Gardening is a mix of trial, error, and knowing which plants work well together. Choosing the right companion plants for squash can boost growth, keep pests away, and even improve flavor. After plenty of hands-on experience, it’s clear that some plants help squash thrive, while others cause more harm than good.
This list covers 28 of the best companions to support squash, plus a few plants to avoid that can compete for nutrients or attract unwanted pests. A well-planned garden means healthier plants and a more productive harvest!
1. Nasturtiums
Bursting with color, these flowers not only bring vibrancy to your garden but also act as a natural pest deterrent. Nasturtiums attract aphids away from your squash, serving as a trap crop. Moreover, they invite beneficial insects like ladybugs, which feast on the pests.
With their sprawling nature, nasturtiums can cover ground, reducing the chances of weeds taking over. Their edible flowers and leaves add a peppery kick to salads, making them a tasty, multi-purpose plant. Growing them around squash creates a win-win for your garden, enhancing aesthetics and functionality.
2. Marigolds
Known for their cheerful blooms, these flowers are more than just pretty faces in the garden. Marigolds have a unique ability to deter nematodes, which are harmful to squash. Their scent also repels other common pests, offering a natural form of pest control.
Planting marigolds among your squash can lead to healthier plants and better yields. Additionally, they thrive in similar conditions, making them easy companions. Their vibrant flowers can brighten any garden space, blending beauty with practicality effortlessly.
3. Radishes
Quick-growing and hardy, radishes are a gardener’s delight. Their presence can help deter squash borers, making them excellent companions. As they grow quickly, radishes can be harvested before they interfere with the squash. This allows the soil to remain aerated, promoting healthy root development.
Furthermore, radishes are simple to grow, requiring minimal effort for a beneficial relationship. They also provide a tasty addition to your kitchen, enhancing both your garden and culinary endeavors.
4. Bush Beans
Utilizing nitrogen-fixing abilities, bush beans enrich the soil for squash. This relationship can lead to more robust squash plants. Beans also provide a natural trellis if allowed to climb on squash, maximizing garden space efficiently.
Their growth habit complements squash, as they don’t overshadow them. Apart from their utility, bush beans add a harvestable crop, offering fresh beans for your table. They exemplify how strategic planting can enhance garden productivity.
5. Borage
This herb, with its stunning blue flowers, attracts pollinators in droves, benefiting squash plants. The influx of bees can significantly boost squash pollination rates. Additionally, borage is known to repel worms and other pests, further protecting your squash.
Its leaves are edible too, offering a cucumber-like flavor. By enriching the soil and providing protection, borage enhances squash growth naturally. Its presence in the garden is both ornamental and functional, making it a valuable companion.
6. Corn
A part of the famous “Three Sisters” planting method, corn, squash, and beans support each other uniquely. Corn provides support for climbing beans, while squash covers the soil, reducing weeds. This trio works in harmony, with each plant offering something valuable to the others.
Corn’s height offers a natural shade, helping squash conserve moisture. This traditional method enhances garden biodiversity and productivity, showcasing the benefits of companion planting. The synergy between these plants is a testament to nature’s balance.
7. Mint
Although known for its invasive nature, mint can be a beneficial companion when managed properly. It repels common pests like aphids and squash bugs with its strong scent. Mint also attracts beneficial insects, enhancing garden biodiversity.
Its aromatic leaves can be used in the kitchen, offering fresh flavors to dishes. To control its spread, consider planting mint in containers near squash. This balances its benefits with its tendency to overreach, optimizing its role in the garden.
8. Peas
These climbers enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefiting nearby squash plants. Their vertical growth habit means they don’t compete for space, making them ideal companions. Peas can also provide an early harvest, allowing you to enjoy fresh produce while your squash matures.
Their presence can enhance garden productivity and soil health. Beyond their utility, peas offer a sweet addition to meals, demonstrating how companion planting can diversify both garden and kitchen offerings.
9. Dill
With its fine foliage and aromatic scent, dill attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies. These insects help control aphid populations, protecting squash plants. Dill’s presence can enhance pollination, thanks to its attractive yellow flowers. It can also deter squash bugs, providing an extra layer of defense.
In the kitchen, dill offers a fresh herb option, perfect for seasoning. Its multi-faceted role in the garden makes it a versatile and valuable companion.
