Companion planting chart

Good and bad neighbours for each plant. Each name shows how well it is backed up. Pairs without clear evidence are kept apart.

Check two plants: companion planting checker

Plant	Good neighbours	Better not next to it	No clear evidence
Asparagus	–	–	Butterhead lettuce D Loose-leaf lettuce D
Basil	Tomato B Brussels sprouts B Coriander (cilantro) B	–	–
Beetroot	–	–	Sweetcorn D
Black salsify	–	–	Kohlrabi D Butterhead lettuce D Leek D
Borage	–	–	Strawberry D
Broad bean (fava bean)	White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C	–	–
Broccoli	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C	–	Garlic X Onion X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Nasturtium D
Brussels sprouts	Basil B Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C Radish C	–	Garlic X Onion X Kohlrabi X Celeriac D Celery D Nasturtium D
Bush bean	Sweetcorn C Cucumber C White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C	–	Florence fennel D Sugar snap and snow pea D
Butterhead lettuce	Sweet alyssum B Tomato C Sweetcorn C White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Brussels sprouts C Cucumber C Leek C	–	Celery X Asparagus D Black salsify D Dill D
Carrot	French marigold (tagetes) B Pot marigold (calendula) B Spring onion (scallion) B Tomato C	–	Onion X Dill X Leek D Swiss chard D Sugar snap and snow pea D
Cauliflower	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C	–	Garlic X Onion X Kohlrabi X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Nasturtium D
Celeriac	–	–	White cabbage D Red cabbage D Savoy cabbage D Cauliflower D Broccoli D Brussels sprouts D Kale D Chinese cabbage D Sweetcorn D
Celery	–	–	Butterhead lettuce X White cabbage D Red cabbage D Savoy cabbage D Cauliflower D Broccoli D Brussels sprouts D Kale D Chinese cabbage D Leek D Potato D
Chilli pepper	White cabbage B	–	–
Chinese cabbage	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C	–	Garlic X Onion X Leek X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Potato D
Coriander (cilantro)	Basil B Parsley B	–	–
Cucumber	Sweetcorn C Bush bean C Pole bean C Butterhead lettuce C	–	Radish X Florence fennel D Onion D Dill D
Dill	–	–	Carrot X Cucumber D Butterhead lettuce D Onion D
Florence fennel	–	–	Cucumber D Tomato D Bush bean D Pole bean D
French marigold (tagetes)	Tomato B White cabbage B Carrot B	–	–
Garlic	–	–	White cabbage X Red cabbage X Savoy cabbage X Cauliflower X Broccoli X Brussels sprouts X Kale X Kohlrabi X Chinese cabbage X Pak choi X Strawberry D Sugar snap and snow pea D
Iceberg lettuce	Sweet alyssum B Tomato C Sweetcorn C	–	–
Kale	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C	–	Garlic X Onion X Leek X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Potato D
Kohlrabi	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Leek C	–	Garlic X Onion X White cabbage X Red cabbage X Savoy cabbage X Cauliflower X Brussels sprouts X Radish D Black salsify D Potato D
Leek	Butterhead lettuce C Kohlrabi C	–	Chinese cabbage X Kale X Carrot D Black salsify D Celery D
Loose-leaf lettuce	Sweet alyssum B Tomato C Sweetcorn C White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Brussels sprouts C	–	Asparagus D
Nasturtium	–	–	White cabbage D Red cabbage D Savoy cabbage D Cauliflower D Brussels sprouts D Broccoli D Pole bean D
Onion	–	–	Carrot X White cabbage X Red cabbage X Savoy cabbage X Cauliflower X Broccoli X Brussels sprouts X Kale X Kohlrabi X Chinese cabbage X Pak choi X Zucchini (courgette) D Cucumber D Dill D
Pak choi	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C	–	Garlic X Onion X Radish D
Parsley	Coriander (cilantro) B	–	Tomato D
Pea	White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C Radish C	–	–
Pole bean	Sweetcorn C Pumpkin and winter squash C Cucumber C White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C Sunflower C	–	Zucchini (courgette) D Nasturtium D Florence fennel D
Pot marigold (calendula)	Carrot B	–	–
Potato	–	Tomato C	Kohlrabi D Celery D Chinese cabbage D Kale D
Pumpkin and winter squash	Sweetcorn C Pole bean C	–	–
Radish	Sweetcorn C Brussels sprouts C Pea C	–	Cucumber X White cabbage D Red cabbage D Savoy cabbage D Cauliflower D Broccoli D Kale D Kohlrabi D Chinese cabbage D Pak choi D Swiss chard D Tomato D
Red cabbage	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C	–	Garlic X Onion X Kohlrabi X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Nasturtium D
Runner bean	White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C	–	–
Savoy cabbage	Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C	–	Garlic X Onion X Kohlrabi X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Nasturtium D
Spinach	Sweetcorn C	–	–
Spring onion (scallion)	Carrot B	–	–
Strawberry	–	–	Garlic D Borage D
Sugar snap and snow pea	White cabbage C Red cabbage C Savoy cabbage C Cauliflower C Broccoli C Brussels sprouts C Kale C Kohlrabi C Chinese cabbage C Pak choi C	–	Carrot D Bush bean D Garlic D
Sunflower	Pole bean C	–	–
Sweet alyssum	Butterhead lettuce B Loose-leaf lettuce B Iceberg lettuce B	–	–
Sweetcorn	Pole bean C Bush bean C Pumpkin and winter squash C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C Iceberg lettuce C Radish C Cucumber C Spinach C	–	Celeriac D Beetroot D
Swiss chard	–	–	Carrot D Radish D Winter radish (daikon) D
Tomato	Basil B French marigold (tagetes) B White cabbage B Carrot C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C Iceberg lettuce C	Potato C	Parsley D Radish D Florence fennel D
White cabbage	Tomato B Chilli pepper B French marigold (tagetes) B Pea C Sugar snap and snow pea C Bush bean C Pole bean C Runner bean C Broad bean (fava bean) C Butterhead lettuce C Loose-leaf lettuce C	–	Garlic X Onion X Kohlrabi X Celeriac D Celery D Radish D Nasturtium D
Winter radish (daikon)	–	–	Swiss chard D
Zucchini (courgette)	–	–	Onion D Pole bean D

What do the letters mean?

Good neighbour· A–C
Better not side by side· A–C
Disputed· X
Gardeners’ lore, not proven· D

A: Backed by several trials
B: Hint from one study
C: Expert rule with a reason
D: Tradition, named by at least two sources
X: Sources disagree

Questions and answers

How many companion pairs are backed by evidence?

72 pairs: 11 with a study or trials, 20 with a horticultural rule and reason, 8 disputed and 33 garden lore from at least two sources.

What grows well next to tomatoes?

Good neighbours with evidence: Basil (B), French marigold (tagetes) (B), White cabbage (B), Carrot (C), Butterhead lettuce (C), Loose-leaf lettuce (C) and Iceberg lettuce (C).

What should not be planted next to tomatoes?

Better not next to them: Potato (C).

What grows well next to potatoes?

No neighbour has a documented benefit.

What should not be planted next to potatoes?

Better not next to them: Tomato (C).

Do onion and carrot grow well together?

Disputed (X). Classic pairing against carrot and onion fly. Trials show slightly less carrot fly while onions are young; the Bavarian garden academy advises against it because nutrient and water needs differ.

Why are there fewer pairs here than in other charts?

We only show pairs with evidence or from at least two sources. Many charts repeat folklore without a source. If a pair is missing, there is no documented statement about it.

Sources

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Companion planting chart

Questions and answers

Sources

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