5 Companion Planting Combinations for an Outstanding Harvest

Companion planting is a great way to grow more in your garden space by planting mutually beneficial vegetables near each other.

We’ve tried many companion planting combinations over the years. These are our 5 favorite combos that we plant together in our garden every year!

We have a short season garden in zone 5. Because we sometimes have less than three months between frosts, It’s important for our plants to grow as quickly as possible. To help, we try to give our plants plenty of space and avoid putting plants near each other that will inhibit growth.

Since different types of plants take different types of nutrients from different soil levels, simply alternating rows with two different kinds of vegetables can make a big difference in how well the plants grow!

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Companion Planting Combo #1: Tomatoes and Carrots

Why we plant this combination: 

I used to put two rows of tomatoes in my 3’ wide garden beds. I found with this arrangement, the leaves cover the tomatoes, making it almost impossible for them to ripen in my short season. It also seemed to encourage leaf growth over fruit production. 

Tomatoes and carrots are one of the most well-known companion planting combinations, thanks to the book, Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riotte. We now grow a single row of tomatoes lengthwise in a 3’ bed, with a wide row of carrots in front. Having just a single row of tomatoes gives the plants far more sunlight. We get more tomatoes and they ripen better, plus being much easier to find. The carrots are the perfect crop to grow in the front part of the bed, taking different nutrients from the soil and being short enough that they don’t affect the sunlight!

How do we arrange the plants in a bed:

I put tomatoes on the north side of a bed that runs east to west. I plant carrots in the front (south side).

Plant spacing:

In this arrangement, I space tomatoes 18” apart. The carrots are broadcast on the southernmost 12” of the bed, and are thinned so they aren’t touching each other. Sometimes I instead plant 3 rows of carrots 4” apart, which makes weeding a little easier.

 

Companion Planting Combo #2: Celery and Leeks

Why we plant this combination:

Celery and Leeks have similar growth requirements, both liking water. They are both commonly planted in trenches or hilled up to blanch the lower parts of the the stem. Leeks and celery have different nutrient requirements and don’t seem to compete with each other.

How do we arrange the plants in a bed:

In a 3’ bed, I alternate rows of celery and leeks. I have tried alternating short rows running north to south, and long rows across the length of the bed. Both arrangements work well!  

Plant spacing:

The alternating rows of celery and leeks are 8” apart. Within each row, I space leeks 4” apart and celery plants 12” apart. In midsummer I add compost to the bed. This both adds nitrogen for the heavy feeding plants, and blanches the lower parts of the stems at the same time.

Companion Planting Combo #3: Brassicas and Marigolds

Why we plant this combination:

Brassicas such as cabbage, kale, broccoli and cauliflower are perhaps the best bug magnets in a garden. Pests such as cabbage butterflies and aphids are drawn to them like bees to honey! While it doesn’t eliminate the problem completely, interplanting bug-repellent marigolds can definitely help! It also adds a lovely splash of color to the garden!

How do we arrange the plants in a bed:

I put two rows of broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower lengthwise along a 3” wide bed. Marigolds go in between the two rows.

Plant spacing:

I plant broccoli 12” apart within each row. The marigolds are staggered so each one is centered between four broccoli plants. I give cauliflower or cabbage a little more space, 16-18” between each plant, also centering each marigold between four plants.

 

Companion Planting Combo #4: Corn and Beans

Why we plant this combination:

Since corn is a heavy feeder, requiring a lot of nitrogen, it does well with legumes, which don’t need much nitrogen and can actually add more nitrogen to your soil. 

How do we arrange the plants in a bed:

I plant corn at it’s normal spacing and just add a few beans in between. If you are growing an average to tall corn variety, the beans will typically only grow well around the outsides of a corn patch where they can get sun. If you grow a shorter corn variety such as Painted Mountain, the beans can be planted throughout the whole patch. I plant both pole beans and bush beans in between corn plants. The pole beans will climb the plants like a trellis. 

Plant spacing:

I plant corn 12” apart. When I grow it with beans, I plant two rows lengthwise in a 3’bed. If I’m only growing corn in the bed, I plant 3 rows per bed.

Companion Planting Combo #5: Potatoes and Radishes

Why we plant this combination:

Potatoes can take weeks, if not a month or more to sprout. Radishes are a fast growing plant that can grown on top of the potatoes and are ready to harvest before the potatoes need the space. 

How do we arrange the plants in a bed:

The potatoes are planted as usual and the radish seed is simply broadcast on top.

Plant spacing:

I plant two rows of potatoes in a 3’ wide bed, with each plant 12” apart within the row. The radishes are broadcast with a goal of about 3” between plants in all directions.

 

 

If you’d like to learn more about companion planting, my favorite book on this subject is Carrots Love Tomatoes! 

 

Want to learn more about companion planting combos? The Spruce has a chart that is super helpful!

What is your favorite companion planting combo? Please share in the comments!