Zucchini companion planting can help prevent pests and even boost your harvest. How, you ask? First you have to understand what companion planting is and what it can do. Companion planting involves planting in carefully planned combinations that support diversity, take advantage of available garden space, and provide benefits such as improved pest control and enhanced plant growth. Gardeners can use companion planting to grow many vegetables, including zucchini. Here we'll discuss which plants grow best with zucchini and why.
Best Companion Plants for Zucchini
Here are some good companion plants for zucchini to add to your garden:
Radishes – Often considered the workhorse of the garden, radishes are small plants that are easily planted amid zucchini plants. These companion plants for summer squash and zucchini help repel common zucchini pests such as aphids, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and others. Radishes are good to eat, but they’ll help your zucchini more effectively if you allow a few plants to bloom and go to seed.
Garlic – A few garlic plants tucked among zucchini can help keep aphids and other pests in check.
Beans and peas – Zucchini plants are heavy feeders and legumes are beneficial because the roots fix nitrogen in the soil. Although any type of legumes will work, pole beans can be conveniently trained to grow up a trellis, thus saving precious garden space.
Nasturtiums and marigolds – Easy-to-grow annuals, nasturtiums and marigolds provide color and beauty to the garden, but that’s not all. Nasturtiums attract pests such as aphids and flea beetles, which means the pests are more likely to leave your zucchini alone. Try planting nasturtium seeds around the circumference of your zucchini patch. Marigolds planted near zucchini exude an aroma that pests don’t like and may be useful for discouraging nematodes. Both blooming plants attract bees, which zucchini plants require for pollination.
Herbs – Various herbs are useful for companion planting with zucchini. For example, the following herbs can help keep pests at bay:
Blooming herbs such as borage, which attract bees, are also great for pollinating zucchini blooms.
-
Best Climbing Roses For Every Garden: 12 Stunning Varieties For Pergolas, Arches & WallsDiscover the best climbing roses to plant in your garden to ensure a long summer of glorious blooms.
-
Go Big With Containers In Small Spaces! 5 Easy Hacks For Big Garden Pots In Small GardensThe temptation with small gardens and patios is to make containers and planting ideas small – but we say go big! Try these practical hacks for beautiful big garden pots in small gardens
-
Is Zucchini A Squash? Get To Know The DifferenceIs zucchini the same as a summer squash? Is there a difference between zucchini and squash? Click here for these answers and more!
-
What Causes Deformed Zucchini And Squash?Do you have weird looking zucchini or other garden squash? Learn why it happens and what to do.
-
Too Much Zucchini? Celebrate Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day On August 8thWhen you have a bumper crop of zucchini, remember there’s a special day that invites you to stealthily put the excess on your neighbor’s porch. Really. Read on.
-
Golden Zucchini Plants: How To Grow Golden Zucchini In The GardenZucchini has been a garden staple for centuries. If you're a bit tired of the typical green zucchini, try growing golden zucchini plants. A twist on an old favorite with brilliant yellow color, the following article contains golden zucchini information.
-
Zucchini Plant Protection: Protecting Zucchini Plants From Frost And PestsZucchini is a generally easy to grow, reliably prolific producer - as long as you can keep pests away. Early frosts can also dash your hopes for zucchini bread and other squash treats. In the following article, we'll discuss how to protect zucchini squash from both.
-
Zucchini Leaves Turning Yellow: Reasons For Yellow Leaves On ZucchiniIf you see the leaves on your zucchini plants turning yellow, don’t panic. Learn about the causes and ways to fix the problem.
-
How And When To Harvest Zucchini For Delicious Squash All Summer LongIt's not always easy to know when to pick fruits and vegetables, and zucchini is no exception. So when is zucchini ready to pick? Find out all the dirt on how and when to harvest zucchini in the article that follows.
-
Zucchini Plant Fertilizer: Tips On Feeding Zucchini PlantsZucchini is one of the most popular summer squash varieties to grow in the vegetable garden. To get the highest yield of fruit, you may question "should I fertilize zucchini." The following article contains information on zucchini fertilizer requirements.
