I learned the hard way that not all plants play nice together. One season, I planted onions right next to my beans. Big mistake. The beans barely grew, and the onions looked miserable.
Turns out, some plants just don’t get along, no matter how much space you give them. It’s kind of like relationships. Some thrive together, while others just bring out the worst in each other.
So, to save you from making the same mistakes, I’ll go through vegetables that should never be planted side by side. And don’t worry, I’ll also share their perfect matches to keep your garden drama-free!
1. Tomato & Potato
Tomatoes and potatoes, despite sounding like the ultimate garden power couple, have a knack for disaster when planted side by side. They have similar diseases, like blight, that they unwittingly share with each other.
Think of them as two drama-filled siblings who can’t stop squabbling! Instead, tomatoes are happier next to basil, their ultimate match made in garden heaven. Basil not only deters pests but also enhances the flavor of those juicy tomatoes.
Potatoes, on the other hand, would rather hang out with beans. Together, they create a harmonious environment that benefits both. Avoid the tomato-potato drama!
2. Carrot & Dill
This duo seem like they would get along; after all, they’re both crunchy and fragrant! However, dill has a sneaky way of stunting carrot growth. It’s like that friend who’s always a little too competitive.
Carrots would much rather rub shoulders with onions or leeks, enjoying a pest-free life thanks to their companion’s protective nature.
Dill, meanwhile, finds fennel a great companion, creating a charming herb corner that thrives with ease. So, next time, give your carrots and dill some space. They’ll thank you.
3. Cucumber & Sage
These may both add flavor to your meals, but in the garden, they clash like oil and water. Sage’s aromatic leaves can hinder cucumber growth, leaving them feeling stifled.
Cucumbers prefer the soothing presence of beans, which help enhance their growth and productivity. Meanwhile, sage thrives next to rosemary, creating a fragrant, pest-deterring duo.
So, separate these culinary delights, and watch your cucumber vines and sage plants flourish in their respective corners. You’ll have a garden full of culinary possibilities, free from any unnecessary friction!
4. Onion & Bean
Despite their culinary compatibility, they just can’t stand each other in the soil. Onions have a growth-inhibiting effect on beans, causing them to sulk instead of flourish.
Beans, however, enjoy the company of carrots, which encourage their growth and productivity. Onions, on the other hand, make fantastic neighbors with tomatoes, sharing nutrients and keeping pests at bay.
By keeping onions and beans apart, you ensure a thriving garden without any unnecessary tension. Let them each enjoy their preferred companions, and your harvest will be all the more rewarding!
5. Peas & Garlic
Though both garden favorites, they have opposing energies that don’t mix well. Garlic’s intense aroma and growth habits can stunt the growth of peas, leaving them feeling overshadowed.
Instead, peas should cozy up with carrots or radishes, forming a supportive trio that grows beautifully together. Garlic, on the other hand, loves the company of roses, helping to deter pests and enhance their fragrance.
By giving peas and garlic their space, you allow each to thrive without any unnecessary rivalry. Your garden will be a harmonious haven of growth!
6. Lettuce & Broccoli
While both green and leafy, these are polar opposites when it comes to sharing space. Broccoli’s extensive root system can hog nutrients, leaving lettuce feeling a bit starved.
Lettuce thrives better next to cucumbers or radishes, enjoying a refreshing and growth-promoting partnership. Broccoli, meanwhile, finds happiness with celery, which complements its growth without stepping on its toes.
By keeping lettuce and broccoli apart, you ensure both can grow without hindrance, creating a garden that’s productive and peaceful. Your salads will be more delightful with these smart pairings!
7. Radish & Hyssop
Radishes and hyssop, despite their mutual fondness for flavor, don’t see eye to eye in the garden bed. Hyssop’s intense aroma can be overwhelming for radishes, stunting their growth.
Radishes, however, thrive alongside lettuce or carrots, enjoying a pest-free existence with their aromatic companions. Hyssop, meanwhile, finds its perfect match with grapes, sharing a harmonious relationship that benefits both.
By giving radishes and hyssop their own corners, you ensure each can shine without interference. Your garden will exude peace and productivity with these thoughtful pairings!
8. Spinach & Potato
Though both kitchen staples, these have a tendency to clash in the garden. Potatoes can suppress spinach growth, leaving them feeling overpowered. Spinach enjoys the company of strawberries or radishes, thriving in their nurturing presence.
Potatoes, on the other hand, find companionship with beans, forming a mutually beneficial relationship that enhances growth. By giving spinach and potatoes their own space, you ensure a thriving garden with each plant enjoying its preferred company.
Your harvest will be abundant and diverse, free from unnecessary plant rivalries. Keep them apart for garden harmony!
