How One Flower Changed My Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Companion Planting
A Garden That Grows Together
Step into a garden where nothing grows alone.
The spinach is tucked beside ruby chard. Cucumber flowers peek through a tangle of marigolds. Even the herbs—lavender, rosemary, basil—seem to lean toward their neighbors. This is companion planting in action:
Nature’s quiet way of reminding us that the right partnerships make everything thrive.
Honestly, I only started growing marigolds to look like I knew what I was doing. Gardeners like Jamie Walton (Nettles & Petals), Kevin Espiritu (Epic Gardening), and Benedict Vanheems (GrowVeg) all swore by them. So I figured:
“If the pros are doing this, why shouldn’t I?”
Like most beginner gardeners, I was focused on the basics:
What to grow
How to grow it
Where to grow it
But I didn’t give much thought to what to grow crops with.
That’s where companion planting comes in.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting: The practice of growing specific plants next to each other to boost overall garden health. It’s a time-tested, observation-based method that’s seeing a resurgence, especially among folks who care about regenerative agriculture.
Zucchini Meets Lavender
A tall zucchini plant stretches up toward the sun, while sprigs of lavender hug its base. This pairing helps deter pests while attracting pollinators—plus, it just looks good doing it.
Parsley & Oregano Sharing Space
Curly parsley and oregano nestle in side-by-side beds, forming a lush, green patch in the garden. This duo not only complements each other in the kitchen but also makes a beautiful and beneficial companion planting pair.
And in case you’ve only heard that term (regenerative agriculture) floating around Instagram reels or eco-farming podcasts…
Regenerative Agriculture: A Quick Breakdown
Regenerative agriculture is more than a buzzword. It’s a mindset. A way of farming that focuses on healing the land while growing food. Instead of just taking from the soil, it gives back. Restoring ecosystems, enriching soil, and even pulling carbon from the air into the ground.
It includes practices like:
Cover cropping
Composting
No-till gardening
And yes, companion planting
It’s about growing with nature, not in spite of it.
Why Companion Planting Works
At its heart, companion planting is about relationships.
How one plant can support another, and how those small, strategic connections can strengthen the entire system.
Here are ten key benefits I’ve found (and loved):
1. Natural Pest Control
Some plants deter pests just by existing. Marigolds fend off aphids and nematodes. Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. No sprays. Just smart strategy.
2. Healthier Plants
Certain pairings boost growth and flavor. For example, basil enhances tomatoes both in taste and vitality.
3. Smarter Space Usage
Tall crops give shade to sun-sensitive ones. Groundcovers act like living mulch. You make more out of every square foot.
4. Soil Support
Beans and peas fix nitrogen. Others bring up deep nutrients. Together, they feed the soil and each other.
5. Weed Suppression
Fast growers like nasturtiums or leafy greens block light and choke out weeds. Less back-breaking maintenance for you, because trust me, no one likes weeding.
6. Pollinator Power
Flowers like alyssum, calendula, and borage attract bees and beneficial insects, helping the whole garden thrive.
7. Disease Resistance
Mixing plant species makes it harder for disease to spread. Monoculture invites risk.
Diversity builds resilience.
8. Fewer Chemicals
Less need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizers when your garden is working with itself.
9. Extended Harvest
Pair fast-growers with slow ones to harvest in waves and keep the beds productive all season.
10. It Mimics Nature
Nature doesn’t do monoculture. Companion planting echoes the wild. Diverse, balanced, and beautiful.
Why I Chose Marigolds
A vibrant yellow marigold flower grows in the center of a backyard garden bed, surrounded by the broad green leaves of nearby cabbage plants. Sunlight highlights the marigold’s petals and casts soft shadows on the soil, emphasizing its role in companion planting.
Simple: they’re the Companion Plant MVP.
Rookie of the Year for Prairie Dog Farms.
They mix well with everything. Their scent deters all sorts of garden pests. Plus, marigolds are low-maintenance, quick to bloom, and just plain cheerful.
