When it comes to growing plants, almost all seasoned gardeners recommend growing a mix of plants. A diverse mix of plants makes your yard more beautiful and makes for healthy plants. The recommendation has been verified by scientific study, and researchers have confirmed that growing some plants side by side brings benefits unique to those pairings.
Let’s look at a few benefits of growing some plants side by side, followed by a list of 10 plant combinations that you should always grow side by side.
They Help Each Other Grow better. When you grow the right combination of plants side by side, they help each other grow better. For example, a tall plant can provide shade to a short sun-sensitive plant and help it grow better under the right conditions. Efficient Use of Garden SpaceBy growing plants side by side, you can also use your garden space more efficiently. For example, shorter shrub plants can cover the ground space, whereas tall stalks can grow vertically while efficiently occupying the garden space. Help Control Pest ProblemA few plants that grow side by side can also help prevent pest problems. Since pest problems can damage the plants, some plants that repel pests can protect the latter when grown with plants that attract pests. Add to Your Yard’s AppealLastly, when you grow different combinations of plants side by side, you are adding to your yard’s appeal while enjoying all the benefits mentioned above. Now that you know how growing some plants side by side can help your plants and yard let’s look at a few plants that you should always grow side by side. Note that plants often compete for resources, including nutrients from the soil, sunlight, and water. Hence, it is best to stick to the following combinations so you can enjoy all the benefits of growing these plants side by side.
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#1. Tomatoes And Asparagus
One of the combinations of plants to grow side by side is tomato and asparagus. The chemical is tomatoes known as solanine is effective in repelling beetles that affect asparagus. Similarly, asparagus contains a chemical that can kill nematodes, a common pest that affects the tomato plant. Hence, you can protect both tomato and asparagus plants by growing them side by side.
#2. Spinach And Peas
Another perfect pair of plants to grow side by side is spinach and peas. Growing the pea plant supported on a trellis offers shade to the greens during the hot summer days. Moreover, peas increase the availability of nitrogen in the soil, which facilitates the growth of spinach, a heavy feeder in the garden. Hence, growing peas and spinach will help protect the leafy greens and feed them in your yard.
#3. Carrots And Radish
The two root veggies get along with each other well. The combination of carrots and radish is a great space saver. Radish often grows more quickly and doesn’t grow as deep as carrots, so if you sow radish seeds in between carrots, they will mature more quickly, and then the carrots can take up the space and get ready for harvest.
Moreover, since they rely on nutrients from different places in the soil, know that the two plants do not compete for the resources. Hence the two plants make a great duo for growing side by side.
#4. Rose And Garlic
It might come as a surprise, but you should always grow rose and garlic side by side. The shorter garlic plant makes a great space saver around the stems of the rose plant. Moreover, the garlic plant makes an excellent pest repellent, especially for the pests attracted to the rose plant. Protect your favorite rose flowers and plant from getting eaten by the little bugs simply by growing garlic plants by the side.
#5. Lettuce And Onions
Want to keep weeds at bay while growing onions? Try planting lettuce by the side. When you grow lettuce between the rows of onions, the lettuce will help keep weeds at bay while the onions are maturing. Moreover, onions also protect lettuce by keeping rabbits away. So when you grow onion alongside lettuce, you get the best of both worlds.
#6. Chrysanthemums And Beans
Try out this duo in your yard and let chrysanthemums take care of the bean beetles that can damage the bean plant. Moreover, once your beans mature, you will still have the beautiful chrysanthemum plant adding to your yard’s beauty.
#7. Marigolds And Tomatoes
While tomatoes get along really well with asparagus, they can also be a perfect partner to marigolds. Tomatoes are more susceptible to nematodes, but marigolds can rescue your tomato plant and keep it in great shape.
#8. Cabbage And Chamomile
Growing cabbage and chamomile also brings benefits to both plants. Chamomile attracts beneficial insects for the cabbage plant. Moreover, when the plant tries up in the fall, you can chop it and add it to your soil bed as it makes an excellent fertilizer.
#9. Calendula + Broccoli
When you grow Calendula, a plant with a sticky substance on its stems, it attracts aphids that are damaging brassica crops such as Broccoli. Moreover, it also attracts ladybugs which are plant-friendly insects, and also helps Calendula get rid of the aphids.