10. Garlic
Known for its pungent aroma, garlic can deter a variety of pests that might harm your squash. Its natural pest-repelling properties are invaluable in companion planting. Planted in between squash, garlic doesn’t compete for resources, allowing both plants to thrive.
It also offers an additional harvest, enriching your kitchen with homegrown garlic. The benefits of garlic extend to disease prevention, adding an extra layer of protection for your plants. Its dual role in the garden and kitchen makes it a smart choice.
11. Onions
With their strong aroma, onions can keep pests like aphids and beetles away from your squash. This natural deterrent capability makes them excellent companions. Onions grow well alongside squash due to their non-competing root structures.
They also offer a flavorful addition to your home-cooked meals, rounding out their utility. By planting onions near squash, you create a balanced environment that supports both plants. Their role in pest management and culinary uses makes them a valuable garden ally.
12. Sunflowers
These towering beauties can serve a dual purpose in your garden. Sunflowers provide shade for squash, reducing soil moisture evaporation. Additionally, they attract pollinators, which can enhance the fruit set of your squash. Their height and vibrant flowers add diversity and charm to the garden landscape.
Sunflowers’ robust nature and appeal make them a striking and functional companion. Their ability to draw beneficial insects further complements their role in a thriving garden.
13. Thyme
This aromatic herb is a powerhouse in the garden, known for its pest-repelling properties. Thyme can deter whiteflies and cabbage worms, protecting your squash. Its low-growing habit makes it a perfect ground cover, reducing the chance of weeds without overshadowing squash.
Thyme is hardy and thrives in similar conditions as squash. In the kitchen, it adds a fragrant touch to dishes, making it a versatile companion. Combining functionality with flavor, thyme is a great choice for companion planting.
14. Oregano
Oregano’s strong scent is a natural deterrent for pests like aphids, enhancing squash’s growth environment. Its bushy nature provides ground cover, reducing weed competition. This herb is not only beneficial in the garden but also a kitchen staple, offering fresh flavors to a variety of dishes.
Oregano thrives in conditions similar to squash, making them compatible partners. By integrating oregano, you bolster both your garden’s health and culinary offerings, illustrating the symbiotic nature of companion planting.
15. Lavender
Known for its soothing fragrance, lavender can repel pests like moths and fleas, which might affect squash plants. Its presence adds a calming element to the garden. Lavender’s purple flowers attract pollinators, benefiting squash by enhancing fruit production.
Its hardiness and low water requirements complement squash well. Beyond its garden benefits, lavender offers aromatic blossoms for crafting or decor. Its dual role in enhancing beauty and functionality makes it a charming companion plant.
16. Catnip
This herb may be a favorite for cats, but it’s also a formidable pest deterrent. Catnip can repel aphids and beetles, offering protection for your squash. Its fast-growing nature means it can quickly establish itself, providing ground cover that limits weed growth.
Catnip is hardy and complements squash well. In addition to pest control, catnip can be harvested for tea or pet enjoyment. Its multifaceted role makes it a valuable addition to any garden.
17. Chamomile
Often associated with calming tea, chamomile also benefits your garden. It attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, which can help control squash pests. Chamomile improves the overall health of its companion plants, including squash, by enhancing soil nutrient availability.
Its small, daisy-like flowers add charm to any garden. As a bonus, you can harvest chamomile for homemade tea, blending garden care with personal wellness. Its presence is both aesthetically pleasing and practically beneficial.
18. Yarrow
This hardy perennial is an excellent companion, known for attracting beneficial insects like predatory wasps and ladybugs. These insects can help manage squash pest populations. Yarrow’s deep roots can enhance soil quality by bringing nutrients closer to the surface, benefiting squash.
Its drought tolerance complements the water needs of squash. Beyond its garden role, yarrow’s flowers can be used in herbal remedies. Its multifaceted benefits make it a smart addition to companion planting strategies.
19. Chives
Chives, with their mild onion flavor, offer both culinary and gardening benefits. They can repel aphids and other pests, safeguarding your squash. Their compact growth habit means they won’t compete aggressively for resources, making them ideal companions.
Chives also attract pollinators, enhancing squash production. In the kitchen, they add a fresh, mild onion taste to dishes, demonstrating their versatility. Their role in pest management and culinary use makes them a valuable garden ally.
20. Lettuce
As a cool-season crop, lettuce can be planted early, occupying space before squash takes over. Its presence can suppress weeds, benefiting squash. Lettuce grows quickly and can be harvested before squash needs more room, making the most of garden space.
