If you are like us, you enjoy growing, harvesting and eating home grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. As we have transitioned to gardening entirely organically at Tilly’s Nest, we have come to learn of some fascinating gardening techniques that can help you get the best from your plantings. One such technique is companion planting. Companion planting involves placing plants that can benefit from one another adjacent to each other the garden. It also involves keeping some plants far away from one another, as they can be detrimental to one another’s growth. In fact, this year is my first year growing fennel. I picked up one bulb and sadly, it has no home. I will have to plant it in a container.
Today, I’m sharing what I have learned from years of reading and researching gardening, personal experience, and the like. The list is far from comprehensive, but it gives you an idea of plants that are happy together. Most of these plants are what we grow here in our own gardens. With a little bit of planning, I have to admit that this technique of gardening is really quite amazing. It works especially well if you are short on space. It also is a great way to mix and match your plantings in raised gardening beds.
The table below is how I have taught my children this technique in the garden. This is the easiest way for them to relate. When you are school age, everyone has a BFF. They have kids they prefer to avoid and know some kids that are just so amazingly cool that everyone wants to hang out with them.
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Tilly’s Nest Guide to Companion Planting ©
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Plant
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Best Friends
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Foes
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Friends with Superpowers
Plant these near your plants for added benefits
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Artichoke
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Asparagus, Corn, Sunflower
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Potatoes
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Asparagus
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Tomato, Basil, Strawberry, Parsley, Dill, Cilantro
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Potatoes, Garlic, Onion
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Marigolds-Beetles
Basil-Asparagus Beetle
Petunia-Beetles
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Basil
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Peppers, Tomatoes, , Oregano,
Asparagus |
Rosemary, Sage
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Beets
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Bush Beans, Onion, Lettuces,
Cabbage, Broccoli |
Pole Beans
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Bell Peppers
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Tomatoes, Basil, Carrots, Parsley
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Fennel
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Broccoli
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Mint, Rosemary, Sage
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Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers, Beans, Strawberries
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Beans
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Eggplant, Cucumbers, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Peas
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Beets, Onion, Marigolds
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Cabbage
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Bush Beans, Strawberry, Potato,
Lettuce, Peas, Radish, Eggplant |
Rosemary- Cabbage Flies
Geraniums-Cabbage Worms
Celery-repels White Cabbage Butterflies
Dill-Cabbage Looper
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Carrots
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All beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Tomatoes, Sage
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Dill, Parsnip
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Celery
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Tomatoes, Leeks, Bush Beans, Cabbage
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Potatoes, Corn
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Chard
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All Beans, Cabbage, Onions
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Corn, Cucumbers, Melons
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Cucumbers
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All Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Dill
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Potatoes
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Nasturtium-Cucumber Beetle
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Eggplant
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All Beans
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Garlic
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Tomatoes, Beets, Carrots
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Beans, Peas
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Lettuce
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All Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Strawberries, Onions, Cabbage
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Celery, Parsley, Potatoes
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Onions
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Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Lettuce, Pepper, Squash,
Strawberry, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Broccoli |
All Beans and Peas
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Potatoes
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Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Peas, Onion
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Cucumber, Squash, Turnip, Fennel, Tomato
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Bush Beans-Colorado Potato Beetle
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Pole Beans
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Cucumbers, Eggplant, lettuces
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Beets, onions, garlic
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Tomatoes
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Carrots, lettuces, Asparagus
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Corn, Fennel, Potatoes,Broccoli, Cabbage
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Dill-Tomato Horn Worm
Basil-Tomato Horn Worm
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Rosemary
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Cabbage, Beans, Carrots
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Basil
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Strawberries
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Onions, Lettuces, bush beans
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Cabbages
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Squash
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Corn, Onion, Marigold, Melons,
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Potatoes
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Lemon Balm-Squash Bug
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Zucchini
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Beans, Corn, Onion
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Cucumbers, Potatoes
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Click here for a printable copy of the above table.
27 thoughts on “Fennel Doesn’t Have Friends: A Guide to Companion Planting”
this is amazingly helpful! I'll have to bookmark it for planning next year!
oops, I put my bush beans in between my yellow onions this year… they seem to be doing ok but I guess I just didn't think to research that one… ran out of space and thought i would give it a try! Thanks for the helpful list, pinning for next year.
Wonderful information! Thanks sooo much. Just one observation: under "Carrots" you've got 'tomatoes' listed under Friends AND Foes. Which applies? H 🙂
That is an oops, I corrected it. They are definitely friends. Thank you!
Great list! Thanks so much! I do some companion planting but have been doing the same stuff for years…..and never knew there was help for cabbage worms! Buying geraniums today!
~L
Yes, keep those cabbage worms at bay! You are very welcome.
Strawberry likes the herb Borage 🙂 She brings the bees to the garden!
Thanks for the advice! My bees thank you too!
THANK YOU so much; I really appreciate your putting together this list
You are very welcome!
I grow my carrots in alternate rows to Fennel and they both do very well. The smell of the Fennel keeps the Carrot root fly away. I also do the same with cabbage or any brassica as it keeps the butterflies away.
Under cabbage, you’ve got lettuce as a friend. Under lettuce, you’ve got cabbage as a foe?
Thanks for the keen eye. Indeed they are friends and I have made that correction. Happy Gardening!
Thank you for this wonderful wisdom! God bless you!
You are so welcome. Happy Gardening.
How far is far enough for planting fennel from its foes?
Try growing fennel in post or in a raised bed all on its own.
I grew the best fennel tightly packed in a wide row raised bed in between radishes and beets and also next to a bounty of onions. I can only say the bounty was incredible in all regards and this was in South Florida. I still have one fennel bulb left to be eaten and it has not bolted and is at about 88 degrees but with a close spacing, the soil is completely shaded.
Wow! How wonderful! Thank you for sharing. I love to hear these stories. Enjoy Florida. Still snowing up here but signs of spring are peeking through.
Such helpful information. Is there a way to print this wonderful chart so it will land on the pages correctly?
Hi there, I am not quite sure. I did this post a long time ago, but will add this to my to-do-list. Thanks for the feedback.
Just wanted to tell you I grew tons of fennel and tomatoes right next to each other in the same box. The fennel brought in lots of swallowtail caterpillars and kept them off my dill. The tomatoes were san marzano and caramello and there was an amazing quantity.
Beets next to it on the other side too.
Yes, fennel is an incredible host plant for a variety of good bugs. However, fennel is known to stunt the growth of members of the nightshade family including tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. So, it is generally not recommended to grow near these. Different environments can also grow different rates of produce based on climate and soil. There are so many variable that can affect your crops.
Wow! Your chart is utterly perfect for me to work out 8 gardens worth of plantings! This is the first year to grow fennel. I did read from that Dahlias like fennel. Across a path or in an adjacent container. Fennel is of the Umbelifer family and will attract parasitic wasps to keep the pests down! I’m not sure if Dalias will grow here, but I will give it a try. Brightest Blessings!
One of my raised beds had fennel and carrots last year. I would like to plant other things in it this year. How long does the negative effects of the fennel last in the soil? Would it be a mistake to plant tomatoes in that bed this year?
That is a great question. I do not have an answer. I would probably be on the safe side and avoid it again this year and I can research and see what I can find for you.