Chili peppers have roots that prevent root rot. Plant anywhere you have these problems.

Peppermint

Repels white cabbage moths, aphids and flea beetles.

Potato

  • Likes: Apple, Basil, Beans, Cabbage, Celery, Cherry, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Garlic, Horseradish, Lettuce, Marigold, Onions, Peas, Pumpkin, Radish, Raspberry, Spinach, Sweetcorn
  • Dislikes: Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Melons, Peppers, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Squash, Strawberry, Sunflower, Tomato

Cucumbers, tomatoes and raspberries attract harmful pests to potatoes. Horseradish increases disease resistance.

Potato, Sweet

  • Likes: White Hellebore

Pumpkin

  • Likes: Beans, Corn, Datura, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Pole Beans, Squash
  • Dislikes: Potato

Radish

  • Likes: Bean, Beet, Cabbage, Carrots, Chervil, Chives, Cucumber, Kale, Lettuce, Melons, Nasturtium, Peas, Spinach, Squash, Tomatoes
  • Dislikes: Hyssop, Potato

A general aid in repelling insects. Planting an early row of radishes may lure flea beetles away from susceptible plants.

Raspberry

  • Likes: Marigold, Rue, Tansy
  • Dislikes: Blackberries, Potatoes

Should not follow eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or other raspberry varieties in the crop rotation. These crops are susceptible to verticillium wilt, to which most raspberries are susceptible.

Rhubarb

  • Likes: Columbines

Rosemary

  • Likes: Beans, Carrots, Cabbage, Sage

Rosemary deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly

Roses

  • Likes: Garlic, Parsley, Onions, Mignonette, Marigolds

Rue

  • Likes: Fig Trees, Roses, Raspberries, Sage
  • Dislikes: Basil

Sage

  • Likes: Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberry
  • Dislikes: Basil, Rue, Wormwood

Savory

  • Likes: Beans, Onions
  • Dislikes: Cucumbers

Shallots

  • Likes: Lovage, Marjoram
  • Dislikes: Beans, Peas

Silverbeet

  • Likes: Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chives, Garlic, Lavender, Leeks, Onion, Parsnip, Tomato
  • Dislikes: Cucumbers, Gourds, Herbs, Melons, Potatoes, Squash, Sweetcorn

Soybeans

Grows with anything. Helps everything.

Spinach

  • Likes: Broad Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Onion, Peas, Strawberries

Squash

  • Likes: Beans, Clover, Corn, Dill, Marigold, Nasturtium, Peas, Radishes, Strawberry, Sunflower
  • Dislikes: Potatoes

Strawberries

  • Likes: Beans, Borage, Caraway, Chives, Lettuce, Onions, Pyrethrum, Sage, Spinach, Squash
  • Dislikes: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Peppers, Potato, Tomato

Sunflower

  • Likes: Cucumber, Squash
  • Dislikes: Potato

Sweet Woodruff

  • Likes: Orchards

Swiss Chard

  • Likes: Beans (Bush), Kohlrabi, Onions
  • Dislikes: Beans (Pole)

Tansy

  • Likes: Cabbage, Grapes, Peaches, Roses, Raspberries, Grapes, Peaches

Great for use in orchards. Protects from pests that attack roses and raspberries.

Tansy is TOXIC to pets & Livestock

Tarragon

Good throughout garden

Thyme

  • Likes: Cabbage

Deters cabbage worm.

Tomato

  • Likes: Asparagus, Basil, Bee Balm, Carrot, Celery, Chives, Cucumber, Garlic, Gooseberries, Marigold, Mustard, Nasturtium, Onion, Parsley, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Stinging Nettles
  • Dislikes: Cabbage, Corn, Dill, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Nut Trees, Peppers, Potato

Don’t plant tomatoes near nut trees the roots of many of these trees secrete a phytotoxin that is toxic to tomatoes.

Basil, mint, and bee balm improve growth and flavor. Basil enhances the flavor of tomatoes.

Turnip

  • Likes: Bean, Carrots, Chicory, Chives, Nasturtiums, Peas, Spinach
  • Dislikes: Mustard, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Valerian

  • Likes: Calendula, Echinacea

Good anywhere in garden.

Wallflowers

  • Likes: Apples

Watermelon

  • Dislikes: Potatoes

Wormwood

  • Dislikes: All other plants

Wormwood is best used as a border. Beeps animals from garden.

Yarrow

Plant along borders, near paths, near aromatic herbs. Yarrow enhances essential oil production of herbs. Yarrow is a host plant for ladybugs and predatory wasps.

Zucchini

  • Likes: Beans, Corn, Dill, Garlic, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Oregano, Peas, Radishes, Spinach
  • Dislikes: Potatoes, Pumpkin

What vegetables should not be planted next to each other?

Fennel should not be planted near most annual garden varieties. Cucumbers encourage blight on late variety potatoes. Nut trees are toxic to tomatoes. Raspberries should not follow eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, or other raspberry varieties in the crop rotation. Wormwood is best grown away from other plants.

What are some examples of companion planting?

The classic companion planting example is corn, pole beans, and squash. Corn supports the beans, which provides nitrogen to the corn, and shades the squash which provides ground cover. Tomato and basil are very popular companions to plant together.