Hints & Tips
Companion Planting
Companion planting is the method of promoting healthy plants by growing together plants that are mutually beneficial. There are various ways plants can benefit each other:
- Some plants can attract pests away from the 'desired' plants or may repel (or confuse) pests by the aromatic compounds they release - from their leaves, roots or flowers.
- Other plants encourage natural predators.
- A plant with strong deep roots may break up heavy soil and make nutrients available to other plants.
- Some herbaceous plants (e.g. Borage) attract bees, which help to pollinate other plants.
- Tall varieties can provide shade to lower growing varieties.
However some plants do not make good companions and can make the other perform very poorly (or even die).
Some Good Companions
| ASPARAGUS | Tomatoes, Parsley |
|---|---|
| BASIL | Tomatoes, Asparagus, Parsley |
| BEANS | Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Peas, Parsley, Silver beet |
| BEETROOT | Cabbage, Silver beet, Lettuce, Chives |
| CABBAGES | Beans, Chamomile, Dill, Mint, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Onions |
| CARROTS | Peas, Sage, Chives, Onions, Leeks, Lettuce |
| CAULIFLOWERS | Beans, Celery, Tansy, Nasturtiums |
| CELERY | Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Dill, Leeks |
| CHAMOMILE | Mint, Onions, Cabbages |
| CHERVIL | Coriander, Dill, Radish |
| CHIVES | Parsley, Apples, Tomatoes, Beetroot |
| CORIANDER | Dill, Chervil, Carrots, Cabbages |
| CUCUMBER | Beans, Celery, Nasturtiums, Sweet Corn |
| DILL | Carrots, Tomatoes, Cabbages, Fennel, Coriander, Sweet Corn |
| FENNEL | Dill |
| GARLIC | Roses, Apples, Peaches |
| HORSERADISH | Fruit Trees, Potatoes |
| LAVENDER | Potatoes, Tomatoes |
| LEEKS | Carrots, Celery |
| LETTUCE | Beetroot, Cabbages, Carrots, Onions, Marigolds, Strawberries |
| MARIGOLDS | Tomatoes, Beans |
| NASTURTIUMS | Apples, Cucumbers, Brassicas, Radishes, Zucchinis |
| OREGANO | Cabbages |
| PARSLEY | Tomatoes, Chives, Asparagus, Basil |
| PEAS | Carrots, Potatoes, Radishes, Parsley |
| POTATOES | Peas, Beans, Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Horseradish, Marigolds |
| PUMPKINS | Sweet Corn |
| SAGE | Carrots, Cabbage, Strawberries |
| SILVERBEET | Beetroot, Onion, Welsh Onion |
| STRWABERRIES | Borage |
| SWEET CORN | Broad Beans |
| TANSY | Cabbage, Roses, Raspberries, Grapes |
| THYME | Cabbage, Broccoli, Dill |
| TOMATOES | Asparagus, Basil, Marigolds |
| ZUCCHINI | Nasturtiums |
Some Bad Companions
| BEANS | Garlic, Onions, Fennel |
|---|---|
| BROCCOLI | Strawberries |
| CABAGES | Garlic, Tomatoes, Rue, Strawberrie |
| CAULIFLOWER | Strawberries |
| FENNEL | Beans, Tomatoes, Coriander, Wormwood |
| GARLIC | Peas, Beans, Cabbage, Strawberries |
| MINT | Parsley |
| PEAS | Onions, Shallots, Garlic |
| POTATOES | Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Rosemary |
| PUMPKIN | Potatoes |
| ROSEMARY | Potatoes |
| STRAWBERRIES | Garlic, Tomatoes, Cabbages, Cauliflower |
| TOMATOES | Fennel, Dill, Strawberries, Potatoes, Rosemary |
Some Insect Repelling Plants
| ANTS | Pennyroyal, Tansy, Mint, Garlic |
|---|---|
| APHIDS; | Basil, Garlic, Onions, Wormwood, Spearmint, Nasturtiums, Cabbage |
| WHITE BUTTERFLY | Dill, Mint, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Chamomile, Hyssop, Oregano, Celery |
| FLIES | Tansy, Rue, Wormwood, Pyrethrum, Basil, Eau-de-Cologne Mint |
| MICE | Wormwood, Spearmint |
| MOTHS | Lavender, Sage, Wormwood, Pennyroyal, Pyrethrum, Santolina |
| SLUGS | Wormwood |
| SNAILS | Garlic |
| THRIPS | Pyrethrum |
| WHITE FLY | Nasturtiums, Basil |
All fact sheets that appear on this website are Copyright © Lisa Passmore (Inspired By Nature), 2004.