If you’ve been following my work for some time now, you’ll know that I’m not the brightest when it comes to discovering gardening solutions. Most of what I know was passed down to me by my mom and the rest of it I learned through lots of trial and error.
I first heard about companion planting from a fellow gardener on an online forum. It piqued my interest, so I decided to give it a try and it completely transformed my gardening experience!
Companion Planting 101: Easy Tips for Gardening Success
Here are 11 simple companion planting tips that are guaranteed to bring you success in your gardening journey:
Tip 1: Basil Loves Tomatoes
Because basil has a strong, pungent aroma, it works well as a natural pest and insect repellent, which tomatoes are quite susceptible to. Pairing these two together in the garden ensures harmonious growth while limiting any chances of pest infestation in the crop.
Tip 2: Tomatoes & Potatoes Don’t Get Along Very Well
Unfortunately, your two favorite vegetables shouldn’t ideally be planted together as they tend to compete with each other for water and resources in the soil.
Additionally, both plants are vulnerable to the same kinds of diseases, so planting them together isn’t the best idea if maintaining crop health is important to you.
Tip 3: Beans Love Growing Next To Carrots
Beans have nitrogen-fixing properties, meaning they enrich the soil with quality nutrients that surrounding plants in a close enough radius can benefit from. The pairing of beans and carrots can work incredibly well in most gardens.
Tip 5: Cucumbers Grow Well With Dill
Not only are cucumber and dill good pickle ingredients but they also do quite well together in the garden. This is because dill has natural pest-repellent properties that keep predatory insects at bay, allowing cucumbers to thrive without hindrance or unnecessary stress.
Tip 6: Mint Spreads Extremely Quick
Some of you might already know this but it’s important to say: mint spreads rapidly!
It’s an aggressive grower and can cover a large garden area relatively fast. It’s important to keep this one in check and not plant it too close to other “higher-priority” plants.
Tip 7: Lettuce & Spinach Thrive In The Shade Of Taller Plants
Although some amount of direct sun is okay, most lettuce and spinach varieties will do well in the shade of taller plants like tomatoes. Direct sun exposure for an extended period of time can scorch and burn the leaves on these leafy greens, especially if they’re somewhat young.
Tip 8: Marigolds Repel Pests
Many pests and insects find the scent of marigolds extremely unpleasant and polarizing. That’s why they maintain a distance from these vibrant flowers and anything that’s planted in the same area.
Tip 9: Tomatoes & Peppers Are Great Neighbors
Tomatoes and peppers are excellent neighbors because both plants share a preference for similar growing conditions. To add to that, they also don’t compete for nutrients which allows both plants to thrive and produce fruit in peace.
Tip 10: Cucumbers Don’t Like Growing Next To Potatoes
Not only do cucumbers and potatoes just make an overall odd pairing but they also can compete quite heavily with each other in the garden, which is why it’s recommended to not plant them together.
Tip 11: Basil & Oregano Grow Well Together
Both basil and oregano are herbs that thrive in similar light conditions and have similar preferences when it comes to growing conditions. Both herbs work incredibly well at repelling pests and can potentially help keep your entire garden pest-free if they cover a large enough area.
Tip 12: Cucumbers Need Constant Watering To Avoid Bitter Taste
If you’ve ever grown cucumbers, you’ll know that horrendous bitter taste you often get with your first few harvests. To minimize that bitterness and keep the cucumbers tasting fresh and sweet, water them consistently and avoid letting them dry for long periods of time.