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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.
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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 |
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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 |
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Blackberry Rubus fruticosus |
grape, tansy |
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Borage Borago officinalis |
bean, brassicas, squash, strawberry, improves growth & flavour of tomato, deters tomato worm |
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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. |
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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 |
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Celery Apium graveolens |
bush bean, cabbage repels insects, cauliflower, leek, onion, spinach, tomato |
carrot, parsnip |
Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile |
brassicas, cucumber, mint, onion |
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Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium |
carrot, endive, lettuce, improves growth & flavour of radish |
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Chive Allium schoenoprasum |
carrot, around base of fruit trees to deter climbing insects, grape, parsley, tomato |
bean, pea |
Citrus fruit Citrus |
coffee, pepper |
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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) |
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Dill Anethum graveolens |
beetroot, improves growth & health of cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, onion |
caraway, carrot, fennel, tomato |
Endive Cichorium endivia |
chervil |
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Fat Hen (Lamb's quarters) Chenopodium album |
sweetcorn |
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Fennel Foeniculum vulgare |
most plants are supposed to dislike it |
bean, caraway, coriander, dill, pepper, tomato |
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium |
roses |
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Fig Ficus carica |
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rue |
Flax Linum usitatissimum |
carrot, potato |
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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 |
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Henbit Lamium amplexicaule |
general insect repellent |
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Horseradish Armoracia rusticana |
plum (deters curculios), potato (deters potato beetle). |
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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 |
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Love lies bleeding Amaranthus caudatus |
onion, potato, sweetcorn. Brings nutrients to topsoil, keep well thinned. |
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African Marigold Tagetes erecta |
brassicas. |
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French Marigold Tagetes patula |
brassicas, greenhouse plants, keeps soil free of nematodes, plant freely throughout the garden, best pest deterrent, squash, tomatoes |
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Pot Marigold Calendula officinalis |
asparagus, lettuce, strawberry, tomato. Plant throughout the garden as general pest deterrent. |
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Sweet marjoram Origanum majorana |
All plants. Plant here and there in the garden. |
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Melon Cucumis melo |
nasturtium deters aphids and pests, peanut, radish, sunflower, sweetcorn |
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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 |
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Mulberry Morus nigra |
grape |
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Mustard Sinapis nigra |
strawberry |
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Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus |
cabbage, cucumber, fruit trees, radish, tomato |
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Nectarine Prunus persica |
asparagus, corn, grape, onion, strawberry |
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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 |
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Parsley Petroselinum crispum |
asparagus, carrot, chive, onion family, tomato |
mint |
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa |
onion |
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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 |
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Pepper Capsicum annuum |
basil, carrot, lovage, marjoram, onion, oregano |
fennel, kohl rabi |
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium |
roses |
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Petunia Petunia sp. |
beans. Beneficial throughout garden. |
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Pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus |
onion, potato, sweetcorn; brings nutrients to topsoil. KEEP WELL THINNED |
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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 |
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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 |
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Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum |
cabbage. Plant here and there in garden. |
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Sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus |
This weed, in modest numbers, can help tomatoes, onions and sweetcorn. |
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Soya bean Glycine max |
Grows with anything; helps everything (not reliable in the UK). |
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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 |
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Sunflower Helianthemus annuus |
cucumber |
potato |
Swede Brassica rutabaga |
pea |
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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 |
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French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus |
all plants. Good throughout the garden. |
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Thyme Thymus sp. |
General good influence. brassicas (deters cabbage root fly) |
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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 |
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Turnip Brassica rapa |
pea helps growth |
potato |
Valerian Valeriana officinalis |
Good anywhere in the garden |
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Yarrow Achillea millefolia |
plants in general. Enhances essential oil production of herbs. |
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©2004 Frann Leach. All rights reserved.
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