🥕 Free Printable Companion Planting Chart 🍅

Here you’ll find a simple guide and printable companion planting chart for the most common vegetables. We will take a look at the benefits and sort through the best companion plants for your garden.

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting in the garden is an excellent way to create a little ecosystem in your vegetable garden by planting different plants together.  It can be used to attract predatory insects and help control damaging insects. All the while attracting pollinators, improving soil fertility, suppressing weeds, and adding lots of variety to your garden space. 

Printable Companion Planting Chart

I’ve created a printable companion planting chart of the most common vegetable plants to help you get started with companion planting. I will warn you though, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Companion planting is a rabbit hole of sorts, as the combinations are endless.  Start experimenting with it to find what works best for your climate and garden.

Download the Printable Companion Planting Chart

How the Native Americans Planted

One of the most popular examples of companion planning was made popular by the Native Americans, with the Three Sisters Garden.  The Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) all work together to get the most out of a small space.

The corn is planted first and acts as a trellis for the pole beans. The beans are a nitrogen fixer adding fertility to the soil, and the squash acts as a vigorous ground cover crop suppressing weeds and grass.  

There is a fourth sister though that is often not talked about, the sunflower.  She attracts bees and other pollinators while acting as a trap crop for squash bugs.  

9 Benefits of Companion Planting

• Deterring pests like cabbage worms, spider mites, cabbage moths, aphids, carrot fly, cabbage looper, squash bugs, potato beetles, white flies, and more.
• Attracting beneficial insects, like parasitic wasps, for natural pest control of common pests in the vegetable garden.
• Provides shade to vegetable plants that appreciate a little shade, like growing leafy greens in between larger brassicas. 
• Natural Trellising for climbing plants such as growing pole beans with corn like the Native Americans did in the three sisters’ garden.
• Improved plant health by increasing pollination, deterring pests, and efficiently using nutrients.
• Improves soil fertility by plants providing different nutrients to the soil, like legumes that fix nitrogen. Planting a variety of crops can increase soil fertility and fix nutrient imbalances.
• Suppresses Weeds by filling in bare spots in the garden where weeds and grass will naturally creep in. 
• Maximizes space in the vegetable garden by utilizing space between crops.
• Increase biodiversity and beauty among your garden crops by planting good companion plants and nectar-rich flowers.

Examples of Great Companion Plants

Basil and Tomatoes 

Planting basil and tomatoes together has many benefits. Basil’s strong scent repels thrips and deters moths that lay tomato hornworms and egg-laying armyworm.  

Basil is also great for attracting bees for improved pollination. The mutual benefit of these companions has been proven in my garden year after year. 

Dill and Cucumbers

Dill attracts ladybugs, which eat tiny garden pests such as aphids and spider mites while repelling armyworms.  If you have ever grown cucumbers, you know that armyworms can destroy a whole crop. I consider cucumbers and dill to be very good friends.

Borage and Tomatoes

Borage is excellent for attracting bees and other beneficial insects to the garden. Planting borage in between your tomatoes will improve growth and disease resistance. Some folks even claim that it will enhance the flavor of your tomatoes. 

Garlic, Potatoes, and Lettuce

Garlic has a strong scent that deters many insects, especially aphids. It repels onion flies, ermine moths, and the dreaded Japanese beetle. Planting garlic between rows of potatoes, lettuce, and cabbage will repel damaging insects. Adding Alyssum to the mix will give you the added benefit of attracting hoverflies, which love to eat aphids. 

Nasturtiums and Brassicas

Nasturtiums attract hungry caterpillars away from brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and kale. They will act as trap crops for many common insects in the vegetable garden. 

Parsley and Tomatoes

Parsley attracts beneficial insects to tomatoes to pollinate and protect them. You may find that planting parsley in close proximity to tomatoes will give you a better yield.

Sage and Cabbage

Sage repels carrot flies making it a great companion plant for the cabbage family. Planting sage between your cabbages will reduce the damage from cabbage moths.

Brussels Sprouts, Marigolds, and Onions

Marigolds and onions both have a fragrance that will deter the pests that love to attack Brussels sprouts. Garlic is also another great choice to plant with Brussels sprouts.

Mint as a Companion Plant

Mint deters insect pests such as aphids, ants, and flea beetles but it is invasive. Planting mint in its own pot or bed is something you may want to consider, as it will take over. 

Sunflowers, Cucumbers, and Pole Beans.

Sunflowers can provide support for climbing plants and shade for crops, such as bush beans. Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Don’t forget they also act as an excellent trap crop for squash bugs. You can often find a handful of squash bugs on a sunflower. This makes them so easy to find, pick off, and add to a bucket of water. 

Radishes and Carrots

These root crops mature at different rates and don’t compete in the soil. Interplanting these root vegetables is a great way to maximize the use of space.  

Flowers as Companion Plants

As there aren’t many flowers on my printable companion planting chart, I thought I’d give you a list of my favorites to explore. Flowers aren’t just for beauty in the garden.