9. Eggplant & Fennel
While both thrive in warm weather, eggplants and fennel are far from being the best of friends. Fennel has a knack for inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, leaving eggplants feeling stunted.
Eggplants prefer the company of beans or peas, enjoying a boost in nutrient levels and growth. Fennel, on the other hand, thrives with dill, forming a fragrant and mutually beneficial partnership.
Keeping eggplants and fennel apart ensures a garden filled with healthy growth and abundant harvests. Let them enjoy their preferred companions without stepping on each other’s roots!
10. Corn & Tomato
These may both be summer favorites, but in the garden, they’re rivals that should steer clear of each other. Their shared pests and diseases can lead to underwhelming harvests.
Corn prefers the company of beans and squash, forming the legendary “Three Sisters” trio for mutual support. Tomatoes, on the other hand, thrive next to basil, enhancing their flavor and keeping pests away.
By keeping corn and tomatoes apart, you ensure a garden thriving with healthy, happy plants. Enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor without any unnecessary plant feuds!
11. Pepper & Kohlrabi
While both intriguing in their own right, peppers and kohlrabi have trouble coexisting peacefully. Kohlrabi’s expansive leaves can shade peppers, stunting their growth.
Peppers prefer the company of basil or onions, which enhance their flavor and deter pests. Kohlrabi, meanwhile, enjoys the presence of beets, creating a harmonious partnership that benefits both.
By giving peppers and kohlrabi their own corners, you ensure a thriving garden filled with healthy and productive plants. Your harvest will be diverse and flavorful, free from unnecessary plant rivalries. Keep them apart for garden harmony!
12. Pumpkin & Potato
Though both hearty and robust, these have a tendency to compete rather than cooperate. Their sprawling growth habits can lead to overcrowding and competition for resources.
Pumpkins thrive alongside corn, forming a mutually beneficial partnership that enriches the soil. Potatoes, on the other hand, enjoy the company of beans, creating a harmonious environment for both to flourish.
By giving pumpkins and potatoes their own space, you ensure a garden filled with healthy and abundant growth. Your harvest will be diverse and rewarding, free from unnecessary plant rivalries.
13. Cabbage & Strawberry
Cabbage and strawberries, while both delicious, have trouble getting along in the garden. Cabbage’s dense leaves can overshadow strawberries, leaving them struggling for sunlight.
Strawberries thrive better next to onions or garlic, which help deter pests and enhance growth. Cabbage, meanwhile, enjoys the company of dill, forming a mutually beneficial relationship that supports healthy growth.
By keeping cabbage and strawberries apart, you ensure both can thrive without competition. Your garden will be productive and harmonious, filled with delicious produce that grows to its full potential.
14. Celery & Parsnip
Both root vegetables, these have trouble sharing space in the garden. Parsnip’s vigorous roots can inhibit celery growth, leaving it feeling overshadowed. Celery prefers the company of beans or tomatoes, thriving in their supportive presence.
Parsnips, on the other hand, enjoy the company of onion, forming a harmonious partnership that enhances growth. By giving celery and parsnips their own space, you ensure a thriving garden with each plant enjoying its preferred companions.
Your harvest will be diverse and rewarding, free from unnecessary plant rivalries. Keep them apart for garden harmony!
15. Zucchini & Potato
Zucchini and potatoes, while both prolific growers, have trouble coexisting peacefully. Their sprawling growth habits can lead to overcrowding and competition for resources.
Zucchini thrives alongside corn, forming a mutually beneficial partnership that enriches the soil. Potatoes, on the other hand, enjoy the company of beans, creating a harmonious environment for both to flourish.
By giving zucchini and potatoes their own space, you ensure a garden filled with healthy and abundant growth. Your harvest will be diverse and rewarding, free from unnecessary plant rivalries.
16. Beetroot & Mustard
I learned the hard way that beets and mustard aren’t exactly garden besties. The first time I planted them together, the mustard shot up like it owned the place, leaving my poor beets struggling for space and nutrients.
Turns out, beets do much better with onions or lettuce, which don’t hog the spotlight. Mustard, on the other hand, thrives near marigolds, keeping pests in check.
Now, I keep them separate, and my beets actually get a fair chance to grow. Lesson learned! Some plants just need their space!
17. Artichoke & Corn
At first, I thought corn and artichokes would make a majestic pair. Both tall, both impressive. But in reality? They were more like two divas fighting for the same dressing room.
Corn’s greedy roots took up all the nutrients, and my artichokes ended up looking sad and stunted. These days, I let my artichokes hang out with beans and peas, and my corn gets its own little crew of squash and beans.
Everyone’s happier, and my garden doesn’t feel like a battle for survival anymore.
18. Brussels Sprouts & Strawberries
I once tried growing Brussels sprouts and strawberries together, thinking I’d have the best of both worlds—hearty greens and juicy berries.
