Plant Besties
This leafy herb improves the growth and flavor of carrots when planted nearby
What is chives?
This flowering plant attracts hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids.
What is alyssum?
Avoid planting cucumbers near this herb, which can stunt their growth.
What is sage?
These kitchen scraps are great for compost but should not include meat or dairy.
What are fruit and vegetable scraps?
This low-growing groundcover herb spreads easily and thrives in dry soil while helping reduce evaporation.
What is creeping thyme?
This nitrogen-fixing crop pairs well with leafy greens like kale by enriching the soil.
What are peas?
This herb helps repel mosquitoes and flies when planted around garden borders.
What is lavender?
This root crop does not grow well near potatoes due to competition underground.
What are carrots?
This process of turning compost adds oxygen and speeds decomposition.
What is aeration?
This flowering plant with gray-green leaves is well adapted to dry conditions and poor soil.
What is yarrow?
This flowering herb attracts pollinators and pairs well with cucumbers to improve yield.
What is oregano?
This plant is often used to deter squash bugs when planted near squash and pumpkins.
What is radish?
This plant is known to inhibit the growth of many neighbors due to allelopathy.
What is black walnut?
These tiny organisms break down organic matter and are essential for healthy compost.
What are microbes?
This root vegetable tolerates drought well once established and stores energy underground.
What are parsnips?
Plant this root crop near beans to benefit from the nitrogen they add to the soil.
What are beets?
This tall herb attracts beneficial wasps that prey on garden pests like caterpillars.
What is fennel?
These two crops are poor companions because they attract similar pests: cabbage and this vegetable.
What is cauliflower?
This earthy smell is a sign your compost is healthy and balanced.
What is a rich, soil-like odor?
This gardening method uses deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root systems.
What is deep watering?
This aromatic herb improves the growth of cabbage-family plants and enhances flavor.
What is dill?
This onion-family plant helps repel carrot rust flies when interplanted with carrots.
What are leeks?
Avoid planting sun-loving tomatoes near this tall crop, which can shade them out.
What is corn?
This wriggly creature helps break down compost and improve soil quality.
What are earthworms?
This native shrub, often called “red osier,” tolerates dry conditions once established and is known for its striking red stems in winter.
What is red osier dogwood?