List of companion plants

I found this on Wikipedia and thought it would be a helpful tool. I was glad to see that we did a good thing by planting our peppers, tomatoes, parsley, & oregano near each other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

Here is a link for companion planting herbs & some flowers.

On one of the sites I was looking at with companion planting, they said that often times the effects aren't there the first year. You need to plant in the same area each year until it builds up in the soil. Anyone else know anything about that? Off to see if I can find the link.

I believe I just read something like that about chives and apples... effects for preventing disease and such was about 3 years of planting.

That was just from the link camprn had.

I like the book Carrots Love Tomatoes, but I really wish that it was better indexed. Thank you for the links!

Here is a link to my own list of Companion Planting that I researched last year for a few months. Information has come from at least 20 different pages online, as well as a few articles from magazines that I had or a few books that I have as well. If one thing said you could and another said not to, I stayed safe and just went with "no" it can't be planted with each other.

Feel free to pass it along to other people, and feel free to ask for things to be added to it (and if you have a new item and research to go along with it that will help). I have cleaned it up a few times, but there still might be a few conflicting information things on there, if you find it please let me know so I can fix it.

All I ask for is to give credit where credit is due =) <-- Link

Cool, thank you! I read in Carrots Love Tomatoes that nasturtium will help to repel squash bugs and I didn't see that on there, but maybe there's conflicting information from another source.

Companion plants sound like an solution, but how close should they be planted?

If tomato is a 1 per square, should I plant asparagus, mints, etc. in the same square around it?

I think it depends a lot on what companions you are choosing. I'm no expert, in fact this is my first year gardening, but I've learned a lot from the other people here. You might want to try the search function to see if some of your questions have already been addressed.

Generally, I'd say to plant your companions 'nearby' but not in the same square. It would be a good thing to study up on the characteristics of the companions... the ones you mention are perennials that will stay year after year - and will likely spread, too. So if you want to use these, plant them in their own box (for asparagus) next to the box with their companion (I'm putting in a 1'x3' box just for asparagus) ...or even use a big pot placed next to the companion's box (for things like mint, which will likely take over anyplace that it's planted). Other companions, such as marigolds, or garlic, or nasturtiums, which are annuals, can be planted in the next square ... or a couple of squares over from their companion... just so long as they're nearby, they should benefit one another.

What I have found is that you need to find out WHY a plant is listed as a companion plant for something. Does it draw beneficial insects, do something good to the soil, or is it instead a magnet for bad insects i.e. trap plant, or something else? I found out that nasturtiums draw aphids... only after I planted it directly between my two big heirloom toms! Thank goodness I seem to be aphid free this year, knock on wood.

Also, be very cautious in planting mint directly into your SFG. I'm sure many people have done so successfully, but mint is a very aggressive plant and the one time I did that it ended up 5 feet tall and spreading EVERYWHERE. I ripped it out as best I could, but 8 years later we are still finding little "friends". In my humble opinion, keep it in a pot and watch out that it doesn't send a taproot down and out through the drainage hole. Even then it can still air-seed on you.

Also, be very cautious in planting mint directly into your SFG. I'm sure many people have done so successfully, but mint is a very aggressive plant and the one time I did that it ended up 5 feet tall and spreading EVERYWHERE. I ripped it out as best I could, but 8 years later we are still finding little "friends". affraid In my humble opinion, keep it in a pot and watch out that it doesn't send a taproot down and out through the drainage hole. Even then it can still air-seed on you.

Yes I planted my apple mint in an SFG box to keep it from dying from forgetting to water it and thought I will move it soon, well !!!!! Like Megan says, it has crept into other boxes with the herbs, soooooooo Im not sure what I want, I really want an old tub I think to plant my mints. I want lots of mint but not for it to turn into a weed. When I work on the garden with my cousin in the next two weeks, the mint goes to another place not yet decided

Radishes did a great job as companion planting next to the honey dew. It let me know when there were little critters that would have gone to the dew had it not been for them. I was able to treat and and I got 4 good melons, and will think of how to get more next year:) I will plant radishes next to them too.
Ha-v-v

I did plant radishes by all of my squash vines and had no problem with SVB. Which does not speak to cause and effect, so it may or may not have been helpful. I just know I did not have a problem.