Instead, my strawberries barely saw the light of day, thanks to the massive Brussels sprout leaves smothering them.
Now, I’ve figured out that strawberries prefer onions and garlic as neighbors (bonus: fewer pests!), while Brussels sprouts love having dill nearby. Giving them their own space made all the difference.
19. Okra & Eggplant
I thought okra and eggplant would get along great. Both love heat, both love sun—what could go wrong?
Well, I didn’t count on my eggplants sprawling all over the place, stealing sunlight and leaving my okra looking scrawny. Now, I pair okra with peppers or tomatoes, and eggplant gets to cozy up with beans or peas.
My garden is finally drama-free, and both plants are growing stronger than ever.
20. Turnip & Cabbage
This seemed like a logical pairing. Both sturdy, both reliable. But when I planted them together, it was like watching an unfair wrestling match.
Cabbage has deep, greedy roots that left my turnips struggling for nutrients. Now, I let my turnips chill with radishes and peas, while cabbage gets its own space near the dill.
It’s amazing what a little separation can do. Both are thriving now, and my harvest has never looked better.
21. Chard & Cucumber
I once thought, “Why not tuck some cucumbers near my chard?” Bad idea. Between the cucumbers’ vines sprawling everywhere and the chard growing thick and fast, it turned into a tangled mess.
Neither plant had enough breathing room, and my harvest suffered. Now, I plant chard near tomatoes or beans (which help it grow like crazy) and cucumbers next to corn, where they have all the climbing support they need. Problem solved!
22. Asparagus & Onion
I love both asparagus and onions, but planting them together was like trying to fit two strong personalities into one tiny office.
Onions have aggressive roots that don’t leave much behind for asparagus, and my spears looked weak and sad.
These days, I keep onions near carrots (a match made in gardening heaven) and asparagus gets too cozy with tomatoes or parsley. Everyone’s happier, and I actually get strong, healthy asparagus spears now.
23. Rhubarb & Cabbage
I once thought my rhubarb and cabbage could peacefully coexist in the same garden bed. Big mistake. Cabbage is a nutrient hog, and my poor rhubarb ended up looking weak and miserable.
Now, I let rhubarb chill with strawberries and raspberries, where it thrives, while cabbage enjoys the company of dill, which helps it grow strong and pest-free.
Keeping them apart made all the difference, and now my garden feels less like a battlefield and more like a well-planned neighborhood.
24. Parsley & Lettuce
These seem like they’d be a great team, right? Both leafy, both green. What could go wrong?
Well, lettuce grows like a wild child, spreading out and taking over, leaving parsley feeling stunted and overshadowed.
I’ve since learned that parsley does way better hanging out with tomatoes or carrots, while lettuce gets along famously with radishes. Now, both plants have their space, and my salads are fresher than ever.
25. Mint & Parsley
I made the rookie mistake of planting mint and parsley together once, and let me tell you—it wasn’t a fair fight.
Mint doesn’t play nice; it spreads like it owns the place, leaving parsley struggling for space. Now, I keep mint in its own pot (trust me, it’s safer that way) and let parsley grow near tomatoes and carrots.
Everyone’s happier, and my herbs actually grow without one taking over the entire garden.
26. Garlic & Peas
I love garlic, and I love peas, but apparently, they don’t love each other. I planted them side by side, and my peas never really took off.
Turns out, garlic’s strong scent can actually stunt pea growth. Who knew? Now, I give peas the gentle company of carrots and radishes, while garlic gets to cozy up with my roses.
A little separation, and suddenly both plants are thriving. Incredible, right?
27. Basil & Rue
When I first started gardening, I thought all herbs were friendly neighbors. But basil and rue quickly proved me wrong.
Rue has this overpowering presence that made my basil look sad and weak. Now, I keep basil near tomatoes and peppers (and they love it), and rue gets its own little spot next to fennel, where it seems much happier.
Lesson learned: not all herbs want to be besties!
28. Rosemary & Sage
I love the idea of a fragrant herb garden, so I planted rosemary and sage together, thinking they’d be the dream team.
Instead, sage went into overdrive and left rosemary struggling for nutrients. Now, I let rosemary grow near carrots and tomatoes, where it actually thrives, while sage has a perfect little partnership with thyme.
My herb garden smells just as amazing, but now every plant gets to shine.
29. Endive & Spinach
I once thought spinach and endive would make a perfect leafy-green duo. Until my spinach decided to take over like an overenthusiastic roommate.
Endive barely stood a chance. Now, I let endive pair up with radicchio and lettuce (a much better match), while spinach gets to sprawl near radishes.
Everyone has room to grow, and my leafy greens are finally thriving without the drama.