Peppers are a popular vegetable and for a good reason. Tasty and healthy – what more could you ask for? Would you like to get a rich harvest from the delicious vegetables? And have you ever thought that a good harvest can also depend on the right companion plants? The right companion plant attracts beneficial insects, fights diseases and pests, and suppresses weeds. In this article you will learn which good neighbors you can use for peppers and which plants are not suitable. Read on!
What is the purpose of companion cultivation in the garden?
Certain combinations of plants have the ability to help each other grow. Intercropping and crop rotation in your garden not only helps control pests naturally, but also promotes the overall health of your soil.
Scientific studiesabout the accompanying cultivationconfirms that some combinations have real benefits that apply only to those combinations. Many plants have a natural substance in their roots, leaves, flowers, etc. that attracts and/or repels insects. And this is of crucial importance for the good development of the plants.
How do companion plants work?
Companion plants help each other grow. Tall plants create shade for sun-sensitive, smaller plants. Climbing plants cover the ground, upright plants grow upwards. Companion plants prevent pest problems. Plants like onions, for example, repel some pests.
Here we will show you the appropriate flowers, herbs and vegetables that should be planted near peppers. When companion planting peppers, you can use leafy greens likeLettuce, spinach and chardbecause these plants enjoy the shady location when planted under the pepper plants. Another good companion for peppers isasparagus. Pepper plants have a shallow root system, so they don't compete with each other. Combine these vegetables in a garden bed to maximize space. The pepper plants can shade the asparagus once the harvest is complete in the spring.
Pepper roots like it a little cooler, so you can use ground cover likeOregano, rosemary or parsleyuse as companion plants. This also helps against weeds. Other plants that...Keeping your peppers healthycan contribute are umbel-shaped flowers likeDill and coriander, which attract lacewings that prey on the green peach aphid, which is known to attack peppers.
Pumpkin and cucumberare perfect as companion plants for peppers because they grow low and shade the pepper's roots. Also plant root plants likeradish or beetsunder the pepper plants to control weeds.Parsnips and carrotsare other options for pepper companion plants that thrive in pepper shade.
Blooming basilimproves the quality of pepper plants because flowers can attract bees and thus increase the yield and quality of the fruit. If you grow basil in the garden, it can keep thrips, spider mites, and mosquitoes away from the peppers.
Plant as companion plants for peppersFlowers such as yarrow, petunias and elecampane, because they deter aphids and attract beneficial insects. Yarrow is easy to grow and attracts ladybugs, which repel aphids.Alyssumis a beautiful underplanting and also attracts ladybirds, lacewings and parasitic wasps.Camomileis another underplanting that makes an excellent pepper companion and stays low to the ground as a living mulch.
Plants from the Allium familyare also good neighbors for peppers. You can tooChives, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions or leeksCombine with your peppers, which also repel aphids.
French marigolds and geraniumsrepels nematodes, which can be a major problem for peppers. Another flower that grows well next to the pepper plant isbuckwheat,whose flowers attract pollinators. Some plants can protect peppers from the wind. This includescorn and okra.
What not to plant with peppers
Now that you know what grows well near peppers, let's look at what you shouldn't plant, as there are also some plants that have negative effects on themyour pepper plants havecan.
Leave all plants from the nightshade family asTomatoes, eggplant and potatoesaway. These plants are susceptible to mosaic virus, late blight, and various forms of leaf spot, which can spread quickly among similar plants. Make sure that the plants are at least a few meters apart and that there are other plants in between.
fennelis also not a suitable companion plant for peppers as it tends to stunt the growth of the other plants around it.
All plants from the Brassica familyare not good neighbors for peppers. This includesCabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Napa cabbage, broccoli and kale. They are heavy feeders and deprive the soil of nutrients that your peppers need.
What goes well with zucchinifind out here.
