PLANTS HAVE BFF's, TOO

Plants are just like us: Some plants they cannot stand, some make them sick and with others are best pals. Since I am all into having lots of friends and sharing, I decided to find each plant a BFF.


Apparently Apple trees can be saved from apple scab by planting chives around them. Guess, whom I got for Ms Fuji: You guessed right, a bunch of chives seeds.


And pests will be kept at bay if you plant onions and garlic around a peach tree.  OK, Ms Peach, may I introduce you to your new pals the Nodding Onions?


This technic is called COMPANION PLANTING. It is done to keep pest away, attract benefitial insects or simply help each other grow. Yep, just like in real life.


So, it makes a whole lot of sense to plant trees, veggies, herbs and flowers together. By planting flowers and herbs among your vegetables, you can attract beneficial insects and birds, which are natural predators to those pests that eat your brassica leaves (remember my aphids graveyard?!). Flowers and herbs can also trick pests and deter them from finding your prize crop.


I collated a list of plants who are BFF's. I also made note of some of their arch enemies (AE's).  Here you go:


Amaranth
BFF: Corn, Onion, Potato


Anise - Plant anise and coriander seeds together.  They will both germinate more quickly.  Keep soil moist and separate when seedlings have grown a little. good host for predatory wasps which prey on aphids and it is also said to repel aphids. Deters pests from brassicas by camouflaging their odor. Improves the vigor of any plants growing near it. Used in ointments to protect against bug stings and bites.
BFF: Beans, Coriander
AE: Basil, Rue


Apple
BFF: Chives, Climbing Nasturtium
AE: Potato


Asparagus - Becomes more vigorous if planted with parsley.
BFF: Aster family flowers, Dill, Coriander, Strawberries, Basil, Marigold, Nasturnium, Parsley, Tomato
AE: Mint, Onion


Basil repels Flies, Mosquitoes - Use 3 basil plants to each tomato plant.  Basil also repels flies and mosquitoes, so useful in kitchen, outdoor barbecues. 
BFF: Beans, Cabbage, Marigold, Pepper, Tomato
AE: Rue


Beans - Less likely to suffer from beetles if petunias also planted alongside.
BFF: Beets, Borage, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Corn, Cucumber, Nasturnium, Petunia, Potato, Squash, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Sunflower, Tomato
AE: Chives, Onion, Garlic, Fennel, Gladiolus, Leek


Bee Balm
BFF: Tomato
AE: Field Mustard


Beets - great to enrich soil
BFF: Basil, Bush beans, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onion, Sage, Tomato, Mint (but since Mint is so vigorous, just spread a bunch of mint clippings around the beets and they will be soo happy)
AE: Pole beans, Mustard


Bergamot (or Red flowered Bee Balm) - Bees and hummingbirds loooove this flower. Great for tea!!
BFF: Echinacea

Borage - Plant with strawberries to increase crop.  Also good with tomatoes and squash.  Attracts bees to the garden.  Deters tomato worms, attracts bees, helps growth and flavour. BFF: Squash, Strawberry, Tomato


Broad Beans
BFF: Corn
AE: Kohlrabi


Broccoli
BFF: Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage
AE: Lettuce, Strawberry, Tomato


Brussel Sprouts
BFF: Beans, Celery, Dill, Hyssop, Mints, Nasturtium, Potato, Rosemary, Sage
AE: Strawberries


Cabbage - Any member of the cabbage family should also be planted with potatoes, tomatoes, celery, dill, chamomile (best), sage, thyme, mint, rosemary, lavender, beetroot or onions.
BFF: Aromatic herbs (repel Cabbage Worms), Bush Beans, Beets, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Geranium, Hyssop, Lavender, Marigold, Mint, Nasturnium, Onions, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Tansy, Thyme, Tomato
AE: Dill, Grapes, Mustards, Rue, Strawberries, Tomatoes


Calendula
BFF: Tomato (Repels tomato worms, asparagus beetles)


