Companion planting layout

A 4 × 8 ft (1.2 × 2.4 m) bed planned so good neighbours sit side by side and bad ones are kept apart. The planner checks every pair as you move things about.

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Bed size, shape and units

Bed name Width Length

Units

metresfeet

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The plan

Companion planting bed

1.2 × 2.4 m (4 × 8 ft), 32 squares

Good neighbours side by side, with flowers for hoverflies through the bed.

Crop	Squares	Plants
Tomato	2	2
Cucumber	2	2
Basil	1	4
French marigold	1	4
Nasturtium	1	1
Dill	1	1
Sweet pepper (bell pepper)	2	2
French bean (green bean)	2	18
Lettuce	4	16
Beetroot (beet)	2	18
Radish	1	16
Spinach	1	9
Onion	2	32
Carrot	2	32
Leek	2	18
Chard	2	8
Kale	2	2
Calendula	1	1
Parsley	1	4

Basil and French marigolds sit with the tomatoes. Marigolds are said to put off whitefly, and they bring in hoverflies.
Cucumbers climb a trellis beside dill and nasturtiums. Dill flowers feed hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids.
Carrots are next to the onions and leeks, which may help hide them from carrot fly. Cover them with fine mesh as well.
The French beans are well away from the onions and leeks, a pairing almost every chart says to avoid.

How much to rely on it

Spacing comes first. A companion that crowds or shades your crop does more harm than good.
Mesh beats scent. Fine mesh and netting stop carrot fly and cabbage whites far more reliably than any neighbour.
Spread flowers through the bed. Marigolds, calendula and dill feed the hoverflies and lacewings that eat aphids.

The companion planting guide covers which pairings have real evidence behind them, and the companion planting checker looks up any crop.

Questions

What should not be planted together in a vegetable garden?

The pairing with the clearest reason is potatoes and tomatoes, which share blight. Most charts also keep onions, garlic and leeks away from peas and beans, and carrots away from dill and parsnips.

What are the best companion plants for tomatoes?

Basil, French marigolds, parsley, carrots and garlic. Keep tomatoes away from potatoes and sweetcorn.

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