Did you know you can keep insects and diseases out of your edible garden, and even help it thrive by using a method called companion planting? We consulted the experts at the Farmer’s Almanac for tips on planting vegetables.

When planning your edible garden, plant vegetables and herbs in groupings to provide essential nutrients to keep your garden healthy and productive.

Beans:

Corn should be planted with beans. The cornstalks provide a support for beans to grow on, eliminating the need for a trellis. Plant marigold, nasturtiums and rosemary nearby to prevent bean beetles and to improve flavor and growth rate. Other good companions are broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Keep beans away from anything in the onion family, it will impede their growth.

Tomatoes:

Plant your tomatoes near basil. Basil repels mosquitos and flies and will help your tomato plants yield more fruit. Carrots can help aerate the soil allowing more water and nutrients to get to the roots of the tomatoes. Marigolds keep nematodes away. Other companions are peppers, asparagus, celery and anything in the onion family.

Keep tomatoes away from corn and potatoes to prevent the spread of pests and diseases like earworm and blight.

Peppers:

Basil is also a great planting companion for peppers. It repels aphids and spider mites, and improves the flavor of your peppers. Other companions are onions, spinach and tomatoes.

Keep peppers away from beans. The vines can prevent the peppers from thriving.

Cucumbers:

Plant marigolds and nasturtiums near cucumbers. This will repel beetles and aphids. Using radishes nearby will deter cucumber-loving insects away.  Other companions are beans, celery, corn, lettuce and peas.

Keep cucumbers away from any aromatic herb such as sage, which will stunt its growth.

Lettuce:

Planting mint near lettuce keeps away lettuce-eating slugs and insects. Also using chives, garlic and marigolds can help repel aphids. Other companions are beans, beets, broccoli, and peas.

Keep lettuce away from parsley, which can impede its growth.

Zucchini/Summer Squash:

Corn makes a good garden friend because it gives squash vines a place to climb. Other companions are beans, pes, dill and marigolds.

Keep squash away from potatoes since they both are prone to blight.

Carrots:

Carrots do great in the shade of tomato plants, since they are heat sensitive. Tomatoes also produce a natural insecticide for carrot-loving insects. Planting leeks, sage, rosemary or chives nearby can prevent carrot flies.

Keep carrots away from coriander and dill, they produce compounds that are harmful to carrots.

Corn:

Beans are the best garden companion for corn. They correct the nitrogen in the soil, which corn needs to thrive. Cornstalks also make a great natural trellis for vining plants. Other companions are cucumbers, peas, and squash.

Keep corn away from tomatoes. They can be infected by the same earworm.

Onions:

Onions repel aphids and are great companions for any aphid-prone (onion friendly) vegetable.

Keep onions away from asparagus, beans and peas.

Using companion planting can have your vegetable garden thriving in no time. For more information on Planting Companions in your garden, come by any English Gardens location and talk to an expert.

Visit our blog Vegetable Gardening 101 to learn the basics of starting a vegetable garden.

Source: Farmer’s Almanac