Companion Planting · 20 Crops
Who grows wellnext to whom.
Why companion planting works
Pest Control
Scented herbs confuse and deter insect pests
Pollination
Flowering companions attract bees and beneficial insects
Soil Health
Nitrogen-fixers enrich soil for neighbouring crops
Microclimate
Tall plants shade heat-sensitive crops in summer
From the makers
Let Plant Planner Handle the Companion Planning
Remembering every companion and antagonist relationship is hard. Plant Planner automatically builds companion-optimised bed layouts, just tell us what you want to grow.
All 20 Crops, Companions & Antagonists
Each card shows good companions (green) and plants to keep apart (red). Click “More details” for raised bed tips.
Tomato
FruitPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Basil is the classic tomato companion, it's said to repel aphids and improve flavour. Marigolds deter nematodes and whitefly.
Raised bed tip: Plant 1-2 basil plants at the base of each tomato. Marigolds around the bed perimeter create a pest-repelling border.
Basil
HerbPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Basil repels aphids, spider mites, and whitefly. It also attracts pollinators and is believed to enhance the flavour of nearby tomatoes.
Raised bed tip: Basil thrives when tucked between tomatoes or capsicum in a shared raised bed. Harvest regularly to keep it productive.
Carrot
RootPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Leeks and onions repel carrot fly, one of the most valuable companion relationships in the vegetable garden.
Raised bed tip: Interplant carrots with spring onions in alternating rows. The contrasting scents confuse carrot fly and onion fly.
Lettuce
LeafyPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Lettuce benefits from light shade provided by taller plants in summer. Radish acts as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from lettuce.
Raised bed tip: Grow lettuce at the base of climbing beans or trellised cucumbers for natural shade in warm months.
Beans (Climbing)
LegumePlant with:
Keep apart:
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Beans fix nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil, benefitting nearby plants. Avoid alliums (onions, garlic) which stunt bean growth.
Raised bed tip: The Three Sisters (corn, beans, squash) works brilliantly in large raised beds: beans fix nitrogen, corn provides a trellis, squash shades the ground.
Peas
LegumePlant with:
Keep apart:
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Peas are nitrogen-fixers that improve soil fertility for subsequent crops. Never plant near alliums.
Raised bed tip: Sow peas along the back of raised beds on a trellis. Their spent vines can be cut and left as a nitrogen-rich mulch.
Broccoli
BrassicaPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Aromatic herbs planted nearby confuse brassica-specific pests like cabbage moth and aphids.
Raised bed tip: Plant sage, thyme, or rosemary at the corners of a brassica bed. Marigolds in the centre help with root nematodes.
Kale
BrassicaPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Like all brassicas, kale benefits from aromatic herb companions that mask its distinctive scent from cabbage butterflies.
Raised bed tip: Interplant kale with dill, dill attracts predatory wasps that eat caterpillars, while its feathery foliage doesn't compete for light.
Cucumber
CucurbitPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Cucumbers benefit from the nitrogen that beans and peas add to the soil. Dill attracts beneficial predatory insects.
Raised bed tip: Train cucumbers vertically on a trellis to save horizontal space in raised beds. Plant lettuce in the shade below.
Zucchini
CucurbitPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, attracting aphids away from zucchini. Marigolds deter squash beetles.
Raised bed tip: Zucchini is large and sprawling, best as a single plant per raised bed with nasturtiums cascading over the edges.
Garlic
AlliumPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Garlic is one of the most useful companion plants, its sulphur compounds repel aphids, spider mites, and fungal disease.
Raised bed tip: Plant garlic cloves around the perimeter of a raised bed as a protective border. Plant in April-June for a December harvest.
Onion
AlliumPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Onions and carrots are outstanding companions, each repels the other's primary pest (onion fly and carrot fly).
Raised bed tip: Alternate rows of carrot and spring onion in the same bed for mutual pest protection.
Capsicum
FruitPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Capsicum and tomatoes share similar growing needs and companions, thriving when planted together in warm beds.
Raised bed tip: Plant 3 basil plants among capsicum for aphid repulsion and to attract beneficial pollinators.
Spinach
LeafyPlant with:
No known antagonists, a great companion for almost any bed.
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Spinach is one of the most agreeable companion plants, very few antagonists. It makes excellent ground cover under taller crops.
Raised bed tip: Sow spinach densely beneath climbing peas. It fills the space, suppresses weeds, and benefits from the nitrogen peas fix.
Marigold
FlowerPlant with:
No known antagonists, a great companion for almost any bed.
