Companion planting is a technique that has been used for centuries by gardeners and farmers worldwide. Companion plants are basically different plants planted together – plants that are beneficial to each other.
Here’s a great example! The Native Americans used a technique called The Three Sisters in which they would plant corn, beans, and squash together. The corn provided a structure for the beans to climb, the beans provided nitrogen for the soil that the other plants would utilize, and the squash would spread along the ground to prevent weeds.
Other great benefits of companion planting include:
- Deterrence of various pests
- Attraction of beneficial insects
- Great for overall plant growth and flavor
In this article, I’ll cover the best companion plants for your survival garden so you and your family can have the healthiest garden yet! Let’s get started!
Companion Plants For Your Survival Garden
There are many combinations of companion plants for your survival garden. Let’s go over the most common combinations used by gardeners and farmers worldwide.
1. Tomatoes
Companion plants: Thyme and peppermint
Benefit: Deters whiteflies.
Companion plant: Marigolds
Benefit: Improves overall growth for the tomato plant.
Companion plant: Basil
Benefit: Encourages better flavor.
2. Carrots
Companion plant: Dill
Benefit: A chemical produced by the dill plant improves the overall health of carrots.
3. Lettuce
Companion plant: Chervil
Benefit: Deters aphids and snails. Also, provides protection against mildew.
4. Broccoli
Companion plants: Mint and Dill
Benefit: Improves overall growth for the broccoli plant.
5. Cabbage
Companion plants: Sage and Rosemary
Benefit: Deters cabbage butterflies.
Companion plant: Celery
Benefit: Deters grubs.
6. Radishes
Companion plant: Beans
Benefit: Both of these plants improve the overall health of each other.
7. Celery
Companion plant: Bush beans
Benefit: Both of these plants improve the overall growth of each other.
8. Potatoes
Companion plant: Beans
Benefit: Helps deter beetles which can cause a fair amount of damage to potatoes.
9. Eggplant
Companion plant: Nasturtium
Benefit: Deters insects such as various types of beetles and spider mites.
10. Sweetcorn
Companion plant: Sunflower
Benefit: Provides additional nitrogen to the soil which improves the overall health of sweetcorn.
11. Beans
Companion plants: Marigolds and Petunias
Benefit: Deters beetles.
12. Grapes
Companion plants: Clovers and Lupins
Benefit: Improves the overall fertility of the soil.
Now, you may be wondering if there are bad companion plants for some of your vegetables. The answer is yes!
Here is a list of plants that are not recommended to be garden buddies aka companion plants!
- Tomatoes should not be planted with apricots, red cabbage, dill, brussels sprouts, beetroot, or sweetcorn.
- Beans should not be planted with chives, beetroot, fennel, or onions.
- Rue should not be planted with sage, basil, or cabbage.
- Cabbage should not be planted with tomatoes, grapes, rue, or onions.
- Potatoes should not be planted with onions or apricots.
- Carrots should not be planted with wormwood nor anise.
- Fennel should not be planted with peppers, coriander, or beans.
Have you had success with companion gardening? Tell us in the comment section below!
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Check out these other great articles for more information on how you can achieve the perfect survival garden this season!
Composting For Beginners | The Building Blocks To A Better Harvest
Beginner’s Guide To Having an Outdoor Herb Garden | Survival Gardening
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I like growing marigolds in my garden. They have such beneficial effects and look so pretty. I’ve been fairly successful at growing my own from seed heads stuck in the ground. – Margy