• Black Eyed Susan- Attracts pollinators.
• Zinnias- Adds a fun mix of color to the garden. They also attract butterflies.
• Calendula- Repels white flies and aphids. It is also medicinal.
• Chamomile- Attracts pollinators and is medicinal. 
• Cosmos- A hardy pollinator to add to the vegetable garden.
• Lavender- With its strong fragrant smell, it is excellent at deterring insects while attracting pollinators.
• Tansy- Attracts beneficial insects that will eat the bad bugs. Also repels cutworms.
• Marigolds- A natural insceticide.  Also strong enough to repel rabbits.
• Sunflowers- Attracts bees like crazy.  They can be used to provide shade or a trellis.  Sunflowers act as trap crops for squash bugs.
• Nasturtiums- With its strong scent it repels many insects while growing low to the ground, making it one to consider for cover crops.

How I Am Using Companion Planting in My Fall-Winter Garden

• Carrots & Tomatoes
• Squash & Peas
• Napa Cabbage & Tatsoi Greens
• Broccoli & Romaine Lettuce
• Turnips & Bunching Onions
• Kohlrabi & Swiss Chard
• Acorn Squash & Nasturtiums & Peppers
• Collard Greens & Mustard Greens
• Nasturtiums, Dill, Lemon Basil, & Marigolds will be planted throughout

Companion Gardening Tips

When it comes to finding a beneficial companion plant, the combinations can be different depending on your needs and climate. While my printable companion planting chart is a good starting point, what works for a garden up north may not be doable for my Florida garden.

Use My Printable Companion Planting Chart to Get Started

My printable companion planting chart is just a guide to get you started and thinking of the possibilities in your garden.  If you do a little more research on companion planting you’ll find thousands upon thousands of resources.  

My advice is to keep it simple. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t in your garden.  

A good garden planner can help you design your garden layout and keep notes from previous seasons. This will give you something to look back on when doing your seasonal planning. 

Plan for Your Zone

The first step in planning for companion planting and a successful vegetable garden is to plan for your zone. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location.

The map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. To find your zone simply put your zip code into the map.

Overall Garden Care

The truth is though, you can plan the most magnificent garden with companion planting but overall garden care is still vital to the success of your garden. You know the old saying, “The garden’s best friend is the gardener’s shadow.”  

Keeping up with the obvious garden tasks like watering, weeding, feeding, and scouting for pests is still a must.

Which Vegetables Shouldn’t Be Planted Together

While considering the options for companion planting you’ll want to keep in mind that some vegetables are incompatible plants.  Heavy feeders like tomatoes and brassicas should not be planted together. 

Similar Root Systems Usually Aren’t Compatible 

Plants that have similar root systems may also struggle when planted together.  Aim to have a shallow-rooted plant with a deeper-rooted plant, like tomatoes and basil. You’ll also want to keep crops that utilize the same nutrients in the soil away from each other like cucumbers and squash plants. 

Beans and Onions Aren’t Friends

Planting beans and onions together is also a no-no. “Onions emit allicin, an antibacterial gas, which kills the beneficial urease bacteria,” says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University.

The antibacterial gas will stunt the growth of your beans.  I have found if I overwinter onions in garden beds those beds will not do well the following spring with beans planted in them.

Plants That Struggle With Similar Diseases and Pests

Crops that are susceptible to the same pests and diseases also should not be planted together. A good example of this is tomatoes and potatoes, both of which are prone to blight.

Additionally, celery will attract insects that will eat lettuce. Always do a little research when experimenting with companion planting before going all in. 

The Scientific Evidence Behind Companion Planting

According to Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D., Extension Horticulturist and Associate Professor, Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, “There is no scientific basis, however, for any of the several lists that exist describing “traditional companion plants”. Like horoscopes, these lists may be fun to use, but they should not be perceived or promoted as scientifically valid any more than astrology.”

Science or Not, I’ll Stick With My Printable Companion Planting Chart

Over the years of gardening, I have seen proof that companion planting really does work.  Is it foolproof, no, but anything that promotes a healthy ecosystem in the garden sounds like a good idea to me.  

I hope that you’ll do a little experimenting in your garden and find good use of my printable companion planting chart and this blog post.  The idea is to keep it simple. Find what works best for you, your zone, and your garden.

If you’d like to learn more about planting and using culinary herbs, medicinal herbs, or aromatic herbs in the garden you may want to read 28 Herbs to Plant in Fall: Now is the Best Time to Plan

You may also want to check out our Free Square Foot Gardening Template Printable and Crop Rotation Chart: Vegetable Garden Planning Made Easy and How to Start a Garden From Scratch Right Now

You may also enjoy reading:

How to Start a Homestead Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Different Types of Fertilizer: What to Use and When

Happy Homesteading & Companion Planting, 

Jenny @ The GrahmStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for more than two decades. They currently live on a 10-acre farm in Northeast Florida, which they built from the ground up, nine years ago.

On their farm, they grow 100% of their meat and most of their vegetables. With a small herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, pastured poultry, sheep, and seasonal pigs, they not only meet their family’s meat needs but also sell their surplus to the local community. They are dedicated to sustainable practices like making compost, seed saving, and processing much of their garden and animal harvests at home. You can find Jenny wandering through her garden, making herbal tinctures, preserving food, making bone broth, and one of Jenny’s favorite hobbies, tanning all types of hides.

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