Companion Planting - Series 1

(NOTE: Amy over at A Nest for all Seasons is featuring my Companion Gardening articles on her blog.  She has lots of great gardening information and other cool stuff on her site...stop by and say hello HERE!)

This is a first in a 2 part series on companion planting.  I gained an interest in this several years ago and did some extensive research on the subject.  Since then I've implemented what I learned into my own gardens and have been pleased with the results...I will not be able to post on every fruit and vegetable, but will post on the ones that I plant most often.  I will include the best companion plants for a better yield, best companions to fight pests, and incompatible companions for each plant.  Unless otherwise specified, these plants should be planted next to each other.
To keep these articles from being too long I'm not posting the whys and wherefores...you can contact me if you desire this information. (All photos courtesy of Google Image)

Bush Beans (pole beans, have a different set of companions).
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
carrots, corn, cucumber, lettuce, mint, peas, radishes, strawberries.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
marigolds, rosemary, summer savory, potatoes (not inter planted but in an adjacent bed.)
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
beets, garlic, onion, chive, peppers, and basil.
NOTES:  planting marigolds around the perimeter of your bush beans gives added eye-appeal to your garden.

Beets
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
onion, sage, corn, lettuce, radish.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onions, bush beans (note: beets are not beneficial to bush beans)
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
pole beans.

Carrots
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, chives, peas,peppers, radish, rosemary,onion, sage, tomato, leaf lettuce.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onion, chives, garlic, bush bean, rosemary, parsley, sage.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
dill, celery
NOTES:  plant a row of leaf lettuce between rows of carrots, as the weather gets hot, pull lettuce, leaving room for the carrots.

Corn
COMPANION PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bush beans, dill, peas,cucumber, potatoes, melons, pumpkin, squash, sunflower, peanuts, beets, parsley, lettuce
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
bush beans, cucumber, geranium
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
tomato
NOTES: planting cucumbers between corn rows will help support corn and keep it from blowing over as easy.

Cucumber
COMPANION PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bush beans, carrots, corn, lettuce, marigolds, onion, pea, radish, tomato.
COMPANION PLANTS FOR PEST CONTROL:
bush beans, nasturtiums, radish, tansy, dill.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
herbs with strong aroma, sage, potato, squash melon, pumpkin.
NOTES: I like to put my cucumber trellis on the south side of my lettuce.  The shade from the trellis keeps the heat off and I can harvest my lettuce longer.

Lettuce
COMPATIBLE PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, cucumber, onion, garlic, strawberry, corn.
COMPATIBLE PLANTS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onion
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
broccoli
NOTES:  I usually plant a row of onions between my lettuce.  When the lettuce is done I pull it out to give more room for the onions.

Peas
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, corn, lettuce, radish, spinach, tomato, turnip, parsley, strawberry.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
cucumber
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
chives, garlic, onion, chives, grapes, gladiolas.
NOTES:  I grow my peas strictly for the kids.  They are welcome anytime to just sit in the garden and snack on them!

Peppers
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, marigold, onion, pea, horehound, marjoram, tansy.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
none that I could find
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
fennel, tomato, potato.

Radish
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bean, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, onion, pea, squash, chervil, beet, corn, melon, spinach, tomato.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
mustard plant, nasturtiums.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
 hyssop.




Part 2 will be coming soon!