Caraway
BFF: Peas
AE: Fennel


Carrots - Carrot fly is repelled if carrots are planted with sage or onions.  Also plant with peas, lettuce, chives, leeks, rosemary or tomatoes.BFF: Chervil, Chives, Leaf lettuce, Leeks, Onion, Peas, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato, Wormwood
AE: Anise, Dill


Catnip repels Flea Beetle, Ants


Cauliflower
BFF: Beans, Beet, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Hyssop, Lavender, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Radish
AE: Dill, Strawberries, Tomatoes


Celery
BFF: Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Onion, Spinach, Tomato
AE: Corn


Chamomile - Compatible with onions and cabbages but don’t plant too much.  Chamomile tea, made by soaking blossoms in cold water for 1 to 2 days, is excellent spray for damping off.  Improves both growth and flavour of onions and cabbages.
BFF: Cabbage, Mint, Onion, Squash


Chard
BFF: Bean, cabbage family, tomatoe, onion, roses
AE: cucurbits, melons, corn or herbsChervil
BFF: Carrots, Radish


Chives - Carrots grow larger planted near chives.  Helps prevent apple scab if grown underneath apple  trees.  Also helps control aphids and black spot on roses.  Cooled chive tea made from chopped chives in boiling water helps combat downy and powdery mildew.BFF: Carrots, Grapes, Parsley, Tomato
AE: Incompatible with Peas, Beans


Clover - Best to be planted with grapes, attracts many benefitials

Collard Greens BFF: Tomatoes


Coriander / Cilantro - Sown with anise seeds aids germination in both. Don’t grow near fennel as it hinders its seed formation. Repels harmful insects such as aphids, spider mites and potato beetle. A tea from this can be used as a spray for spider mites. Partners coriander are for anise, caraway, potatoes.
BFF: Anise, Potato
AE: Fennel


Corn - Sowing with beans or peas provides an increased nitrogen supply to the corn (if corn and peas/beans are planted in alternate rows).  If sunflowers are planted with corn, the incidence of armyworm decreases.  Also plant with potatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash.  Vining things like this shade the ground, keeping weeds down, and use the corn stalks to trail up on.

Amaranth, beans, cucumber, white geranium, lamb's quarters, melons, morning glory, parsley, peanuts, peas, potato, pumpkin, soybeans, squash and sunflower. A classic example is to grow climbing beans up corn while inter-planting pumpkins. The corn provides a natural trellis for the beans, pumpkins smother the weeds and helps corn roots retain moisture. Corn is a heavy feeder and the beans fix nitrogen from air into the soil however the beans do not feed the corn while it is growing. When the bean plants die back they return nitrogen to the soil that was used up by the corn. A win-win situation. Another interesting helper for corn is the weed Pig's Thistle which raises nutrients from the subsoil to where the corn can reach them. Keep corn away from celery and tomato plants by at least 20 feet.

BFF: Amaranth, Beans, Cucumber, Geranium, Lamb's Quarters, Melons, Morning Glory, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Sow Thistle, Squash, Sunflower 
AE:  Celery, Tomato


Cucumbers - Plant with beans, corn, peas, radishes, and sunflowers.
BFF: Beans, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Marigold, Nasturnium, Onion, Peas, Radish, Savory, Sunflower, Tomato 
AE: Potato, Rue, Sage


Dead Nettle repels Potato Bug


Dill - Cabbage grows well planted near dill.  So does lettuce, corn & cucumber.  If dill is allowed to flower it suppresses the carrot crop, if not allowed to flower it is fine.  Don’t plant near fennel as they may cross fertilise.
BFF: Cabbage, Lettuce, Onion
AE: Carrot, Tomato


Eggplant - If planted with aramanthus, there is less likelihood of insects on the eggplant.  Also, beans planted with eggplants repel beetles which would otherwise attack the eggplant.
BFF: Amaranth, Beans, Peas, Spinach, Tarragon, Thyme


Fennel - Don’t grow fennel in the vegetable garden.  It is hated by tomatoes, kohlrabi, caraway and wormwood.  If planted near dill may cross fertilise.  Repels fleas, so grow it around dog kennel or teh chicken coop.
AE: Incompatible with Beans, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Tomato, Wormwood
Fig
AE: Incompatible with Rue


