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Companion Planting Basics


Companion planting is a frequent discussion topic in gardening circles.  Sometimes it is even a controversial topic since personal experiences vary, and some plant pairs make good companions in some ways but bad companions in other ways.


In this article, we'll discuss where to find companion planting information, the logic behind companion planting, and what makes 2 plant species good or bad companions.


Jump to:  Where to Find Information | Reasons for Recommendations | More About Companion Planting | Read More


Where to Find Information

Here at Plant to Plate, we include companion planting information in all of our gardening facts articles.


Each of these articles focuses on a different plant.  For example, the Growing Tomatoes: Quick Gardening Facts article focuses on tomatoes.


We include both good companions and bad companions for the plant in question.  You can find them by either scrolling down or selecting Good Companions or Bad Companions from the "Jump to" menu at the top of the page.


We update these sections from time to time as new information becomes available and as personal garden experiments and experience continue.


But what if we haven't covered the plant you are looking for yet?  Or what if you are thinking of planting it with something that isn't on its good companions list or its bad companions list?


Reasons for Recommendations

Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to position 2 plant species near each other:


  • Pests.  Do they attract the same pests, or does one of them repel the other's pests?



Of course, there are other factors that come into play such as ​allelopathic effects​, cross-pollination, and plants that pleasantly enhance each other's flavor when grown near each other​.  But considering the pest, sun, and water relationships of 2 plants is a great place to start when determining whether or not they are good companions.


More About Companion Planting

I go into more detail about each of those 3 categories – pests, sun, and water – in one of the follow-up emails I send my new email subscribers.  I include specific examples and additional explanations of how to factor them into your companion planting decisions.


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