Companion Planting in Your Los Angeles Garden
By Victor Wang
Gardening is one of the few activities helping people through the challenge of isolation and social distancing. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned pro, if you have a garden, you want to make it as bountiful as possible. While there are countless soil amendments, compost applications, and fertilizers that can improve your yields, the simplest way to boost garden performance is by building plant relationships in the garden. Let’s talk about why and how to use companion planting in your Los Angeles garden.
What is Companion Planting?
Like people, some plants get along better together than others. Companion planting exploits beneficial plant partnerships to produce stronger, healthier plants. Companion plants enrich the soil and even improve the flavor of the plants they’re supporting. It’s also a great way to let Mother Nature take care of pest control.
Some plants provide physical support for climbing plants. Others will shade smaller plants that need sun protection, and some suppress weeds in garden beds. Companion planting increases the efficiency of your garden naturally.
Common Vegetable Companions
Some plant relationships simply make sense:
- Basil and tomatoes get along both on the dinner plate and in the garden, where the herb wards off disease and insects.
- Peppers and eggplants also grow well alongside tomatoes.
- Carrots love to grow in the shaded area beneath tomato plants.
- Cabbage benefits from sage, which keeps cabbage moths at bay.
- Planting radishes at the base of cucumber plants repels cucumber beetles.
Traditional Companion Plantings
Some companion plants have deep, historic roots, dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years. The Three Sisters is a traditional Native American plant guild utilizing corn, beans, and squash. Corn stalks grow tall and strong, providing support for beans to climb. The beans add nitrogen to the soil, fertilizing it. As the squash grows, it’s large leaves throw shade on the ground, retaining soil moisture and suppressing weeds.
Native and Floral Companions
Not all companions are edible. Certain native plants and flowers can enhance your garden both visually and otherwise. Yarrow is a native plant that improves the health of most garden plants and enhances the flavors of culinary herbs by causing them to produce more essential oils. It also resists insects, giving nearby plants some natural protection. Marigolds are widely used in gardens to benefit broccoli, cabbage, melons, squash, and tomatoes. They deter beetles and other pests while adding a welcome pop of color to garden beds. Petunias discourage tomato hornworms by attracting wasps, the hornworm’s natural predator.
Plant Antagonists
Just like you wouldn’t want to seat certain relatives next to each other at a wedding reception, some plants should be kept apart.
Examples of volatile parings include:
- Peas and onions.
- Cucumber and potatoes.
- Strawberries and cabbage.
Double-check as you plan your beds out in advance to ensure you don’t end up with some antagonistic plant bedmates. These adverse relationships can cause stunted growth and lower yields.
Companion planting may seem complicated, but it’s fairly straightforward. By using a chart to determine the best plant combinations for your garden, you can map out your garden in advance. Start small and see what a difference that creating healthy plant relationships can make. Like most harmonious relationships, companion planting produces a bountiful payoff that benefits everyone.
Victor Wang grew up in Central California plucking tomato worms from his mother’s heirloom tomato garden, and is now a master gardener and freelance writer. His areas of expertise include landscaping, organic pest control, and, of course, gardening.
