Companion plants are an important part of every garden. If you’re struggling with pest problems, plants aren’t growing as you’d like, or your garden just isn’t flourishing, then maybe it’s time to consider growing companion plants in your garden!
‘Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, share or support. They can be part of a biological pest control program.’ Wikipedia
What are companion plants?
They are certain plants when grown together they have a beneficial effect on one another.
They help your garden by:
- Attracting beneficial insects to your plants
- Repelling the bad bugs away
- Suppressing weeds
- Providing shade
- Improving soil
- Improving flavour of edible crops
Three Favourites
MarigoldsA great plant f |
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ChivesAs well a |
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NasturtiumsNasturtiums repel squash bug and cucumber beetl |
or deterring nematodes and beetles in the garden and most are edible! Look for edible Marigolds and sow seeds through all garden spaces. For deterring white fly, ensure you’re growing a pungent smelling variety!
s increasing the flavour of tomatoes and carrots, chives help to protect roses from black spot fungal disease, repel aphids and will help to repel borers around fruit trees. Also a lovely little plant to grow as a border in any ornamental and edible garden.
es, so plant them all through areas growing zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber and melons. They also help to suppress weeds, reduce nematodes in the soil and attract bees to garden to help with pollination. Flowers, buds and leaves are edible, so an all-round good plant to grow, and one of my favourites!A Few More Examples
- Tomatoes, Eggplant or Capsicum (Solanaceae family) – basil, parsley, oregano, geraniums, marigold, borage, chives, eggplant.
- Potato – marigold, beans and onions. TIP – potatoes aren’t friends with other Solanaceae family, so don’t grow with tomatoes, eggplant and capsicum!
- Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Bok Choy, etc (Brassica family) – lettuce, celery, onion, nasturtium, borage, aromatic plants with flowers, eg dill, thyme, rosemary, mint or sage.
- Pumpkin, Cucumber, Zucchini/Squash, Watermelon (Curcubit family) – sunflowers, nasturtiums, lettuce, radish and calendula.
- Peas and Beans – corn, summer savoury and carrots.
- Onion, Garlic, Leek and Chives (Allium family) – carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and capsicum.
- Lettuce – broccoli, dill, onions, beans, carrots, thyme, nasturtium, allysum.
- Various fruit trees – alliums (onion family) nasturtium, marigold, tansy, lemon balm, borage
If you have plants growing, try sowing seeds of good companions around existing plants!
TIP – Also grow them around fruit trees to attract good bugs, repel pests and suppress weeds!
Some other greats plants you could grow …
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Try these ideas right away! You’ll be amazed at how helpful this small change can be to your garden. Your veggies will be stronger and happier…which means better yields for you!
TIP – some plants should not be grown together. This is a guide is only for what plants are happy together.
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