BFF: Carrot, Potatoes

Feverfew repels attracts aphids away from other plants

Flax repels Potato Bug

Garlic - Planted near roses keeps aphids away.  If grown around fruit trees effective against borers.  Protects peach tree from leaf curl and apple trees from apple scab.  Grown near tomatoes deters red spider mites.  However peas, beans, cabbages and strawberries hate it.  Garlic spray may be made by crushing 4 cloves and steeping in a litre of water for several days as an insecticide for vegetables and flowers. Garlic repels Japanese Beetle, Aphids
BFF: Beets, Carrots, Chamomile, Lettuce, Raspberry,  Roses, Tomato, Summer savory
AE: Beans, Cabbage, Peas, Strawberries


Geranium - Plant near roses, grapes and corn.  Repels cabbage worm.  Oil of geranium prevents red spider mite.


Grapes - Planting clover increases the soil fertility for grapes.  Hyssop likewise increases the vine crop.
BFF: Clover, Geranium, Hyssop, Oregano
AE:  Cabbage, Radish 

Horseradish repels Potato Bug

Henbit repels Insect Repellent

Hyssop - Good for cabbages and grapes.  Hyssop repels Cabbage Moth. Helps deter white butterflies.  Good insect repellent if planted in  vegetable or flower garden.  Keep away from radishes.
BFF:  Cabbage, Grape


Lavender: Attracts butterflies.  Lavender bags repel mice, ticks and moths. Lavender repels Moths 


Kohlrabi
BFF: Beets, Cucumber, Onion
AE: Pole Beans, Pepper, Strawberry, Tomato


Leek - Leeks grow better if planted with carrots, celery or onions.
BFF; Carrots, Celery, Onions
AE: Beans, Broccoli


Lemon Balm - spreads fast and will compete for space; plant with other vigorous perennials, such as Mint


Lemon Basil - herbal tea



Lettuce
BFF: Beet, Cabbage, Carrot, Clover, Corn, Cucumber, Melon, Onion, Peanuts, Peas, Radish, Strawberry, Sunflower


Lovage
BFF: Beans 


Marigold - Plant everywhere!  Deter many insects and slugs. Marigolds repels Mexican Bean Beetles, Nematodes, others Melons
BFF: Corn, Nasturnium, Radish


Mint - Due to their vigorous nature, they are best confined in containers. Repels cabbage butterfly, grow near cabbage family or tomatoes.  Repels fleas, ants and mice.  Keep mint and parsley away from each other. Mint repels Cabbage Moth, aphids, flea beetles
BFF: Cabbage, Tomatoes 
AE: Chamomile, Parsley 


Nasturtium - Useful insect repellent.  Plant around broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage family, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit trees.  Deters white flies, squash bugs, and are a trap crop for aphids.  Limits wooly aphid damage to apple trees if planted in a circle around them. Nasturtium repels Aphids, Squash Bugs, Striped Pumpkin Beetle


Nettle - Increases the oil production of herbs


Onions - Planting chamomile with onions improves the flavour of the onions.
BFF: Amaranth, Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Leeks, Lettuce, Pepper, Potato, Roses, Sow Thistle, Strawberry, Summer savory, Tomato
AE: Incompatible with Beans, Peas


Oregano
BFF: Cabbage, Cucumber


Parsley
BFF: Asparagus, Carrot, Chives, Onions, Roses, Tomato
AE: Mint



Peas - Grow them almost everywhere, peas add nitrogen to soil.  Growing interplanted with corn enhances growth of the corn.
BFF: Aromatic herbs, Beans, Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Potato, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
AE: Garlic, Gladiolus, Leek, Onion, Potoato, Shallots


Petunia
BFF: Beans


Peanuts - If grown with squash or corn will increase the yield.
BFF:  Squash, Corn


Peppers
BFF: Basil, Carrot, Lovage, Marjoram, Onion, Oregano
AE: Fennel, Kohlrabi 

