Companion Planting Guide For Raised Garden Beds

Vegetable companion planting is a type of planting where different types of vegetables are grown together to enhance their growth and reduce pests and diseases. Companion planting is important for both in-ground and raised garden bed gardening. This type of planting improves plant growth and productivity while using fewer toxic chemicals.

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion plants are different types of veggies that are planted together in one container or surrounded. It can include fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even flowers. For example, plants that like shade and sunlight, plants with deep and shallow roots, and plants with high and low nutrient requirements are planted together, which is called companion planting.

Several plants interact with each other to promote growth, prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases, increase harvest, save planting space, and make full use of nutrients in the soil. This technique is used in gardening to create mutually beneficial relationships between plants. 

Take Full Advantage Of Companion Plants

To grow an easy garden without too much effort, our primary consideration is to provide a suitable environment for plants to thrive. Vegega raised beds address common gardening issues like pests, diseases, and soil erosion. Raised beds also allow plants to receive more sunlight. Therefore, we highly recommend using raised beds for companion planting.

To access more space and sunlight, most plants extend branches and leaves, expanding their reach and competing with other species. But plants share harmonious relationships too. Like animals (e.g., sea anemones and hermit crabs, clownfish and sea anemones), plants form beneficial connections. These “friends” thrive when grow together, creating a win-win situation.

22 Common Vegetables with Companion Plants in Garden

• Beans: kohlrabi, radishes, beets, lettuce, spinach, dill, strawberries, cucumbers, potatoes
• Peas: Kohlrabi, carrots, cabbage, radishes, red cabbage, lettuce, spinach
• Kohlrabi: French beans, peas, carrots, radishes, beets, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes
• Pumpkins: Red cabbage, purple cabbage
• Carrots: Peas, cabbage, radishes, lettuce, chives, spinach, tomatoes
• Radishes: Peas, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes
• Beets: French beans, kohlrabi, red cabbage, lettuce, zucchini
• Red cabbage: Bush beans, peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes
• Lettuces: Bush beans, peas, kohlrabi, cabbage, carrots, radishes, beets, spinach, tomatoes
• Tomatoes: Basil, bush beans, cabbage, carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, zucchini
• Spinach: Beans, peas, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes
• Zucchini: Basil, French beans, beets
• Basil: Tomatoes, zucchini
• Kale: Beans, peas, cucumbers, leeks, radishes, rhubarb, lettuce, celery, spinach, and tomatoes
• Cauliflower: Bush beans, chicory, peas, cucumbers, beets, celery
• Strawberries: Bush beans, garlic, lettuce, leeks, carrots, radishes, spinach, onions
• Cucumbers: Beans, radishes, peas, fennel (root), cabbage, lettuce, celery, onions
• Potatoes: Fava beans, garlic, kohlrabi, spinach
• Garlic: Strawberries, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, beets, celery, tomatoes
• Peppers: Cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes
• Pole beans: Cucumbers, chicory, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, carrots, radishes, celery, spinach, zucchini
• Brussels sprouts: Peas, cucumbers, radishes, celery, spinach

9 Unexpected Companion Planting

Many plants grow together to help each other. Since beans can increase nitrogen fertilizer in the soil, and squash can provide good mulch for corn, they can be good companion plants. Another example, is marigolds can emit a chemical that kills nematodes, so it is a good companion for vegetables that are vulnerable to nematodes, such as tomatoes and green peppers. The sweet little flowers of dill can attract parasitic wasps, which are natural enemies of cabbage, so dill is a good friend of cabbage, as well as cucumbers.

1. Tomatoes and Basil

Tomatoes and basil planted together enhance each other's growth, and basil repels pests and improves the flavor of tomatoes.

2. Cucumbers and Onions 

Cucumbers planted with onions can prevent pests from attacking cucumber plants.

3. Beans and Eggplant

When beans are planted with eggplants, the rhizobacteria from the beans provide nitrogen fertilizer to the eggplants, which helps them grow.

4. Peppers and Sweet Potatoes 

Peppers are planted with sweet potatoes, whose vines cover the ground and protect the peppers from drought and pests.

5. Corn, Squash and Beans.

Planting these three plants together creates a complementary ecosystem, with the beans providing support for the corn and squash, while the vines of the squash cover the soil and inhibit weed growth.

6. Leeks, Kale, and Potatoes 

Leeks can produce a strong smell that can deworm around the plants, so leek is an ideal companion plant for most crops. For example, planting with cabbage can reduce the root rot of cabbage; planting with potatoes can increase the yield.

7. Onions and Peas 

Onion secretion has a potent bactericidal effect that can eliminate the bacteria responsible for black spots on peas. Additionally, peas enhance soil nitrogen content, benefiting onion growth. When planted together, they promote each other's growth and improve soil fertility.

8. Grapes and Violets 

The research found that the grapes and violets were planted together, and the resulting grapes had a stronger aroma. This is due to pollination, and the flowering period of the two is the same or similar, which can promote the sweet smell of violets mixed with the aroma of grapes.

9. Chives and Roses

Chives and roses are planted together to prevent the common scab disease of roses, as well as effectively repel cockroaches and prevent mildew. Because chives belong to the Liliaceae family and are related to onions, they have a strong odor, and their sap has a bactericidal effect.

Companion Planting Chart

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