In organic gardening, you can help your plants have better lives, attract beneficial insects and repel pests by planting good companions close by. Some plants get on better with each other than others, just like people, and some make such good friends that they will fight against the other's enemies, and give shelter or food to their 'friends'. These mutually beneficial partnerships are known to organic gardeners as companions, whereas the others: the ones that fight and make each other sick, are called antagonists.

Companions and antagonists are not obvious to the casual glance, check our chart to see which plants get on and which make each other sick.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

	Good companions	Antagonists
Anise Pimpinella anisum	bean, brassicas, coriander	carrot
Angelica Angelica archangelica		dill
Apple Malus pumila	chive, nasturtium	potato
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis	basil/parsley help growth, pot marigold/tomato deter asparagus beetle	onion family
Aubergine Solanum melongena	beans deter Colorado beetles, pea, spinach, tarragon, thyme	Onions, garlic, potatoes.
Basil Ocimum basilicum	asparagus, bean, cabbage, capsicums, courgette, cucumber, french marigold, improves growth & flavour of tomato. repels flies & mosquitoes	rue
Bean. Bush Phaseolus vulgaris, Vicia faba	aubergine, beetroot, borage, cabbage, carrot, catnip repels flea beetles, cauliflower, celeriac, celery helps growth, cucumber, French marigold, leeks, lettuce, pea, petunia, potato repels Mexican bean beetles, radish, rosemary repels insects, sage, spinach, squash, strawberries, summer savory, sunflower attracts bees, sweetcorn helps growth, tansy, tomato. Plant around house plants when set outside.	fennel, gladiolus, onion family, kohl rabi
Runner bean	aubergine, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, pea, radish, savory, sweetcorn, tansy	beet, onion
Soya bean Glycine max	grows with anything, helps everything
Beetroot Beta vulgaris conditiva	French bean, cabbage, dill, kohlrabi, onion family repels insects, sage	runner bean, spinach, tomato
Bergamot/Bee balm Monarda didyma	brassicas, improves growth & flavour of tomato
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus	grape, tansy
Borage Borago officinalis	bean, brassicas, squash, strawberry, improves growth & flavour of tomato, deters tomato worm
Brassicas	bush bean, beet, celery, chamomile, dill, lavender, French marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, pennyroyal, potato, rosemary, sage, thyme, tomato. Aromatic plants deter root fly.	strawberry
Broccoli Brassica oleracea	bean, beet, celery, chamomile, dill, mint, nasturtium, onion, oregano, potato, sage, rosemary	lettuce, strawberry, tomato
Brussels sprout Brassica oleracea	bean, celery, dill, hyssop, mint, nasturtium, potato, sage, rosemary	strawberry
Cabbage Brassica oleracea	bean, beet, celery, chamomile, dill, hyssop, mint, nasturtium, onion, oregano, potato, rosemary, sage, tomato	grape, strawberry, tomato
Caraway Carum carvi	pea. Loosens soil; plant here and there	fennel, dill
Carrot Daucus carota	bean, chives, leek, lettuce, onion family repels carrot flies, pea adds nutrients, radish, rosemary/sage repel insects, salsify, scorzonera, tomato.	dill
Catnip Nepeta cataria	aubergine, bean. Plant in borders; protects against flea beetles.
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea	bean, beet, celery, chamomile, dill, hyssop, mint, nasturtium, onion, oregano, potato, sage, radish	strawberry, tomato
Celeriac Apium graveolens	bean, cabbage, leek, onion, tomato
Celery Apium graveolens	bush bean, cabbage repels insects, cauliflower, leek, onion, spinach, tomato	carrot, parsnip
Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile	brassicas, cucumber, mint, onion
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium	carrot, endive, lettuce, improves growth & flavour of radish
Chive Allium schoenoprasum	carrot, around base of fruit trees to deter climbing insects, grape, parsley, tomato	bean, pea
Citrus fruit Citrus	coffee, pepper
Coriander Coriandrum sativum	anise, potato; repels aphids	fennel
Courgette, summer squash Cucurbita pepo	bean, basil, mint, nasturtium deters Japanese beetles, radish, sweetcorn	potato, spinach beet, Swiss chard
Cucumber Cucumis sativus	bean adds nutrients, basil, broccoli, celeriac, celery, dill, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, French marigold, onion, nasturtium, pea, radish deters cucumber beetles, savory, sunflower, sweetcorn, tomato, tansy	rue, potato, sage, spinach beet, Swiss chard, all strong herbs
Dead nettle Lamium sp.	potato (deters potato bug)
Dill Anethum graveolens	beetroot, improves growth & health of cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, onion	caraway, carrot, fennel, tomato
Endive Cichorium endivia	chervil
Fat Hen (Lamb's quarters) Chenopodium album	sweetcorn
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare	most plants are supposed to dislike it	bean, caraway, coriander, dill, pepper, tomato
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium	roses
Fig Ficus carica		rue
Flax Linum usitatissimum	carrot, potato
Garlic Allium sativum	carrot, herbs, raspberry (deters Japanese beetle), rose, tomato. plant liberally throughout the garden to deter pests, with herbs to enhance essential oil production	bean, pea, strawberry
Grape Vitis vinifera	blackberry, hyssop, legumes	cabbage, radish
Hemp Cannabis sativa	brassicas, potato
Henbit Lamium amplexicaule	general insect repellent
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana	plum (deters curculios), potato (deters potato beetle).
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis	brassicas (deters cabbage whites), grape, plants in general.	radish
