Companion planting is the age-old practice of pairing plants to attract pollinators, deter pests, and enhance flavour – all without the use of chemicals. Here, author and allotmenteer Rob Smith shares some of his own tried-and-tested plant pairings to help you get the most from your organic veg patch.
Browse our full range of organic vegetable seeds for ideas.
What is companion planting?
Image: Organic Broad Bean ‘Ratio’ seeds from Dobies
Instead of chemicals, companion planting is an organic method of gardening that uses the natural strengths of plants to boost yields and manage pests. While it isn’t a magic wand that will solve all your pest problems, it can help create a healthier, more balanced plot. Here’s how growing certain vegetables, flowers and herbs together can help your crops thrive:
- Creates decoys: Sacrificial plants lure pests away from the main crop.
- Masks scent: Certain plants release scents that can hide the ‘smell’ of other plants from pests.
- Attracts beneficial insects: Encouraging beneficial predators (like hoverflies and ladybirds) into your garden helps to reduce the number of ‘pests’ (like aphids).
- Better pollination: Attracting more pollinators to your veg plot boosts yields.
- Natural fertiliser: Plants like legumes (peas/beans) pull nitrogen from the air and store it in the soil for hungry plants like corn and kale.
Rob’s favourite companion plant pairings
Image: French Marigold ‘Firebird’ seeds from Dobies (© Branded Garden Products)
Flowers are a useful addition to an organic vegetable garden. As well as being an attractive addition to any outdoor space, they also play a practical role by improving harvests. Over time, I’ve tried and tested many companion plants to find those that work best. Here are the winning combinations that I regularly use in my own plot…
- Marigolds are great near tomatoes because they help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. They also brighten up the greenhouse or veg patch.
- Basil enjoys similar growing conditions to tomatoes and makes a neat partner in pots or greenhouse beds. Many people think it helps to improve the flavour of the tomatoes, and it also makes harvest time easy as you can pick them together!
- Nasturtiums are a favourite of mine for organic plots. They can act as a sacrificial plant, drawing pests away from crops like cabbages and kale.
- I always grow carrots and onions together. The traditional thinking is that the scent of one confuses the pests of the other. It could be an old wives’ tale, but I still grow carrots and spring onions in alternative lines to try and keep carrot fly away.
Growing your own organic vegetables means you know exactly what’s in your food, and supports the local eco-system. Read our article about why you should choose organic veg seeds for more information, and see Rob’s list of easy-grow organic veg for quick ideas on how to get started.