Pennyroyal repels Flies, Mosquitoes, Fleas, others

Pot Marigold repels Tomato Worm, Asparagus Beetles, others

Pyrethrums as a dried flower repels insects

Plum
BFF: Horseradish


Pole Beans
BFF: Radish
AE:  Beets, Sunflower


Potatoes - Plant horseradishes with potatoes to make them more disease resistant.
BFF: Amaranth, Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Eggplant, Flax, Horseradish, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Marigold, Onion, Petunia 
AE: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Radish, Raspberry, Sunflower, Squash, Tomato


Pumpkin - Plant with datura to increase the vigour and health of the pumpkins.  Also plant with corn.
BFF: Corn, Datura
AE:  Apple, Potato, Raspberry, Rosemary, Tomato


Radishes - Plant with climbing beans, and both grow better.  Plant with lettuces, and the radishes become more succulent in summer time.  Also plant with peas, nasturtiums and cucumbers.  Deters cucumber beetle and other insects.
BFF:  Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chervil, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Nasturnium, Parsnips, Peas, Spinach, Squash 
AE:  Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Grape, Hyssop, Kohlrabi, Potato, Turnips


Raspberry
BFF: Tansy
AE:  Potato


Rhubarb
BFF: Columbine, Garlic, Onion, Roses


Rose
BFF:  Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage
AE:  Potato


Rosemary - Rosemary repels Cabbage Moth, Bean Beetle, Carrot Fly
BFF: Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Sage, thymes, oreganos, and savory should be spaced so that they don't touch the foliage.AE:  Potatoes 


Rue repels Japanesa Beetles
BFF: Figs, Raspberry, Rose, Strawberry
AE:  Basil, Cabbage, Sage


Sage - Repels Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Flea Beetle, Slugs. Plant near rosemary.  Good grown with cabbage and carrots, peas and beans.  Keep away from cucumbers.  Sage tea can be sprayed on mature plants not seedlings.
BFF: Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Marjoram, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberry, Tomato
AE: cucumber, Rue


Savory
BFF: Beans, Onions


Southernwood - - Southernwood repels Cabbage Moth
BFF: Cabbage


Sowthistle
BFF: Corn, Onions, Tomato


Soybeans
BFF: Everything


Spinach - Plant with strawberries, and base of trellised peas.  Spinach benefits from shading of peas and wind protection.
BFF: Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Onion, Peas, Strawberry


Squash
BFF:  Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Icicle radishes, Mint, Nasturtium, Onion
AE: Incompatible with Potatoes

Stevia - best by itself in a container


Strawberries - Planted with borage improves the soil nutrition for the strawberries.  Also plant with bush beans, spinach and lettuce.
BFF: Asparagus, Beans, Borage, Comfrey, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach
AE: Incompatible with Broccoli, Brussle Sprouts, Cabbage, Califlower, Kohlrabi


Sunflower
BFF:  Cucumber
AE:  Cabbage


Summer Savory repels Bean Beetles

Tansy - repels Flying Insects, Japanese Beetles, Striped Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs, Ants, Flies and moths.  Rub leaves onto fur of dogs and cats to repel fleas.  Plant near fruit trees and roses.  It concentrates potassium in the soil so good for compost heap.

BFF:  Fruits, Peppers, Potato, Rose, Raspberry


Thyme - Attracts bees and deters cabbage worm so plant near members of cabbage family.  Beneficial effect on plants near it.
BFF:  Cabbage


Tomatoes - Tomatoes grow and produce better when planted with marigolds; the same rule applies to basil planted with tomatoes.
BFF:  Asparagus, Basil, Bee Balm, Carrot, Celery, Chives, Garlic, Lemon Balm, Onions, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtium, Parsley, Peas, Sage
AE:  Incompatible with Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Potato


Turnip
BFF:  Peas


Valerian- Excellent addition to compost heap as stimulates phosphorous activity in soil.  Earthworms love it.

Wormwood - Grow by itself edge of garden as inhibits growth of other plants.  Spray discourages slugs and snails.

Wormwood planted as a border aids in repelling animals

Yarrow - Increases essential oil content enhancing aromatic quality and making more resistant to insect attack.

"Nature never says one thing and wisdom another." Decimus Junius Juvenalis