Companion Planting Chart for the Vegetable Garden

Find the best companion plants below—or download a printable version to keep on hand.

Backed by generations of gardening knowledge—and updated with modern research—this resource helps you plant with confidence and get better results.

Companion Planting Chart by Vegetable

Select a vegetable to see its best companions, or scroll to browse common pairings. For more details on how and why these combinations work, see the guide below.

Crop	Companion Plants	Benefits
Beans	Lovage Nasturtium Rosemary Corn Sunflowers	Corn: Provides a natural trellis for climbing beans (not bush types) and improves sunlight access. USDA, NIH. Lovage: Attracts beneficial insects such as parasitoid wasps that prey on aphids and beetles. Source. Nasturtium: Acts as a trap crop, drawing pests away from beans. Source. Rosemary: Repels common garden pests with natural aromatic compounds. Source. Sunflowers: Provide structural support as a living trellis.
Beets	Bush beans Garlic Lettuce Onions	Bush beans: Fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility. Source. Garlic: Improves beet growth and flavor. Source. Lettuce: Complements root depth and helps suppress weeds. Onions: Reduce pest pressure and improve yields. Source.
Broccoli	Alyssum Dill Chinese cabbage Marigold Nasturtium Oregano Sage Thyme	Alyssum: Attracts hoverflies that prey on aphids. USDA. Chinese cabbage: Acts as a trap crop for cabbage root flies. NIH. Dill: Repels pests and attracts beneficial insects. Source. Sage: Reduces pest egg-laying. Source. Thyme and nasturtium: Reduce cabbage worm damage. Iowa State.
Cabbage	Chamomile Dill Garlic Nasturtium Onion Rosemary Sage Tansy Thyme	Garlic: Repels diamondback moths. Source. Thyme: Disrupts egg-laying of cabbage pests. Source.
Carrots	Chives Leeks Onions Peas Radishes Rosemary Sage Savory	Onions: Significantly reduce carrot fly attacks. Source. Savory: Reduces aphids, psyllids, and nematodes. Source.
Corn	Beans Cucumbers Dill Geranium Peas Potatoes Squash Sunflowers	Beans: Improve yield and soil fertility when intercropped. Source. Geranium: Helps control Japanese beetles. Source.
Cucumbers	Beans Corn Dill Nasturtium Oregano Peppers Radish Sunflowers Tansy	Corn: Reduces insect pests significantly. Source. Radishes: Help repel cucumber beetles. Source.
Lettuce	Alyssum Chives Garlic Onion Oregano Peas Poached egg plant Radish Thyme	Alyssum: Controls aphids. USDA. Alliums (garlic, onions, chives): Mask scent and deter pests. Iowa State.
Onions	Beets Cabbage Carrots Chard Lettuce Strawberries Tomatoes	Beets: Improve onion seed yield. Source.
Peas	Alyssum Chives Corn Lettuce Mint Radish Spinach	Alyssum: Attracts pollinators and aphid predators. Source.
Peppers	Basil Chives Cilantro Dill Leeks Onions Oregano Rosemary	Basil: Improves growth and flavor. Dill: Supports beneficial predators. Source.
Potatoes	Basil Beans Calendula Cilantro Dill Garlic Horseradish Onion Peas Tansy	Basil: Deters Colorado potato beetles. Source. Garlic: Improves disease resistance and yield. Source.
Pumpkins / Winter Squash	Beans Borage Calendula Corn Lovage Marigold Nasturtium Oregano Radish Tansy	Three Sisters system: Beans fix nitrogen, corn provides support, and squash shades soil and suppresses weeds. USDA. Marigold: Helps deter squash pests. Source.
Radishes	Bok choy Chervil Collards Lettuce Nasturtium Peas Spinach	Peas: Improve soil fertility and support growth. Source.
Spinach	Beans Celery Cilantro Coreopsis Peas Radish	Peas and beans: Provide shade and improve soil fertility. Source.
Tomatoes	Asparagus Basil Beans Borage Calendula Celery Marigold Parsley Radish Rosemary Thyme	Basil: Enhances growth and pest resistance. NIH. Marigolds: Reduce whitefly populations. Source. Borage: Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators. Source.
Zucchini / Summer Squash	Buckwheat Marigold Nasturtium Oregano Radish Zinnia	Buckwheat: Reduces aphids and improves beneficial insect populations. University of Florida. Marigold: Improves resistance to cucumber beetles. Source.

