Companion Planting 101
- Bethany
- May 2
- 2 min read
Vancouver Island's mild climate supports a wide range of plants, but it also comes with challenges like slugs, aphids, and damp conditions that can lead to fungal diseases. Companion planting in both your ornamental and edible gardens helps address these issues naturally and will enhance the overall resilience of your garden.
Companion Plantings You Can Try in Your Garden:
Tomatoes + Basil: Basil repels aphids, whiteflies, and mosquitoes while enhancing tomato flavour.
Marigolds + Vegetables: Marigolds repel nematodes and aphids, making them perfect for vegetable beds.
Carrots + Onions: Onions deter carrot flies, and carrots loosen the soil for onion roots.
Cabbage + Dill: Dill attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps that prey on cabbage pests.
Sweet Alyssum + Carrots: Sweet alyssum attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on carrot pests.
Beans + Corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting corn, while corn provides a natural trellis for beans.
Lettuce + Radishes: Radishes grow quickly and loosen the soil, making room for slower-growing lettuce.
Petunias + Peppers: Petunias repel aphids, hornworms, and leafhoppers.
Peppers + Marjoram: Marjoram enhances the growth and flavor of peppers.
Strawberries + Borage: Borage deters pests and attracts pollinators, increasing strawberry yields.
Zucchini + Oregano: Oregano’s strong scent masks the zucchini from pests like squash bugs.
Kale + Garlic: Garlic repels aphids, cabbage loopers, and other pests that target kale.
Beets + Bush Beans: Beans fix nitrogen, benefiting beet growth.
Peas + Mint: Mint repels ants and aphids that can harm pea plants.
Yarrow + Grapes: Yarrow attracts predatory insects that control grape pests.
Broccoli + Chamomile: Chamomile is said to improve the flavour and growth of broccoli.
Celery + Leeks: Leeks repel celery leaf miners, while celery discourages leek moths.
Parsley + Asparagus: Parsley improves asparagus vigour and repels asparagus beetles.
Brussels Sprouts + Thyme: Thyme repels cabbage moths and other brassica pests.
Calendula + Beans: Calendula attracts aphids, luring them away from beans.
Tips for Companion Planting Success:
Plan for Pests: Slugs and aphids are common in most gardens so use plants like marigolds and nasturtiums to help deter them.
Focus on Diversity: A mix of plants creates a balanced ecosystem, reducing pest outbreaks.
Know Your (Micro)Climate: Choose varieties that thrive in your unique microclimate and Vancouver Island's, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
Rotate Crops: Avoid planting the same crops in the same spot every year to prevent soil depletion.
Some of my favourite resources for companion planting are the West Coast Seeds Companion Planting Guides! Check them out here.
Would you like help creating a companion planting plan for your garden? Feel free to reach out for a consultation to help you get started!
