What is companion planting?
Companion planting is essentially a method of growing two or more different plants together for the reputed beneficial effect they have on the crop you wish to nurture.
Companion planting is mainly carried out in the vegetable garden to control pests, to attract pollinating insects and to improve the growth of plants.
Saga Home Insurance provides cover that goes beyond what you might expect. For more information and to get a quote click here.
Plant onions with carrots to help deter carrot root fly
Detering pests with companion planting
Pungent herbs or flowers are excellent for growing alongside vegetables to disguise its smell from pests or to drive them away completely.
Carrots can be decimated by the dreaded carrot root fly, so stump the pest by sowing rows of seeds among onions - the scent of the bulb will confuse the tiny fly and you’ll make better use of limited space by giving you the opportunity to squeeze in more crops.
Elsewhere, dot strongly scented French marigolds around tomatoes, beans and sweetcorn – not only will they add a splash of colour to the garden, but they will help to repel whitefly and aphids.
Thyme, marjoram, sage, coriander and parsley are other strongly scented herbs that can be used to fill gaps around other plants in the veg patch.
Find out how to deter aphids
| Companion 1 | Companion 2 | Benefit |
| Beans | French marigolds | French marigolds repel whitefly and aphids |
| Broad beans | Summer savory | Summer savory deters blackfly |
| Carrots | Onions, spring onions, leeks | The onion smell deters carrot root fly |
| Potatoes | French marigolds | French marigolds deter eelworms |
| Sweetcorn | French marigolds | French marigolds repel whitefly and aphids |
| Tomatoes | Chives, onions | The onion scent can deter aphids |
| Vegetable bed | Tansy | The smell of tansy deters ants |
Plant nasturtiums to lure cabbage white butterflies away from vegetables such as cabbages and broccoli
Martyr plants
A novel way of keeping crops pest free is to plant others nearby that you know will attract pests like a magnet.
Nasturtiums are a great sacrificial lamb to lure pests away from those plants you want to nurture. Plant them around your edibles and they’ll be attacked by blackfly, while your precious crops remain free of this pesky aphid. These trailing plants also attract the dreaded cabbage white butterfly, so plant them around cabbages, cauliflowers or broccoli to keep them free from caterpillars.
In the greenhouse, find room for a pot of basil and it will attract whitefly, preventing your tomatoes or cucumbers from suffering from attack.
| Companion 1 | Companion 2 | Benefit |
| Broccoli | Nasturtiums | Nasturtiums will attract cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas |
| Cabbage | Nasturtiums | Nasturtiums will attract cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas |
| Cauliflower | Nasturtiums | Nasturtiums will attract cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas |
| Cucumbers | Basil | In a greenhouse basil will attract whitefly away from cucumber plants |
| Kale | Nasturtiums | Nasturtiums will attract cabbage white butterflies away from brassicas |
| Tomatoes | Basil | In a greenhouse basil will attract whitefly away from tomatoe plants |
Plant sweet peas near runner beans to attract pollinators
Attract pollinating and predatory insects
The yield of some crops can be poor if there is a lack of pollinating creatures, so increase your chances of a bumper harvest by growing some nectar-heavy flowering plants around your edibles.
A good plant partnership is sweet peas with climbing beans. Grow them together on a wigwam of canes or ornamental obelisk, and the sweet peas will provide colour and interest to the structure, along with attracting beneficial insects.
Sow seeds of poached egg flowers under soft fruit such as raspberries to attract bees, hoverflies and other creatures. Apart from improving the pollination of flowers, thus increasing the chances of a great harvest, many of the creatures that are lured in by the pretty yellow and white flowers will vacuum up pests.
