Companion planting checker
Plan the bed before you dig it. Select everything going in together and see which combinations help each other, which ones fight, and what else would suit the whole group — across 129 crops.
Pick two or more plants above to check them against each other. Try Tomatoes + Basil (a classic pairing) or Tomatoes + Fennel (fennel inhibits almost everything near it).
Common questions
- What should I not plant next to tomatoes?
- Keep tomatoes away from potatoes (both are nightshades and share blight), from fennel (which inhibits most neighbours), and from corn, which attracts the same earworm. Basil, marigolds, carrots, onions and parsley are the classic good neighbours.
- Why is fennel bad for companion planting?
- Florence fennel is allelopathic — it releases compounds that suppress the growth of many nearby vegetables, particularly tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and beans. It is the one crop worth giving its own bed or container, well away from the main vegetable garden.
- Does companion planting actually work?
- Some of it is well evidenced and some is folklore. The reliable mechanisms are physical: tall crops shading heat-sensitive ones, legumes fixing nitrogen for hungry neighbours, strongly scented herbs confusing pests that hunt by smell, and flowers drawing in pollinators and predatory insects. Pairings recorded here come from each crop’s own growing guide.
Companion chart for every crop
| Crop | Grows well with | Keep apart from |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | Chives, Daffodils, Nasturtiums | Potatoes |
| Aronia | Blueberries, Currants, Elderberries | — |
| Artichoke | Tarragon, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Beans | Potatoes |
| Arugula | Lettuce, Spinach, Carrots, Onions | Strawberries |
| Asparagus | Tomatoes, Parsley, Basil | Onions, Garlic |
| Avocado | Marigolds, Chives, Comfrey | — |
| Bachelor's Buttons | Cosmos, Zinnias, Snapdragons, Calendula, Vegetables (excellent pollinator draw) | — |
| Bananas | Sweet Potatoes, Beans, Marigolds | — |
| Basil | Tomatoes, Peppers, Oregano | — |
| Beans | Corn, Cucumbers, Squash, Radishes, Carrots | Onions, Garlic, Fennel |
| Bee Balm | Echinacea, Black-eyed Susans, Phlox, Yarrow, Lavender | — |
| Beets | Onions, Lettuce, Brassicas, Bush beans | Pole beans |
| Begonias | Impatiens, Coleus, Caladiums, Ferns, Hostas | Waterlogged soil or pots without drainage |
| Black-eyed Susans | Coneflowers, Zinnias, Most vegetables (pollinator draw) | — |
| Blackberries | Garlic, Chives, Marigolds | Raspberries, Tomatoes, Potatoes |
| Blueberries | Strawberries, Rhododendron, Azalea (similar acid lovers) | — |
| Bok Choy | Garlic, Onions, Lettuce, Beets, Nasturtiums | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Borage | Tomatoes, Squash, Strawberries, Beans, Cucumbers | — |
| Broccoli | Onions, Beets, Herbs, Potatoes | Tomatoes, Strawberries, Beans |
| Brussels Sprouts | Onions, Beets, Dill, Potatoes | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Cabbage | Onions, Beets, Dill, Potatoes | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Calendula | Tomatoes, Carrots, Asparagus, Roses, Brassicas | — |
| Cantaloupe | Corn, Beans, Nasturtiums, Radishes | Potatoes |
| Carrots | Onions, Leeks, Lettuce, Radishes, Rosemary | Dill, Fennel |
| Cauliflower | Beans, Celery, Onions, Dill | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Celery | Cabbage, Beans, Tomatoes, Onions | Carrots, Parsnips |
| Celosia | Marigolds, Zinnias, Vinca, Salvia, Dusty Miller | — |
| Chamomile | Tomatoes, Cabbages, Onions, Beans | — |
| Cherries | Garlic, Chives, Marigolds, Clover, Nasturtiums | Walnut, Grass planted under the dripline |