It adds fresh greens to your table, enhancing meals. The harmony between lettuce and squash demonstrates efficient garden planning. This partnership optimizes both space and productivity, showcasing the benefits of companion planting.
21. Beets
These root vegetables thrive under similar conditions as squash, making them compatible companions. Beets can improve soil health, which benefits nearby squash. By growing below ground, beets don’t compete with squash for sunlight, allowing both plants to thrive.
Their rapid growth makes them an efficient choice for garden productivity. In addition to their garden benefits, beets offer a nutritious addition to your meals. This complementary relationship enhances both garden efficiency and culinary diversity.
22. Carrots
Carrots, with their deep root systems, help aerate the soil, benefiting squash roots. Their presence can lead to healthier, more productive squash plants. Growing carrots alongside squash maximizes space, as they occupy different soil levels.
This efficient use of garden space enhances overall productivity. Beyond their gardening benefits, carrots are a versatile kitchen staple. Their crunchy texture and sweet flavor make them a delightful addition to meals, showcasing the harmony of companion planting.
23. Spinach
As a cool-season crop, spinach can be planted early, providing quick, nutritious greens. Its ground-covering habit suppresses weeds, benefiting squash. Spinach’s rapid growth allows for a quick harvest, making room for expanding squash plants.
This efficient use of time and space enhances garden productivity. Spinach offers nutritional benefits, adding variety to your meals. Its role in weed management and culinary diversity makes it a valuable companion plant.
24. Cilantro
This aromatic herb is a natural pest deterrent, repelling harmful insects like aphids. Its presence can create a healthier environment for squash. Cilantro grows quickly, providing flavorful leaves that enhance culinary creations.
Its flowers attract beneficial insects, improving garden biodiversity. Incorporating cilantro into your garden supports both plant and pest management, while offering fresh herbs for cooking. Its multifaceted role makes it a practical companion.
25. Fennel
Though often avoided in companion planting, fennel can be beneficial if managed carefully. It improves soil health and repels pests that affect squash. Its distinct flavor and texture add variety to your culinary options, enhancing meals.
Fennel can grow alongside squash without competition, provided they are not overcrowded. The careful integration of fennel highlights its potential in companion planting strategies. Its unique characteristics offer both garden and kitchen benefits.
26. Rosemary
With its woody stems and aromatic leaves, rosemary can deter pests like aphids and beetles. Its presence enhances the squash’s growth environment. Rosemary’s robust nature means it thrives in similar conditions, requiring minimal care.
This compatibility makes it an easy addition to companion planting. The herb’s culinary uses are wide-ranging, adding flavor to a variety of dishes. Rosemary’s role in pest management and cooking makes it a valuable garden companion.
27. Parsley
This biennial herb offers a double benefit in the garden. Parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, which can help control pests affecting squash. Its lush green leaves can be harvested for culinary use, adding fresh flavor to meals.
Parsley’s compatibility with squash makes it a practical choice for gardeners. Beyond its garden benefits, parsley’s versatility in the kitchen is undeniable. This combination of aesthetics and utility makes it a must-have companion plant.
28. Cucumbers
Though similar, cucumbers can grow well alongside squash if space is managed. Their growth habits complement each other without competing for resources. Cucumbers can provide ground cover, reducing weeds and conserving soil moisture, benefiting squash.
Their shared needs simplify care and maintenance. In addition to garden harmony, cucumbers offer a crisp, refreshing addition to meals. Their successful partnership with squash exemplifies the art of companion planting.
29. Potatoes
At first glance, potatoes might seem harmless, but they’re one of the worst plants to grow near squash. Both are heavy feeders, meaning they compete for the same nutrients in the soil. This can leave both plants undernourished, leading to smaller yields.
Potatoes also attract pests like wireworms and aphids, which can easily spread to squash. Plus, when it’s time to harvest potatoes, the digging can disturb squash roots, causing unnecessary stress to the plant.
30. Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower)
Squash and brassicas don’t mix well because they both need a lot of nutrients from the soil. Since cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are heavy feeders like squash, they quickly deplete the soil, leaving little behind for either plant to thrive.
On top of that, brassicas attract common garden pests like cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles, which can easily spread to squash and cause damage. Keeping them apart ensures both crops get what they need to grow strong and healthy.