Fight off vegetable pests and promote healthier plants through savvy plant pairing in the garden.
Companion plants play various roles in the vegetable garden community.
Onions produce strong odors in the form of volatile compounds that can confuse and deter plant pests.
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Onion companion plants provide similar benefits to onions, helping to attract beneficial insects and reduce pest pressure.
Some herbs are even rumored to improve the flavor of onions when grown in close proximity.
Pair onions with plants that thrive under similar growing conditions.
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Plant onions in fall or very early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked.
Peppers
Studies have demonstrated the benefit onions provide to peppers when planted together in the garden.
Cabbage
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Cabbage is another crop that benefits from the aromatic compounds emitted by onions.
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Other members of the cabbage family, including broccoli and Chinese cabbage, also benefit from the pairing.
In Chinese cabbage, green onions help deter flea beetles.
For the best results, plant onions two weeks before planting cabbage.
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Tomato
Tomatoes grown alongside potato onions and chives have demonstrated resistance against certain plant diseases.
Likewise, Chinese chives suppress bacterial wilt of tomato plants when grown together.
Carrots
Onions are known to repel carrot flies, a common carrot pest.
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The larvae of carrot flies, called maggots, feed on the roots of carrots and closely related plants.
Onions benefit in return through reduced incidence of thrips which commonly attack young onion leaves.
The presence of beneficial beetle predators is also higher among intercropped plantings.
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Young onions provide carrots with better protection than older, bulb-forming plants.
Summer Savory
A number of herbs thrive alongside onions thanks to their similar growing requirements.
Chamomile has similar cultural needs as onions, including full sun and rich, well-drained soils.
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If youve ever crushed the foliage of rue, you are familiar with its pungent odor.
The scent deters aphids, flea beetles, and onion maggots.
Many rose growers believe that this pairing also increases the amount of fragrance roses give off.
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The flowering ornamental onions pair beautifully with roses, complementing most flower colors.
Plants Not To Plant With Onions
Some plants do not make good neighbors in the garden.
For example, it is believed that onions stunt the growth of pea and bean plants.
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It is best to keep these plants apart.
Also avoid planting onions near asparagus, as the two plants compete for similar nutrients in the soil.
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