Right now, I’m growing a few varieties:
Golden Age Marigold (bright yellow, classic look)
Dainty Marietta Marigold (striped, soft charm)
Tip Top Mahogany Nasturtium (okay, not a marigold, but often planted like one for similar benefits)
How I Planned My Garden Beds
I currently have 9 beds (with maybe 2–3 more on the way depending on my energy and mood 😅). Here's how I’ve paired things up so far:
Tomato + Marigold + Purple Basil
Tomato + Marigold + Creeping Thyme
Cabbage + Nasturtium + Marigold + Garlic
Cucumbers + Alyssum + Parsley + Oregano + Lettuce + Marigold + Onion
Zucchini + Lavender + Zinnia
Carrots + Marigold + Green Beans + Snap Peas + Kale
Peppers + Cilantro + Carrots
Peppers + Chamomile + Marigolds
Some combos are culinary, some are for soil health, and some are just vibes. And truthfully? It’s been working. The garden feels more alive, more collaborative. And so do I.
More than anything, companion planting has shifted the way I think about gardening. A reminder that even in the soil, we’re never meant to thrive alone.
Not All Neighbors Get Along:
The Why Behind Bad Pairings
But here’s the thing...
Companion planting isn’t just about what grows well together, it’s also about knowing what doesn’t.
Some plants compete for the same nutrients.
Others might attract pests or diseases their neighbors are especially vulnerable to.
And a few release chemicals that stunt growth in plants nearby. That last one has a name:
What is Allelopathy?
Allelopathy is when a plant releases natural chemicals, through its roots, leaves, or even as it decays, that impact the growth of other plants.
It’s usually a defensive move.
It’s kind of like, slow down the neighbors so you can stretch out, grab the sun, and soak up all the nutrients. You get it?
It’s kind of funny to think that even plants have a way of setting boundaries.
So, it’s not just “this plant is bad for that one.”’
Understanding why certain pairings don’t work makes you a better grower.
You’re not just memorizing a do/don’t list, you’re learning the garden’s language.
Companion planting is about creating harmony, and that means respecting the natural signals plants send out.
Here are a few examples of what not to plant together, and why:
🍅 Tomatoes
Avoid planting near:
Corn – Both attract similar pests (like corn earworms)
Potatoes – Shared risk of blight and beetles
Fennel – Inhibits tomato growth via allelopathic chemicals
🥒 Cucumbers
Avoid planting near:
Sage – Strong scent may stunt cucumber growth
Potatoes – Compete for water and risk of blight
Melons – Compete for space and attract similar pests
🥬 Cabbage (and other Brassicas)
Avoid planting near:
Strawberries – Compete for nutrients
Tomatoes – Can inhibit brassica growth and bring unwanted pests
Pole Beans – Compete for light and space
🥕 Carrots
Avoid planting near:
Dill – Can stunt carrot growth (especially mature dill)
Parsnips – Attract similar pests
Celery – Competes for nutrients in the root zone
🥔 Potatoes
Avoid planting near:
Tomatoes – Shared blight risk and overlapping pests
Cucumbers & Squash – Invite beetles and fungal issues
Sunflowers – Can inhibit potato growth through competition
🌶️ Peppers
Avoid planting near:
Fennel – Allelopathic and stunts pepper growth
Kale or Cabbage – Attract pests that harm peppers
Pole Beans – May limit pepper development in tight spaces
🥒 Zucchini
Avoid planting near:
Potatoes – Attract squash bugs, compete for resources
Pumpkins – Cross-pollination risk, overcrowding
Cucumbers – Similar pests, can lead to disease buildup
🌿 Herbs
Basil – Avoid planting near Rue
Rosemary – Keep away from moisture-loving crops like cucumbers
Lavender – Prefers dry soil, avoid near lettuce or cukes
Cilantro – Bolts fast and can crowd root veggies like carrots
I’m still learning too!
There are pairings I haven’t tried yet and others I’ve only read about.
I encourage you to experiment in your own space. Take this list, tweak it, and let the garden teach you.
If you’ve discovered any surprising pairings that work (or really don’t), I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
Let’s keep learning and growing—together.
→Wondering how I decided what to grow in the first place?
Before companion planting came into play, I had to figure out what crops made sense for both passion and profit.
