How to Companion Plant the Permaculture Way!

Daniel Mark Schwartz

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.