| Chives | Carrots, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Roses | Beans, Peas |
| Chrysanthemums | Ornamental grasses, Asters, Sedums, Goldenrod, Salvia | Shade — at least 6 hours of direct sun is non-negotiable for good bloom |
| Cilantro | Tomatoes, Spinach, Beans, Peas | Fennel |
| Cloudberry | Lingonberry, Sphagnum moss | Fertilized or limed beds, Dry upland sites |
| Coleus | Impatiens, Begonias, Caladiums, Ferns, Hostas | — |
| Coneflowers | Black-eyed Susans, Zinnias, Most vegetables (pollinator draw) | — |
| Cosmos | Zinnias, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Most vegetables (pollinator draw) | — |
| Cucumbers | Beans, Peas, Radishes, Sunflowers, Dill | Potatoes, Sage |
| Currants | Chives, Marigolds, Garlic | — |
| Daffodils | Tulips, Apples, Pears | — |
| Dahlias | Zinnias, Cosmos, Marigolds | — |
| Daylilies | Black-Eyed Susans, Coneflowers, Ornamental Grasses, Hostas, Salvia | — |
| Dill | Cucumbers, Cabbage, Onions, Lettuce | Carrots, Fennel |
| Dragon Fruit | Basil, Marigolds, Lemongrass | Shade trees that block the sun it needs to flower |
| Edamame | Corn, Cucumbers, Carrots, Squash | Onions, Garlic, Fennel |
| Eggplant | Beans, Peppers, Marigolds, Thyme | Fennel |
| Elderberries | Yarrow, Marigolds, Borage, Wildflowers | Fennel, Walnut |
| Fava Beans | Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, Carrots, Potatoes | Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Fennel |
| Fennel | Sage, Calendula, Marjoram | Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Beans |
| Figs | Strawberries, Rhubarb, Marigolds | — |
| Foxglove | Roses, Hostas, Ferns, Astilbe, Campanula | — |
| French Tarragon | Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic, Eggplant | — |
| Garlic | Tomatoes, Carrots, Beets, Strawberries, Roses | Beans, Peas |
| Geraniums | Marigolds, Petunias, Lavender, Verbena, Salvia | Waterlogged or heavy clay soil |
| Ginger | Lemongrass, Sweet Potatoes, Basil, Marigolds, Turmeric | Fennel |
| Gooseberries | Currants, Chives, Marigolds | Five-needle pines, where locally restricted |
| Grapes | Hyssop, Oregano, Chives | Cabbage, Radishes |
| Ground Cherries | Basil, Marigolds, Beans, Peppers, Tomatoes | Fennel |
| Guava | Marigolds, Lemongrass, Basil | — |
| Haskap | Currants, Saskatoon Berry, Rhubarb | — |
| Hollyhocks | Sunflowers, Cosmos, Zinnias, Roses, Delphiniums | — |
| Horseradish | Potatoes, Fruit trees, Corn | — |
| Impatiens | Caladiums, Hostas, Ferns, Begonias | — |
| Kale | Beets, Onions, Herbs, Potatoes | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Kohlrabi | Beets, Onions, Cucumbers, Lettuce | Tomatoes, Beans |
| Lavender | Roses, Echinacea, Sage | — |
| Leeks | Carrots, Celery, Onions, Beets | Beans, Peas |
| Lemon Balm | Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Beans, Broccoli, Strawberries | Mint (competing spreaders — give each its own contained space) |
| Lemon Verbena | Roses, Lavender, Thyme, Basil, Marigolds | — |
| Lemongrass | Thai basil, Peppers, Eggplant, Marigolds, Ginger | Waterlogged soil — root rot sets in fast in heavy, poorly drained ground |
| Lemons | Marigolds, Garlic, Calendula | — |
| Lettuce | Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Onions | — |
| Lima Beans | Corn, Cucumbers, Squash, Carrots, Sunflowers | Onions, Garlic, Fennel |
| Lingonberry | Blueberries, Rhododendron, Haskap | Lime-rich or alkaline beds |
| Loquat | Chives, Garlic, Nasturtiums | — |
| Lupines | Roses, Delphiniums, Iris, Salvia, Peonies | Astilbe, Ligularia |
| Mango | Lemongrass, Marigolds, Basil | — |
| Marigolds | Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Most vegetables | Beans |
