Companion Plants: Your "Good Neighbor" Plants
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Companion plants mean the plants lend a hand in each other’s growth. Which plant enhances? Which repels? For instance, certain aromatic plants repel harmful insects but adversely affect other plants. Note likewise that you may need to experiment with companion plants. They are affected by your gardening habits, soil types, plant varieties, microclimates, etc.
Aromatic Plants They are companion plants to cabbage. Aromatic plants ward off cabbage worms. Plant yarrow near your aromatic herbs to enhance their indispensable oil production. Asparagus Asparagus appreciates tomatoes, parsley, basil, nasturnium, and marigold. Parsley and basil protect asparagus from the asparagus beetle. Do not interplant asparagus with onions, chives, garlic, leek, or mint. Basil Basil helps not only the flavor and growth of tomatoes, it also repels tomato hookworms. It keeps at bay mites, aphids, asparagus beetles, and flying insects like gnats. Basil is also a companion plant to asparagus, cabbage, pepper, and beans. Rue and basil do not like each other. Beans They are companion plants to carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, potatoes and most other herbs and vegetables. Bush beans and strawberries thrive well together. Do not plant beans with fennel, onion, kohlrabi, and basil. Avoid planting pole beans with sunflower, beets, and cabbage. (Note: fennel is incompatible with most plants.) Bee Balm Bee balm is a companion plant to tomatoes, assisting them with growth and flavor. Do not plant with field mustard. Beets Beets are a companion plant to lettuce, the cabbage family, the onion family, bush beans, kohlrabi, sage, and radish. Beets dislike mustard and pole beans. Borage It wards off tomato worms and appeals to bees. It is also a companion plant to strawberries and squash. Catnip As a border, catnip is a companion plant to what you have and will safeguard them against flea beetles, Japanese beetles, aphids, cockroaches, and ants. Catnip especially likes eggplants. Catnip has nepetalactone, a compound that affects a cat's behavior. Chamomille It goes well with squash, cabbage, and onions. Onions are also companion plants to lettuce. They guard against slugs. Dill It is a companion plant to cabbage, lettuce, the onion family, and garlic. Dill is incompatible with tomatoes, caraway, and carrots. Marigold Freely plant marigolds as companion plants. They free your soil of nematodes, and repel tomato worms, asparagus beetles, etc. Peas They are companion plants with most vegetables. They also help build nitrogen to the soil. Peas are not compatible with the onion family, potato, and gladiolus. Tansy and Garlic They are companion plants working together to fend off insects that prey on roses and raspberries. Some of these pests are aphids, borers, fruit moths, ants, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. Tarragon An all-around friend. Tomatoes and the Cabbage Family Do not plant tomatoes and the cabbage family together. They are not companion plants as they inhibit each other’s growth. Wormwood It repels cats and other animals. Plant wormwood as a border to keep them away from your garden. Wormwood is also a moth repellant. Beginning Gardeners With companion planting, you can cultivate a mixture of neighborly crops. If you are new at gardening, be observant. Notice growth traits, root formation, soil demands, and especially the scent. You will learn fast! The smell of the plants determines which insects visit your balcony garden. Your garden will thrive if your companion plants are good neighbors to each other!
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