Fillable Printable Healthy Gardening Companion Planting Chart

Healthy Gardening Companion Planting Chart

Healthy Garden

Workshop Series

Maximizing Your Harvest

Companion Planting:

Companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants can benefit when other plants are

grown in close proximity. These benefits can include redirectio n or repellant of pests and

supplying needed nutrients. For example, legumes - such as peas, beans, and clover - have

the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen for their own use as well as for neighboring plants.

Corn requires a lot of nitrogen to grow well. Therefore, planting legumes with corn will help

the corn grow more efficiently.

Use this chart to help find good companion plants, as well as which plants to keep apart.

PLANT Companion Plants Hindered By

Basil

Pepper, tomatoes, marigol d

Beans, bush

Cucumbers, stra wberries, plant with corn Onions

Beets

Lettuce, onions, ca bbage Pole beans

Broccoli

Beets, potatoes, onions, celery Strawberries, tomatoes

Cabbage

Onions, potatoes, celery, mint Strawberries, tomatoes

Carrots

Peas, lettuce, chives, radishes, leeks, onions Dill

Cauliflower

Potatoes, onions, celery Strawberries, tomatoes

Chard

Lettuce, onions, ca bbage Pole beans

Corn

Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumber, pumpkins Tomatoes

Cucumber

Legumes, corn, leeks, oni ons, radishes, sunflowers Potatoes, strong herbs

Eggplant

Redroot pigweed, green beans

Leeks

Carrots, celery, onions Bush beans, pole be ans

Lettuce

Radishes, strawb erries, cucumbers Pole beans, tomatoes

Melons

Morning glory Potatoes

Onions

Summer savory, chamomile Peas and beans

Parsley

Tomatoes

Peas

Carrots, turnips, radishes, cucumb ers, aromatic herbs

Potatoes

Beans, cabbage, corn, eggplant, marigolds, nasturtiums Tomatoes

Radish

Redroot pigweed, na sturtiums, mustards All pole plants

Spinach

Strawberries

Squash

Icicle radishes, nasturtiums Potatoes

Sweet Pepper

Basil, okra

Tomatoes

Asparagu s, carrots, celery, chiv es, garlic, onions, parsley Potatoes, fennel, cabbage

Harvesting Your Produce:

Knowing when and how to harvest your produce is an important part of gardening. The

closer you can pick the produce to when it will be eaten, the better. Some squash, beans,

and lettuce continue to grow more produce when they are picked often. Below are some tips

to help harvest your plants for maximum flavor and enjoyment.

Asparagus:

• Harvest when spea rs reach 6 to 8 inches tall by clippin g stalks close to the soil

Broccoli:

• Pick broccoli when heads form into tight, firm clusters

• Cut off the head with 6 inches of stem att ached

• Side heads will form after first head is cut.

Chard:

• Cut the outer leaves clo se to ground when 8-10" tall

• Make sure to leave 4-6 le aves on the plant so it can continue to grow

Eggplant:

• Ripe when sh iny and 6-8 inches long

• Clip the stem several inches above the vegetable with scissors or a sharp knife

Herbs:

• Use immediately or freeze i n an ice cube tray with wat er or a vacuum sealed bag

• For leafy herbs, pick the leaves and chop before use

• For seedy herbs, break off a small b ran ch of the herb and swipe off the herbs

• Pick any flowers immediately or the herb may become bitter

Lettuce:

• Leaf lettuce will continue to grow if picked often and properly

• For leaves, cut outer leaf early at the base of the leaves, ~ 2 inches up from the soil

• For heads, ready when firm and tight, cut at the base where the plant meets the soil

Melons:

• Pick when vine starts to dry out

• Clip the vine just above the fruit with scissors or a sharp knife

Peppers:

• Harvest Jalapeno peppers at 3-4 inche s, green p eppers at the size of a fist

• Clip the stem just above the pepper with scissors or a sharp knife

Peas:

• Harvest when the pod is green an d full but still tender, pods are usually ready to be harvested a week

after the plant flowers

• Clip the stem just above the pod with sci ssors or a sharp knife

Squash and Cucumbers:

• Pick often and more will grow

• Pick when ~ 6 inches for a more tender vegetable and better flavor

• Clip the vine/stem just abo ve the fruit with scissors or a sharp knife

Tomatoes:

• When red, clip the stem just above the tomato with scissors or a sharp knife

United States Dep artment of Agriculture