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The most universally beneficial companion plant. Marigold root secretions deter nematodes; the flowers trap aphids and attract hoverflies.
Raised bed tip: Plant 2-4 French marigolds in every raised bed as a pest-management anchor. Replace them every season.
Nasturtium
FlowerPlant with:
No known antagonists, a great companion for almost any bed.
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Nasturtium is a trap crop, aphids and caterpillars are drawn to it and away from other vegetables. Both flowers and leaves are edible.
Raised bed tip: Plant nasturtiums at bed corners to cascade decoratively. They also attract beneficial insects and their edible flowers brighten salads.
Beetroot
RootPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Beetroot is a reliable, undemanding companion. Avoid climbing beans, they stunt each other's growth.
Raised bed tip: Interplant beetroot with lettuce in a pattern, their shallow vs deeper roots don't compete, and they use space efficiently.
Silverbeet (Chard)
LeafyPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Silverbeet is an excellent space-filler in mixed beds. Its deep taproot improves soil aeration.
Raised bed tip: Plant silverbeet at bed corners or edges, its large leaves provide microclimate shade for smaller plants in summer.
Dill
HerbPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Dill attracts predatory wasps and hoverflies that eat caterpillars and aphids. Excellent near brassicas. Keep away from carrots (cross-pollinates and weakens both).
Raised bed tip: Grow dill in a dedicated corner of a brassica bed. Let it flower to attract beneficial insects.
Rosemary
HerbPlant with:
Keep apart:
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Rosemary's strong scent deters bean beetles and brassica pests. A permanent shrub that provides year-round companion benefits.
Raised bed tip: Place a rosemary plant at one end of a brassica bed as a permanent companion. Its woody growth won't compete with annual vegetables.
Automatic Companion Checking
Plant Planner checks every crop assignment against the full companion planting database, bad neighbours are blocked automatically before you plant.
Unlock FreeCompanion Planting Tips for Raised Beds
Dense Planting = More Companions
Raised beds allow closer spacing than row gardens. This means plants interact more, both good and bad. Always check antagonist relationships before planting two crops in the same bed. Plant Planner does this automatically.
Edging Flowers are Non-Negotiable
Every raised bed should have 2-4 marigolds or nasturtiums planted around the edges. These flowering companions attract beneficial insects, repel pests, and add visual appeal, all at no cost to your growing space if planted at the perimeter.
Herbs in Every Bed
Aromatic herbs, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, have broad companion benefits. A single herb plant per bed provides pest deterrence for all nearby crops. Herbs are also small and vertical, so they don't compete significantly for space.
Companion Planting, Frequently Asked Questions
Does companion planting actually work?
Yes, several mechanisms are well documented. Aromatic herbs (basil, rosemary, dill) mask the scent pests use to find host crops; flowering companions (marigold, nasturtium) attract pollinators and trap aphids; legumes (beans, peas) fix nitrogen that feeds neighbours; and tall crops shade heat-sensitive ones. Some flavour claims are folklore, but the pest, pollinator and soil effects are real and especially useful in a densely planted raised bed.
What vegetables should not be planted together?
The most reliable pairings to avoid in Australian gardens: tomatoes with brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) or fennel; onions, garlic and other alliums with beans and peas (alliums stunt legume growth); carrots with dill; and potatoes with cucumbers or tomatoes. Fennel is antisocial to almost everything, give it its own spot.
What grows well with tomatoes?
Basil is the classic tomato companion (repels aphids and whitefly), along with carrots, parsley, marigold, borage and garlic. Keep tomatoes away from brassicas, fennel and corn. In a raised bed, plant one or two basil plants at the base of each tomato and ring the bed edge with marigolds.
How do I use companion planting in a small raised bed?
Plant aromatic herbs and flowers at the edges and corners (marigold, nasturtium, rosemary, basil) so they protect the whole bed without taking growing space, interplant fast and slow crops with different root depths (e.g. lettuce with carrots), and check antagonist pairs before combining two main crops. Plant Planner does this check automatically and lays out companion-optimised beds for you.
What are the best all-round companion plants?
Marigold is the single most useful, its roots deter nematodes and its flowers trap aphids and attract hoverflies. Nasturtium is an excellent aphid trap crop, and basil, dill and rosemary benefit a wide range of neighbours. A few marigolds or nasturtiums in every bed is a no-cost pest-management anchor.
Let Plant Planner Handle the Companion Planning
Remembering every companion and antagonist relationship is hard work. Plant Planner automatically builds companion-optimised bed layouts for your vegetables, just tell us what you want to grow and we do the rest.
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