• Tomatoes and basil: Basil helps repel pests like aphids and mosquitoes while enhancing the flavor of tomatoes.
• Carrots and onions: Onions deter carrot flies, while carrots help suppress weeds and provide a natural mulch for onions.
• Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting nitrogen-hungry corn plants, while corn provides support for climbing beans.
• Cucumbers and radishes: Radishes repel cucumber beetles and other pests, while cucumbers provide shade and moisture for radishes.
• Lettuce and carrots: Lettuce and carrots are compatible companions that can be interplanted to maximize garden space and productivity. Lettuce's shallow roots and quick growth provide shade and moisture retention for carrots, while carrots help break up the soil and improve drainage for lettuce. Interplanting these two crops can help reduce weed competition and create a diverse and visually appealing garden bed.
• Beans and carrots - Nutrients are shared enhancing growth. 
• Nasturtium and cucurbits - nasturtiums deter pests that love cucurbits. 

One of the key benefits of companion planting is its ability to naturally repel pests and reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Planting aromatic herbs like rosemary, sage, basil and lavender can help deter pests like aphids, while marigolds are known to repel nematodes in the soil. Diverse planting schemes and layouts can help disrupt pest life cycles and prevent the buildup of harmful organisms.  Garden rotation is key, even in small spaces.

Companion planting can also improve soil health and fertility by encouraging biodiversity and nutrient cycling. Legumes like peas and beans, for example, fix nitrogen in the soil, making it more available to other plants. Meanwhile, deep-rooted plants like daikon radishes can break up compacted soil and improve drainage.

Just how there are plants that benefit from being planted together, there are others that should be kept apart like beans and onions.  Companion planting is most effective when you are observing your garden and seeing what is working for your space and your growing conditions.  There are many factors in gardening and everyone's garden is different.  This is where having a garden journal can come in handy as you document this over the years.  Check out blog post on creating a garden journal!

Companion vegetable gardening is a holistic approach to growing food that emphasizes harmony and balance in the garden. By harnessing the power of plant relationships, you can create a more resilient and productive growing environment while reducing the need for chemical inputs. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned gardener, experimenting with companion planting can lead to healthier plants, higher yields, and a deeper connection to the natural world. So why not give it a try in your own garden? Happy planting!