| Mint | Cabbage, Tomatoes (nearby, in pots) | Most herbs (it outcompetes them) |
| Morning Glories | Corn, Sunflowers, Beans, Zucchini | — |
| Mustard Greens | Onions, Beets, Lettuce, Radishes, Nasturtiums | Tomatoes, Strawberries |
| Nasturtiums | Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Beans, Brassicas | — |
| Okra | Peppers, Basil, Beans, Sunflowers | — |
| Onions | Carrots, Beets, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Strawberries | Beans, Peas |
| Oranges | Marigolds, Garlic, Calendula | — |
| Oregano | Peppers, Tomatoes, Basil, Eggplant | — |
| Pansies | Tulips, Daffodils, Sweet Peas | — |
| Papaya | Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Marigolds | — |
| Parsley | Tomatoes, Carrots, Peppers, Roses | — |
| Parsnips | Radishes, Onions, Lettuce | Carrots, Celery |
| Passionfruit | Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Basil | Other vigorous vines on the same trellis |
| Peaches | Garlic, Chives, Nasturtiums | — |
| Pears | Chives, Daffodils, Nasturtiums | — |
| Peas | Carrots, Radishes, Cucumbers, Spinach | Onions, Garlic |
| Peonies | Roses, Daffodils | — |
| Peppers | Basil, Onions, Carrots, Marigolds | Fennel, Beans |
| Petunias | Marigolds, Zinnias, Sweet Alyssum, Verbena | — |
| Pineapple | Basil, Marigolds, Lemongrass | Dense shade |
| Plums | Garlic, Chives, Daffodils | — |
| Pomegranate | Marigolds, Garlic, Yarrow | — |
| Potatoes | Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Marigolds | Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash |
| Pumpkins | Corn, Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds | Potatoes |
| Radishes | Carrots, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Peas, Spinach | — |
| Raspberries | Garlic, Marigolds, Chives | Potatoes, Tomatoes, Blackberries |
| Rhubarb | Strawberries, Onions, Garlic, Brassicas | Dock, Comfrey |
| Rosemary | Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Beans, Cabbage | — |
| Roses | Lavender, Chives, Garlic, Catmint, Peonies | Junipers, Fennel |
| Sage | Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots, Tomatoes | Cucumbers |
| Saskatoon Berry | Haskap, Currants, Elderberries | — |
| Sea Buckthorn | Aronia, Saskatoon Berry, Haskap | Rich, heavily fertilized beds |
| Snapdragons | Zinnias, Cosmos, Most vegetables (pollinator draw) | — |
| Sorrel | Chives, Lettuce, Spinach, Strawberries, Thyme | Fennel |
| Spinach | Radishes, Strawberries, Peas, Brassicas | — |
| Strawberries | Spinach, Lettuce, Bush beans, Thyme | Brassicas |
| Sunflowers | Cucumbers, Corn, Beans, Zucchini | Potatoes |
| Sweet Alyssum | Marigolds, Zinnias, Petunias, Lobelia, Tomatoes, Brassicas | Plants requiring consistently wet, heavy soil |
| Sweet Corn | Beans, Squash, Cucumbers, Peas | Tomatoes |
| Sweet Peas | Pansies, Snapdragons | — |
| Sweet Potatoes | Beans, Thyme, Marigolds | Squash |
| Swiss Chard | Beans, Onions, Cabbage, Lettuce | Beets, Spinach |
| Thyme | Rosemary, Sage, Cabbage, Strawberries | — |
| Tomatillos | Tomatoes, Peppers, Basil, Marigolds, Squash | Fennel, Corn |
| Tomatoes | Basil, Marigolds, Carrots, Onions, Parsley | Potatoes, Corn, Fennel |
| Tulips | Daffodils, Pansies | — |
| Turnips | Peas, Onions, Lettuce | Potatoes |
| Watermelon | Corn, Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds | Potatoes |
| Winter Squash | Corn, Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds | Potatoes |
| Yarrow | Roses, Lavender, Echinacea, Black-eyed Susans, Salvia | — |
| Zinnias | Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Most vegetables (pollinator draw) | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Beans, Corn, Nasturtium, Marigolds | Potatoes |