Kohl rabi Brassica oleracea	beet, onion	bean, pepper, tomato
Leek Allium porrum	carrot, celeriac, celery, onion	broad bean, broccoli
Lettuce Lactuca sativa	bean, beetroot, carrot, chervil, clover, cucumbers, onion, pea, pot marigold, onion deters slugs, radish, strawberry	parsley
Lovage Levisticum officinale	bean
Love lies bleeding Amaranthus caudatus	onion, potato, sweetcorn. Brings nutrients to topsoil, keep well thinned.
African Marigold Tagetes erecta	brassicas.
French Marigold Tagetes patula	brassicas, greenhouse plants, keeps soil free of nematodes, plant freely throughout the garden, best pest deterrent, squash, tomatoes
Pot Marigold Calendula officinalis	asparagus, lettuce, strawberry, tomato. Plant throughout the garden as general pest deterrent.
Sweet marjoram Origanum majorana	All plants. Plant here and there in the garden.
Melon Cucumis melo	nasturtium deters aphids and pests, peanut, radish, sunflower, sweetcorn
Mint Mentha sp.	brassicas (deters cabbage whites), tomato, plants in general.	Parsley
Mole plant Euphorbia lathyrus	reputed to deter moles & mice if planted here & there throughout the garden
Mulberry Morus nigra	grape
Mustard Sinapis nigra	strawberry
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus	cabbage, cucumber, fruit trees, radish, tomato
Nectarine Prunus persica	asparagus, corn, grape, onion, strawberry
Onion Allium cepa	protects beans against ants, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, chamomile, cucumber, protects lettuce against slugs, love lies bleeding, parsley, potato, sow thistle, squash, strawberry, summer savory, tomato	bean, pea
Oregano Origanum vulgare	cabbage, cucumber
Parsley Petroselinum crispum	asparagus, carrot, chive, onion family, tomato	mint
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa	onion
Pea Pisum sativum	aubergine, bean, brassicas, carrot helps growth, celery, cucumber, lettuce, radish, sage, spinach, sweetcorn, tomato, turnip. Follow tall varieties with climbing squash.	gladiolus, onion family
Peach Prunus persica	asparagus, corn, grape, onion, strawberry	old and new peach trees
Pear Pyrus communis	currant
Pepper Capsicum annuum	basil, carrot, lovage, marjoram, onion, oregano	fennel, kohl rabi
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium	roses
Petunia Petunia sp.	beans. Beneficial throughout garden.
Pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus	onion, potato, sweetcorn; brings nutrients to topsoil. KEEP WELL THINNED
Potato Solanum tuberosum	Aubergine traps potato beetle, bean repels insects, late brassicas, borage, dead nettle deters potato bug, hemp aids against blight, horseradish, lettuce, love lies bleeding, French marigold, onion, pea, petunia, radish, sweetcorn repels insects	apple, cherry, cucurbits, onion, pumpkin, raspberry, sunflower, tomato
Pumpkin Cucurbita moschata	bean, mint, nasturtium deters aphids and pests, radish, sweetcorn	potato
Quince Cydonia oblonga	garlic
Radish Raphanus sativus	bean, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chervil, cucumber, lettuce, melon, nasturtium, pea, squash, tomato	grape, hyssop
Raspberry Rubus idaeus	tansy	blackberry, potato
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis	bean (deters bean beetles), brassicas (deters cabbage whites), carrot (deters carrot fly), sage.	potato
Rue Ruta graveolens	raspberry, rose. deters Japanese beetle	basil, cabbage, sage
Sage Salvia officinalis	bean, brassicas, carrot, marjoram, pea, rosemary, strawberry, tomato	cucumber, rue
Savory Satureja sp.	bean, onion
Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum	cabbage. Plant here and there in garden.
Sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus	This weed, in modest numbers, can help tomatoes, onions and sweetcorn.
Soya bean Glycine max	Grows with anything; helps everything (not reliable in the UK).
Spinach Spinacia oleracea	aubergine, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, onion, pea, strawberry	potato
Spinach beet Beta vulgaris		cucumber, courgette
Squash Cucurbita moschata	bean, mint, nasturtium deters aphids and pests, onion, radish, sweetcorn	potato
Strawberry Fragaria vesicaria	bean, borage, leek, lettuce, nectarine, pot marigold, mustard, onion, peach, spinach	brassicas
Summer savory Satureja hortensis	bean (deters blackfly), onion
Sunflower Helianthemus annuus	cucumber	potato
Swede Brassica rutabaga	pea
Sweetcorn Zea mays	alfalfa, French bean, runner bean, soya bean deters chinch bugs, courgette, cucumber, fat hen, love lies bleeding, lupin, melon, pea adds nutrients, potato repels insects, pumpkin, sow thistle, squash	tomato
Swiss chard Beta vulgaris	onion family	bean, cucurbits
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare	blackberry, fruit trees, pepper, potato, rose, raspberry
French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus	all plants. Good throughout the garden.
Thyme Thymus sp.	General good influence. brassicas (deters cabbage root fly)
Tomato Lycopersicon lycopersicum	asparagus repels insects, lemon balm, basil repels insects, French bean, lima/broad bean, bergamot, borage deters tomato worm, cabbage, carrot, celery, celeriac, chives, courgettes, French marigold, pot marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley helps growth, pea, sage, sow thistle, squash, strawberry	dill, fennel, kohl rabi, potato, sweetcorn
Top fruit	nasturtium
Turnip Brassica rapa	pea helps growth	potato
Valerian Valeriana officinalis	Good anywhere in the garden
Yarrow Achillea millefolia	plants in general. Enhances essential oil production of herbs.

Top of page

Created by: TheWebsiteDesign.Co.UK

Copyright ©2007 TWSD Services, All rights reserved