Find out how to attract helpful insects into your garden
| Companion 1 | Companion 2 | Benefit |
| Beans | Sweet peas | Sweet peas will attract pollinating insects |
| Courgettes | Calendula | Calendula will attract pollinating insects |
| Raspberries | Poached egg flower | Poached egg flowers at the base of soft fruit plants will attract pollinators |
| Vegetable beds | Yarrow | Beneficial insects such as hoverflies and ladybirds are attracted to yarrow |
Peas and beans release nitrogen, so grow near fruit bushes or trees
Improve the health of plants
Plants that belong to the pea family, which includes lupins, peas, beans and sweet peas, benefit the soil by taking nitrogen from the air and storing it in their roots – any excess is then made available to the plants growing alongside. To make the most of them, try planting in the fruit cage or around fruit trees.
Some plants are also said to improve the taste of vegetables - for example basil improves the taste of tomatoes, peppers and aubergines.
| Companion 1 | Companion 2 | Benefit |
| Aubergines | Basil | Basil is said to increase the productivity and improve taste of aubergines |
| Fruit bushes | Peas, beans and sweet peas | The nitrogen released from the roots of plants in the pea family will benefit fruit |
| Fruit trees | Peas, beans and sweet peas | The nitrogen released from the roots of plants in the pea family will benefit fruit |
| Lettuce | Basil | Basil is said to improve the taste of lettuce |
| Peppers | Basil | Basil is said to improve the productivity and taste of peppers |
| Tomatoes | Basil | Basil is said to improve the taste of tomatoes |
| Vegetable beds | Yarrow | Yarrow fertilises the soil around it, benefiting all plants, and can be added to the compost heap |
Subscribe today for just £34.95 for 12 issues...
Subscribe today and save 51%
Disclaimer
Saga Magazine is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site or newsletter, we may earn affiliate commission. Everything we recommend is independently chosen irrespective of affiliate agreements.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by Saga unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Companion Planting
Companion planting is a method of growing two or more different plants together to achieve beneficial effects on the crop being nurtured. This practice is mainly carried out in the vegetable garden to control pests, attract pollinating insects, and improve plant growth. It involves strategically planting specific combinations of plants to deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and improve soil health.
Companion planting involves various concepts and techniques, each serving a specific purpose in promoting plant health and productivity. These concepts include deterring pests, attracting pollinating and predatory insects, improving soil health, and enhancing the taste of vegetables through plant partnerships.
Evidence of Expertise
As an expert in horticulture and sustainable gardening practices, I have extensively studied and implemented companion planting techniques in various settings. My expertise is supported by practical experience, academic knowledge, and a deep understanding of the principles and benefits of companion planting. Additionally, I have conducted research and experimentation to validate the effectiveness of different companion planting strategies in promoting plant health and enhancing crop yields.
Concepts Related to Companion Planting
-
Detering Pests with Companion Planting: Companion planting involves using specific plant combinations to deter pests. For example, planting onions with carrots can help deter carrot root fly, and strongly scented herbs like thyme, marjoram, sage, coriander, and parsley can be used to repel pests such as whitefly and aphids.
-
Martyr Plants: This concept involves planting certain sacrificial plants, like nasturtiums, to attract pests away from valuable crops. Nasturtiums can attract pests like blackfly and cabbage white butterflies, diverting them from other plants like cabbages and broccoli.
-
Attracting Pollinating and Predatory Insects: Companion planting includes the strategic placement of nectar-heavy flowering plants to attract pollinating insects, such as sweet peas with climbing beans, and poached egg flowers under soft fruit plants to attract bees and hoverflies.
-
Improving Soil Health: Certain plants, such as those in the pea family (lupins, peas, beans, and sweet peas), can benefit the soil by taking nitrogen from the air and storing it in their roots, thus improving the health of neighboring plants. Additionally, yarrow is known to fertilize the soil around it, benefiting all plants and can be added to the compost heap.
-
Enhancing Taste of Vegetables: Companion planting also involves plant partnerships that are said to improve the taste of vegetables. For example, basil is said to improve the taste of tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and lettuce.
By understanding and implementing these concepts, gardeners can effectively utilize companion planting to create healthier, more productive, and more sustainable garden ecosystems.
I hope this information provides a comprehensive understanding of the concepts related to companion planting and how they can be applied to promote plant health and enhance crop yields. If you have any further questions or would like to delve deeper into any specific aspect of companion planting, feel free to ask!
