What vegetables should not be planted together?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Companion planting maximizes your vegetable combinations while minimizing the growth-inhibiting effects of plants and pests. Compounding unlawful plant pairings, some emit chemical signals that inhibit neighbouring plants. Others are just ruthless, physically competing with them for nutrients. Identifying incompatible pairs will help violators avoid substandard yields. Smart spacing will ultimately lead to healthier garden beds with less work involved.
Chemical Interactions
- Beans release substances harming onion family growth
- Mustard plants inhibit potato development
- Sunflowers suppress nearby vegetables through allelopathy
Space and Resource Competition
- Potatoes and squash compete for root space
- Corn shades sun-loving vegetables
- Cabbage family deprives strawberries of nutrients
I have found that bean plants tend to work poorly when planted near plants of the allium family, such as garlic and onions. The beans will slow their growth considerably. Instead, plant beans near corn, which will provide natural support. Place marigolds nearby to repel bean beetles. These three plants have helped produce healthy bean plants.
Nightshade Vegetables will share diseases if planted together. Keeping potatoes far away from tomatoes or peppers is a good practice. Hope and other members of this family, basil makes an excellent pairing with tomatoes. It can repel hornworms through a chemical signal mechanism. Space these two families as far apart as possible.
Cabbage and strawberries fight for nutrients. Brassicas remove soil nitrogen, which strawberries rely on. Plant strawberries with borage, which repels pests and serves as a beneficial companion plant. Surround cabbage with dill to address caterpillar problems while still maintaining distance between the crops, preventing stunting of both crops.
Root vegetables require careful partnerships. Do not plant carrots near dill. Dill will hinder root development; instead, plant carrots near rosemary, which will deter the carrot fly. Radishes improve breaking the soil crust for parsnips. Strategic placement will lead to improved root growth.
Planning is proactive. When drawing plans for gardens, consider the heights for each plant and its mature spread. Group compatible families together, and leave pathways for access. I use my journal to record the plant families that worked well in each season, exercising crop rotation annually with different plant families to sustain the soil.
Read the full article: When to Plant Vegetable Garden: Ultimate Guide
