Planning A Companion Vegetable Garden

Marigolds and cabbage growing together
(Image credit: Anna Lomovtseva)

Companion vegetable plants are plants that can help each other when planted near each other. Creating a companion vegetable garden will allow you to take advantage of these useful and beneficial relationships.

Reason For Companion Planting

Vegetable companion planting makes sense for a few reasons:

First, many companion plants are already plants you would grow in your garden. Simply by taking the time to plot out where you plant them, you can greatly improve their performance.

Second, many companion vegetable plants help with pest management. Some deter pests with their strong scents. Others actually attract pests, so by planting them you draw harmful bugs away from your precious veggies. These are called trap crops. And still others attract beneficial insects, which will help keep harmful insects in check. All three of these help to decrease the amount of pesticides and effort it takes to keep your garden pest free.

Third, vegetable companion planting frequently increases yield. Whether it's from shade, improved soil, or lack of pests, when vegetable plants are happy and healthy, they produce bigger and healthier crops. This means you get more food from the same space.

Below is a vegetable companion planting list:

Vegetable Companion Planting List

 Asparagus

  • Basil
  • Parsely
  • Pot Marigold
  • Tomatoes

Beets

  • Bush beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Onions

Broccoli

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Brussels Sprouts

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Bush Beans

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Radishes
  • Strawberries
  • Swiss Chard

Cabbage

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Carrots

  • Beans
  • Chives
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Tomatoes

Cauliflower

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Celery

  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Nasturtium
  • Tomatoes

Corn

  • Beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Melons
  • Parsley
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash
  • White Geranium

Cucumber

  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Marigold
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Peas
  • Radishes
  • Tansy
  • Tomatoes

Eggplant

  • Beans
  • Marigold
  • Peppers

Kale

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Kohlrabi

  • Beets
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Garlic
  • Hyssop
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

Lettuce

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Onions
  • Radishes
  • Strawberries

Melons

  • Corn
  • Marigold
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Pumpkins
  • Radishes
  • Squash

Onions

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Chamomile
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Peppers
  • Strawberries
  • Summer Savory
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tomatoes

Parsley

  • Asparagus
  • Corn
  • Tomatoes

Peas

  • Beans
  • Carrots
  • Chives
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Mint
  • Radishes
  • Turnips

Peppers

  • Carrots
  • Eggplants
  • Onions
  • Tomatoes

Pole Beans

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Radishes
  • Strawberries
  • Swiss Chard

Potatoes

  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Eggplants
  • Horseradish
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Marigold
  • Peas

Pumpkins

  • Corn
  • Marigold
  • Melons
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Squash

Radishes

  • Beans
  • Carrots
  • Chervil
  • Cucumbers
  • Lettuce
  • Melons
  • Nasturtium
  • Peas

Spinach

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Strawberries

Strawberries

  • Beans
  • Borage
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Spinach
  • Thyme

Summer Squash

  • Borage
  • Corn
  • Marigold
  • Melons
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Pumpkin

Swiss Chard

  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Onions

Tomatoes

  • Asparagus
  • Basil
  • Bee Balm
  • Borage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Cucumbers
  • Mint
  • Onions
  • Parsley
  • Peppers
  • Pot Marigold

Turnips

  • Peas

Winter Squash

  • Borage
  • Corn
  • Marigold
  • Melons
  • Nasturtium
  • Oregano
  • Pumpkin
Heather Rhoades
Founder of Gardening Know How

Heather Rhoades founded Gardening Know How in 2007. She holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Northern Kentucky University. She is an avid gardener with a passion for community, and is a recipient of the Master Gardeners of Ohio Lifetime Achievement Award.