Build Robust Plant Communities (Veg, Herbs, Flowers, Berries, Vines, Shrubs & Trees)
Think in communities, not single rows. Companion planting uses layered canopies, staggered root depths, scent masking, and nectar corridors to reduce pests, stabilize growth, and boost yield. It scales from balcony pots to large yards, in cool, temperate, or warm climates.
Beyond Vegetables: Ornaments, Fruit & Guilds
Beneficial Flower Mix
Alyssum, calendula, borage, buckwheat, yarrow, phacelia, cosmos, zinnia, bee balm feed hoverflies, lacewings, lady beetles, and tiny parasitic wasps that hunt aphids/caterpillars.
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Berry Belts
Strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, currant, gooseberry with living mulches (clover, creeping thyme), pest-deterring borders (chives/garlic), and yarrow at corners for predators.
Orchard Guilds
Ring apples/pears/cherries with chives/garlic; underplant clover for nitrogen; add comfrey as deep mineral pump; dot yarrow/chamomile to pull beneficials.
Layout & Spacing That Works Anywhere
- Mix, don’t monocrop: Interplant herbs/flowers to break pest cues.
- Vertical layers: trellised vines → upright crops → low herbs/groundcovers.
- Stagger roots: shallow (thyme/strawberry/alliums) with deep (carrot/tomato/comfrey).
- Trap & ally plants: nasturtium (beetles/aphids), buckwheat (fast nectar), marigolds (edges), borage (tomatoes & strawberries).
Climate & Season Tips
- Cool pockets: tuck lettuce, parsley, cilantro behind trellised tomatoes/cukes for afternoon shade.
- Heat & drought: favor rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender with mulch; schedule deep, infrequent watering.
- Rainy/humid: increase spacing for airflow; use vertical supports; choose disease-resistant cultivars.
- Containers/balconies: use dwarf tomatoes with basil; strawberries with creeping thyme; trellis peas/cukes; keep alliums in corners.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcrowding “good companions” until airflow is lost.
- Placing legumes beside strong alliums (onions/garlic) — they inhibit legumes.
- Ignoring pH needs (e.g., blueberries need acidic beds; keep high-pH neighbors away).
- Planting fennel among companions — give it distance or its own pot/bed.
Favorite Companion Clusters (Veg, Fruit, Flowers)
Tomato block
Basil, marigold, borage, parsley; shade lettuce beneath. Keep potatoes separate.
Brassica ring
Cabbage/broccoli/kale with alyssum, dill, thyme, oregano, nasturtium; rotate next season.
Cucurbit lane
Cucumber/squash with nasturtium, radish, dill; sunflowers as living trellis.
Allium edge
Onions/garlic/chives edging carrots/greens; keep distance from beans/peas.
Strawberry mat
Strawberry with borage, creeping thyme groundcover; add yarrow on corners.
Apple guild
Apple with chives/garlic ring, clover understorey, comfrey between trees, yarrow for beneficials.
Quick Companion Reference
| Plant | Often pair well with | Common conflicts |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Basil, Marigold, Borage, Onion family, Lettuce | Potato, Fennel |
| Beans (legume) | Corn, Squash, Carrot, Radish, Sunflower | Onion, Garlic, Shallot |
| Brassicas (Cabbage/Broccoli/Kale) | Alyssum, Dill, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Onion | Overlap disease if crowded with Solanaceae |
| Onion/Alliums | Carrot, Lettuce, Beet, Brassicas | Beans, Peas |
| Cucumber/Squash | Nasturtium, Radish, Dill, Sunflower | Potato (competition/disease) |
| Strawberry | Borage, Creeping Thyme, Chives | Fennel close by |
| Apple (tree) | Chives, Garlic, Clover, Comfrey, Yarrow | Heavy feeders crowding trunk |
| Blueberry | Azalea/Rhododendron (acidic), Light clover | High-pH neighbors |
| Grape (vine) | Chives, Yarrow, Clover understory | Dense, water-hog neighbors at base |
| Rose (shrub) | Garlic/Chives, Lavender, Catnip | Waterlogging at root zone |
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