Companion planting means placing crops where they help, or at least don't hurt, each other: sharing space, shading, trellising or drawing in helpful insects. Below is our chart of commonly recommended pairs, summarized from extension-service guidance.
Chart: 12 common crops
Tomato
Good buddiesBasilCarrotCucumberGarlicLettuceMarigoldNasturtiumOnion
Keep apartCabbage familyCornFennelPotato
Pepper
Good buddiesBasilOnion
Keep apart—
Carrot
Good buddiesBeanLettuceOnionPeaTomato
Keep apartDill
Lettuce
Good buddiesCarrotCucumberDillRadishStrawberryTomato
Keep apartGarlicOnion
Bean
Good buddiesCarrotCornCucumberPeaPotatoSpinachSquash / zucchiniStrawberry
Keep apartBeetGarlicOnion
Pea
Good buddiesBeanCarrotCornCucumberRadish
Keep apartGarlicOnionPotato
Cucumber
Good buddiesBeanCornLettucePeaRadishTomato
Keep apartPotato
Squash / zucchini
Good buddiesBeanCornMarigoldNasturtium
Keep apartPotato
Corn
Good buddiesBeanCucumberPeaPotatoSquash / zucchini
Keep apartTomato
Cabbage family
Good buddiesBeetOnionPotato
Keep apartStrawberryTomato
Onion
Good buddiesBeetCabbage familyCarrotPepperTomato
Keep apartBeanLettucePea
Potato
Good buddiesBeanCabbage familyCornMarigold
Keep apartCucumberPeaSquash / zucchiniTomato
Full table of good pairings, with reasons
| Plant | Partner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Basil | Grow well side by side; basil may help mask tomatoes from some pests. |
| Tomato | Carrot | Different root depths; tomato foliage shades heat-sensitive carrots. |
| Tomato | Onion | Onion-family crops are listed as tomato companions. |
| Tomato | Garlic | Onion-family crops are listed as tomato companions. |
| Tomato | Marigold | Listed companion; marigolds' nematode benefit is strongest when grown ahead of the crop. |
| Tomato | Nasturtium | Listed tomato companion. |
| Tomato | Cucumber | Listed tomato companion. |
| Tomato | Lettuce | Lettuce tucked behind tall tomatoes gets summer shade and bolts later. |
| Pepper | Basil | Interplanting basil among peppers makes good use of space. |
| Pepper | Onion | Alternating rows of peppers and onions is a suggested arrangement. |
| Carrot | Onion | Onion family is listed as a carrot companion. |
| Carrot | Lettuce | Listed companions; they use different soil depths. |
| Carrot | Pea | Listed companions. |
| Corn | Bean | Three Sisters: beans climb corn and fix nitrogen; roots sit at different depths. |
| Corn | Squash / zucchini | Three Sisters: squash shades the soil and suppresses weeds. |
| Bean | Squash / zucchini | Three Sisters companions. |
| Corn | Cucumber | Corn stalks can trellis small vining cucumbers. |
| Corn | Pea | Listed companions. |
| Corn | Potato | Listed companions. |
| Cucumber | Bean | Listed companions; legumes add nitrogen over time. |
| Cucumber | Pea | Listed companions. |
| Cucumber | Radish | Listed companions. |
| Cucumber | Lettuce | Listed companions. |
| Cabbage family | Onion | Onion family is listed as a cabbage-family companion. |
| Cabbage family | Beet | Listed companions. |
| Cabbage family | Potato | Listed companions. |
| Lettuce | Radish | Listed companions; quick crops share a bed well. |
| Lettuce | Strawberry | Listed companions. |
| Lettuce | Dill | Dill draws aphid predators to greens. |
| Spinach | Strawberry | Listed companions. |
| Spinach | Bean | Bush beans are listed as spinach companions. |
| Beet | Onion | Listed companions. |
| Pea | Radish | Listed companions. |
| Pea | Bean | Listed companions. |
| Potato | Bean | Listed companions. |
| Potato | Marigold | Listed companions. |
| Squash / zucchini | Nasturtium | Listed squash companion. |
| Squash / zucchini | Marigold | Listed squash companion. |
| Radish | Nasturtium | Listed companions. |
| Bean | Strawberry | Listed bush-bean companion. |
| Bean | Carrot | Listed companions. |
Plants to keep apart
| Plant | Avoid | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bean | Onion | Onion family is listed as incompatible with beans. |
| Bean | Garlic | Garlic is listed as incompatible with beans. |
| Pea | Onion | Onion family is listed as incompatible with peas. |
| Pea | Garlic | Onion family is listed as incompatible with peas. |
| Pea | Potato | Listed as incompatible. |
| Bean | Beet | Beets are listed as incompatible with pole beans. |
| Tomato | Potato | Same family; attacked by the same pests and diseases. |
| Tomato | Corn | Listed as incompatible. |
| Tomato | Fennel | Listed as incompatible. |
| Tomato | Cabbage family | Listed as incompatible. |
| Potato | Squash / zucchini | Listed as incompatible. |
| Potato | Cucumber | Listed as incompatible. |
| Carrot | Dill | Listed as incompatible. |
| Cabbage family | Strawberry | Listed as incompatible. |
| Lettuce | Onion | Onion family is listed as incompatible with lettuce. |
| Lettuce | Garlic | Garlic is listed as incompatible with lettuce. |
Where sources disagree
| Plant | Partner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | Radish | UMD suggests sowing them together and pulling radishes early; VCE lists radish as incompatible with carrots. |
| Cabbage family | Dill | PSU: dill deters cabbageworm egg-laying; VCE lists dill as incompatible with cabbage family. |
| Cabbage family | Spinach | VCE lists spinach as a cabbage companion in one row and cabbage as incompatible with spinach in another. |
Classic combos
Three Sisters
Corn, pole beans and squash.
Salsa bed
Tomato with onion and basil; peppers with basil and onion.
Cool-season bed
Peas, radish and lettuce, with carrots beside the peas.
Companion checker
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Open itSources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, "Companion Planting in Gardening" (SPES-620P)
- University of Maryland Extension, "Vegetable Succession and Companion Planting"
- Oregon State University Extension, "Companion Planting"
- Penn State Extension, "Herbs Make Good Plant Partners and Companions"
- University of Minnesota Extension, "Planting the vegetable garden"
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (frost/freeze data)
Pairings are summarized in our own words from extension-service guidance. Research support for many companion effects is limited, so treat them as good habits, not guarantees.