Companion planting: Which vegetables go together? (with PDF)

What are the advantages of mixed cultivation?

Mixed cultivation promotes soil fertility

Like us humans, plants have different characteristics - need more or less nutrients, have deep or shallow roots. Some plants are well suited to each other due to their site requirements and growth habit. Some species get on particularly well together because they complement each other in terms of their nutritional requirements and are not affected by similar diseases and pests. At the same time, mixed cultivation also ensures that the soil is not depleted by combining plants with high nutrient requirements with plants with low nutrient requirements.

Optimum use of space in the bed

In addition to the nutrient requirements, a successful mixed crop also takes into account the different growth forms of the above-ground plant parts as well as the underground roots of the vegetable varieties. If, for example, tall-growing vegetables such as corn and runner beans are planted underneath ground-covering pumpkins, you can plant a little more densely and make better use of the available space.

Diversity in the bed against pests

Another major advantage of mixed cultivation is that you have a wide variety of plants in your bed. Problems of monoculture, such as the large-scale spread of crop-specific diseases and pests, can be prevented with mixed cultivation. This is because different crops attract a wide variety of beneficial insects and pests that can regulate each other.

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Examples of typical mixed crops

Tomatoes in a mixed crop: the classic - basil and tomato

This mixed culture is a classic and works well together. Basil keeps whitefly away from the bed. It also has a preventative effect against mildew. This is a very common disease in tomatoes. Tomato plants and basil also complement each other very well in terms of growth habit. The basil covers the ground at the feet of the tall tomato plant.

Our tip: Parsley works just as well as basil in a mixed culture with tomatoes. Tagetes is also suitable for tomato beds, as it keeps nematodes and some diseases at bay.

The milpa bed: mixed crop of corn, beans & pumpkin

The milpa, also known as the Aztec bed or Indian bed, is a mixed crop with beans, corn and pumpkin. As an alternative to beans, you can also choose other legumes such as peas. Instead of corn, tomatoes also work well as a climbing aid for the beans. You can also replace the pumpkin with other pumpkin plants such as zucchinis, melons or the nightshade plant potato.

Our tip: If you choose potatoes, tomatoes are not good neighbors, as both are susceptible to late blight. Corn would be a better planting neighbor here.

Mixed culture with cucumbers, dill and borage

This mixed crop is particularly versatile. These three plants not only complement each other well in the kitchen, but also in a mixed crop. The flowering borage also provides food for the insects in your garden. It attracts pollinators. Borage is also a medicinal plant and has an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect. Dill is also a very useful herb for mixed cultivation. It increases the germination capacity of cucumber seeds. This is an advantage for some seeds with a lower germination capacity, such as cucumbers, pumpkins and carrots. It is also said to improve the growth of cucumbers and their flavor.

Our tip: Onion plants are also very suitable for cucumber beds. They keep pests such as whitefly away with their essential oils.

Carrots and onions in a mixed crop

Carrots and onions are generally known as good neighbors. And for good reason: carrots keep onion flies away and onions keep carrot flies away. In this way, they naturally keep pests away from each other. However, carrots and onions have one crucial difference: both have different water requirements. While carrots like to be evenly moist, onions like to have dry feet. Soil that is too moist tends to increase the risk of rotting.

Our tip: Leek is also a bulbous plant and keeps carrot flies away with its scent. Leeks also like to be evenly moist. Leeks are therefore better suited as a neighbor for carrots. It also has a large root system, which loosens up the soil. This benefits the development of the carrots.

Strawberries and onions: good neighbors for strawberries

Onion plants such as garlic, onions, leeks and chives keep slugs away with their smell. They also keep fungal spores away from the strawberries.

Our tip: Flowers are also good neighbors for strawberries. Borage is also a wonderful addition to the strawberry patch as it attracts pollinators. This encourages strawberries to set fruit. The same goes for marigolds, which also keep nematodes away with their roots.

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