What veggies clash? Plan before planting!

One of the keys to a successful vegetable garden is knowing which plants should not be planted next to each other. Certain combinations can actually harm the growth of neighboring plants or attract pests and diseases. Here are some vegetables that should not be planted next to each other:

Potatoes and tomatoes: Both plants are susceptible to the same blight, which can quickly spread from one to the other and cause serious damage to your entire crop.

Peas and onions: Onions emit a chemical that can stunt the growth of peas, making it harder for them to produce a successful yield.

Strawberry and cabbage: Cabbage moths are attracted to both plants, and they can easily jump from one to the other if they’re grown too close together.

Dill and carrots: Dill attracts tomato hornworms, which also like to feed on carrots.

Basil and cucumbers: Basil and cucumbers both attract the same type of pest: the cucumber beetle. Growing them together can lead to a much higher population of beetles that can damage the foliage and fruits of both plants.

Lettuce and fennel: Fennel produces a chemical that can actually kill lettuce plants if they are grown too close together.

It’s important to plan out your garden carefully to ensure that each plant has the space it needs to grow and thrive without being affected by its neighbors. By avoiding these combinations, you can increase the chances of a successful harvest and enjoy a bountiful crop of healthy, delicious vegetables.

What Vegetables Should Not Be Planted Next to Each Other?

Unfavorable Companions: Potatoes and Tomatoes

One of the most popular planting pairs, potatoes, and tomatoes are not good companions in the garden. Though both vegetables thrive in similar soil conditions, they are susceptible to similar soil-borne diseases, such as verticillium wilt, blight, and nematodes. Planting them near each other can speed up the spread of these diseases and even result in crop failure. Additionally, potatoes and tomatoes use similar soil nutrients, which can worsen the soil quality and stunt growth. To avoid issues, it’s best to rotate crops yearly, and to plant them 4-6 feet apart. This distance ensures that they don’t shade each other and allows for good airflow. Moreover, always purchase certified disease-free seedlings, discard infected plants, and plant them in well-draining soil. Key Takeaways: – Plant potatoes and tomatoes at a distance of 4-6 feet apart. – Rotate crops yearly to reduce soil-borne diseases. – Purchase certified disease-free seedlings, and discard infected plants.

Why Peas and Onions Don’t Mix

Though both peas and onions are garden favorites, they make for poor companions. Peas are legumes and fix nitrogen in the soil, while onions are heavy feeders that extract it. Planting these crops near each other can result in nutrient competition, which can stunt growth and negatively affect yields. Moreover, onion maggots are attracted to peas, which can cause significant damage. To avoid issues, it’s best to plant them at least two feet apart. Additionally, it’s advisable to companion plant peas with beans or spinach. These plants help fix nitrogen in the soil and don’t compete with onions for nutrients. Key Takeaways: – Plant peas and onions at least two feet apart. – Companion plant peas with nitrogen-fixing plants like beans or spinach.

The Unholy Alliance: Strawberry and Cabbage

Strawberries and cabbage are an unholy alliance in the garden. Cabbage attracts cabbage root flies that can cause extensive damage to both crops. Moreover, strawberries are vulnerable to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne disease that cabbage can carry. To avoid issues, it’s best to separate them by at least 30 feet, and to plant them in different parts of the garden. Moreover, it’s advisable to use crop rotation and keep the soil weed-free to reduce pest problems. Key Takeaways: – Plant strawberries and cabbage at least 30 feet apart. – Use crop rotation and keep the soil weed-free to reduce pest problems.

The Bad Duo: Dill and Carrots

Though dill and carrots are tasteful companions in the kitchen, they are bad companions in the garden. Dill attracts carrot flies and can cause extensive damage to carrots, while carrots can stunt dill growth. To avoid issues, it’s best to separate them by at least ten feet. Additionally, interplanting dill with plants like cornflowers, marigolds, or chives can help deter carrot flies. Key Takeaways: – Plant dill and carrots at least ten feet apart. – Interplant dill with plants like marigolds or chives to deter carrot flies.

The Incompatible Couple: Basil and Cucumbers

Though basil and cucumbers are garden favorites, they can make for an incompatible couple. Basil attracts pollinators, which can cause cross-pollination between cucumber plants, resulting in bitter and unpalatable fruit. Additionally, cucumbers can stunt basil growth. To avoid issues, it’s best to separate them by at least three to four feet. Moreover, interplanting basil with plants like tansy or alyssum can help deter cucumber beetles. Key Takeaways: – Plant basil and cucumbers three to four feet apart. – Interplant basil with plants like tansy or alyssum to deter cucumber beetles.

Keep Them Apart: Lettuce and Fennel

Lettuce and fennel are incompatible companions in the garden. Lettuce is shallow-rooted, while fennel has deep roots that can compete for soil moisture and nutrients. Moreover, fennel attracts pests like aphids, which can quickly spread to the lettuce. To avoid issues, it’s advisable to plant them at least 12-18 inches apart or in different parts of the garden. Additionally, keeping fennel well-pruned can help control pest problems. Key Takeaways: – Plant lettuce and fennel at least 12-18 inches apart or in different parts of the garden. – Keep fennel well-pruned to control pest problems. In conclusion, planting incompatible vegetables near one another can result in pest problems, soil-borne diseases, nutrient competition, and stunted growth. Therefore, it’s essential to plan a garden layout carefully and rotate crops yearly to avoid these problems. Moreover, interplanting with compatible plants and keeping the garden weed-free can further help avoid these issues and ensure a bountiful harvest.