Chili Pepper Companion Planting – What To Grow With Hot Pepper Plants
Companion planting is just about the easiest and lowest impact boost you can give to your garden. By simply placing certain plants next to others, you can naturally repel pests, attract beneficial insects, and improve the flavor and vigor of your crops. Hot peppers are a popular and easy to grow variety of vegetable that can really benefit from having certain other plants nearby. Keep reading to learn more about chili pepper companions and what to grow with hot pepper plants.
Chili Pepper Companion Planting
Some of the best companion plants for hot peppers are those that repel certain insects and also attract their natural predators. The European corn borer is one bug that can be especially harmful to pepper plants. Plant your peppers near buckwheat to attract beneficial insects that eat the borers. Basil is a good neighbor because it repels fruit flies and some varieties of beetles that feed on peppers. Alliums are great companion plants for hot peppers because they deter aphids and beetles. Plants in the allium genus include:
As an added bonus, alliums are popular chili pepper companions in cooking as well. Companion planting with chili peppers doesn’t stop with pest control. Hot peppers thrive in the sun, but their roots actually prefer shaded, moist soil. It is because of this, good companion plants for hot peppers are those that provide a lot of shade relatively low to the ground. Dense, low growing herbs like marjoram and oregano will help keep the soil around your hot peppers moist. Other hot pepper plants are also a good choice. Planting hot peppers close together shields the soil from quick evaporation and protects the fruits, which actually grow better out of direct full sun.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.
-
Foraging Flowers: How To Forage Floral Plants – And Which Flowers You Can Pick For Free Edibles!
It’s fun to forage flowers, but it’s important to know the rules. Avoid areas that have been sprayed, beware of imposters and take only what you need.
By Tonya Barnett
-
9 Contemporary Small Garden Ideas – Maximize Style With A Modern Design
Some simple conceptual ideas can transform even the tiniest plot from humdrum to dream design. Try these 9 contemporary small garden ideas to modernize your plot
By Amy Grant