Learn More About Specific Crops

Looking for more detailed companion planting advice? These crop-specific guides go deeper into plant pairings, timing, and pest control:

• Companion Plants for Carrots
• Companion Plants for Cucumbers
• Companion Plants for Basil
• Companion Plants for Peppers
• Companion Plants for Onions

Putting Companion Planting Into Practice

Once you know which plants grow well together, the next step is using those combinations in your garden. Companion planting works best when you mix in helpful plants that attract beneficial insects, deter pests, and support healthy growth across your beds.

These recommendations combine generations of gardening experience with research from universities and agricultural extensions.

• Alyssum: Plant near lettuce and brassicas to attract hoverflies, whose larvae feed on aphids. Source.
• Basil: Grow alongside tomatoes and peppers to help deter pests and improve plant resilience. Source.
• Dill: Add near cabbage crops or cucumbers to attract ladybugs and parasitic wasps that reduce pest populations. Source.
• Calendula or cosmos: Tuck throughout garden beds to draw in pollinators and aphid-eating insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps.
• Borage: Plant near tomatoes and strawberries to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Source.
• Garlic: Interplant with lettuce, cabbage, or potatoes to help repel aphids and beetles. Source.
• Mint: Place near problem areas to deter aphids and flea beetles (best grown in containers to prevent spreading).
• Nasturtium: Use as a trap crop near beans and cabbage to draw pests away from your main crops. Source.
• Parsley: Plant between tomatoes to attract beneficial insects that help protect and pollinate crops.
• Poached egg plant: Grow near lettuce to attract hoverflies that control aphids.
• Sage: Plant near carrots and cabbage to help repel carrot flies and cabbage pests. Source.
• Sunflowers: Use as natural supports for climbing plants like beans and cucumbers while attracting pollinators.
• Tansy: Plant along garden edges to attract beneficial insects while repelling a wide range of pests. Source.

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is the practice of growing plants together so they support one another—like a natural garden community. When thoughtfully combined, vegetables, herbs, and flowers can grow stronger and more productively.

• Some benefits are one-sided—like flowers planted near vegetables to attract pollinators.
• Others are mutually beneficial, such as the classic Three Sisters: corn supports climbing beans, beans enrich the soil, and squash shades out weeds.

By combining plants that naturally support each other, you can reduce pests, improve soil, attract pollinators, and increase your harvest—while creating a healthier, more resilient garden.

Why Companion Planting Works

Companion planting works because plants interact with each other and their environment—affecting pests, pollination, and growth.

• More friends than foes: Most plant combinations are beneficial. True negative pairings are rare—black walnut trees are a well-known exception, releasing compounds that can inhibit nearby crops.
• Fewer pests: Mixing crops can confuse pests and reduce damage. USDA research shows intercropping helps limit pest outbreaks.
• More beneficial insects: Flowers like alyssum and dill attract predators that naturally control pests.
• Better pollination: Nectar-rich plants draw bees and butterflies, improving yields. Research.
• Healthier soil: Legumes such as beans and peas add nitrogen to the soil, helping neighboring plants grow stronger.
• Smarter use of space: Pairing plants with different root depths or growth habits reduces competition and maximizes your garden beds.

Simple Tips for Better Companion Planting

• Mix flowers and herbs throughout your vegetable beds to attract beneficial insects.
• Combine tall and low-growing crops to improve light use and protect sensitive plants.
• Use fast-growing crops like radishes or lettuce between slower crops to maximize space.
• Focus on soil, sunlight, and watering first—companion planting works best when basic needs are met.
• Start small: try adding marigolds, basil, or nasturtiums and observe the results.

Learn More

• See companion garden plans and layouts
• Vegetable Gardening for Beginners
• Browse growing guides for vegetables, herbs, and flowers

Companion planting helps you grow a healthier, more productive garden—working with nature instead of against it.