Companion Planting in a Salad Garden

Even in the northern climates, the ground is starting to warm up enough to plant those tender little seedlings you’ve been nursing in your sunniest window for the past few weeks. Have you thought of where you’re going to put them in your garden? Plants interact with one another, sometimes in helpful and sometimes in detrimental ways. Take our advice and spending a little time thinking about companion planting before you go down on your hands and knees to play in the dirt.

Take that! You pesky carrot fly varmints!
Take that! You pesky carrot fly varmints! / Karen Blakeman / CC BY 2.0

Tomatoes

Good Companions: Basil, Parsley, Onion, Carrots, Asparagus

Bad Companions: Cabbage, Beans, Broccoli, Corn

Lettuce

Good Companions: Beans, Cucumber, Peas, Spinach, Strawberry

Bad Companions: Fennel–fennel is a poor garden companion for most plants, actually, so grow it in a pot if you must grow it.

Cucumber

Good Companions: Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Tomato

Bad Companions: Potato, Aromatic Herbs

Peppers

Good Companions: Tomato, Carrots, Onion, Marigold

Bad Companions: Beans, Kale, Cabbage

Spinach

Good Companions: Cauliflower, Eggplant, Peas, Strawberry

Bad Companions: Fennel

Onion

Good Companions: Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Pepper, Radishes, Squash, Strawberries, Tomato

Bad Companions: Beans, Peas, Parsley