Companion planting

Friendly neighbors and a few combinations to give extra space. Pairs with What can I grow? when you are sketching beds. For fallow gaps and soil recovery, see cover crops.

Type

All Good neighbors Give space

Crop focus

Any Tomato Pepper / eggplant Brassicas Squash / cucumber Beans / peas Carrot / root crops Corn Lettuce / greens Radish Onion / garlic Herbs

Benefit

Any Pest confusion / trap Pollinators Shade or shelter Soil / roots Kitchen / flavor

Tomato & basilPair
Tomatoes · Basil
Classic neighbors: basil likes similar warm soil and steady water; flowers draw small beneficials when you let a few bolt late.
Tomato & marigoldPair
Tomatoes · French marigold (Tagetes patula)
Traditional companion: strong scent may mask tomato host cues for some pests; root exudates are debated—treat as a helpful row edge, not a pesticide.
Lettuce under tomatoes (spring)Pair
Lettuce / arugula · Tomatoes (young)
Early lettuce enjoys light shade from small tomato plants; remove or harvest lettuce before the tomato canopy closes and holds moisture on leaves overnight.
Borage & tomatoesPair
Borage · Tomatoes
Borage flowers for bees; young leaves are edible (hairy texture). Self-seeds freely—place where volunteers are welcome.
Calendula near vegetablesPair
Calendula · Mixed veg bed
Long-blooming calendula supports generalist pollinators; some predatory insects visit composite flowers—pair with good habitat, not sprays.