Companion Planting Principles

02What you'll need

• A garden plan or notebook
• Knowledge of which plants pair well (see individual crop guides for specifics)
• A mixed range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to work with

03Method

• 1. Start with your main crops, then identify known companions for each (check individual grow guides).
• 2. Interplant beneficial pairings — e.g. basil near tomatoes, marigold as a general pest deterrent.
• 3. Avoid known antagonistic pairings (e.g. alliums near legumes).
• 4. Include flowers and herbs specifically to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, not just edible yield.
• 5. Observe and adjust each season — companion planting benefits are real but often subtle, and local conditions vary.

04Troubleshooting

• No obvious benefit observed — companion planting effects are often modest and cumulative rather than dramatic; don't expect a single pairing to solve a serious pest problem.
• Overcrowding — interplanting still needs to respect each plant's actual space and light requirements.
• Conflicting information between sources — much companion planting advice is traditional/anecdotal rather than rigorously tested; treat it as a reasonable starting heuristic, not an absolute rule.
• Difficulty planning a diverse bed — start simple, with 2–3 well-documented pairings, rather than trying to optimise everything at once.

05Timing & maintenance