When it comes to growing potatoes, many gardeners already know that this staple crop can be incredibly productive. What’s often overlooked, however, is the simple yet effective technique of companion planting. By strategically pairing potatoes with other vegetables or herbs, you can significantly boost their yield and overall health. In fact, with the right combinations, you can expect to fill a wheelbarrow from each row – a truly impressive feat.
As we explore the concept of companion planting further, potatoes prove to be an ideal starting point for beginners, making them the perfect crop to get started with.
Good Companion Plants to Grow With Potatoes
When it comes to gardening, potatoes are a great fit for polyculture practices that involve growing multiple crops together. By planting a diverse range of plants alongside each other, you can create a thriving ecosystem that benefits from the unique characteristics and traits of each individual plant. This approach, known as companion planting, can lead to an incredible harvest and a healthier garden overall.
Brassicas
When it comes to companion planting, certain members of the Brassica family – think cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and broccoli – pair surprisingly well with potatoes. This is because they have relatively shallow root systems, which don’t compete with the deeper roots of potatoes for essential nutrients. In fact, the two plants’ differing rooting habits allow them to coexist harmoniously.
However, it’s worth noting that some Brassicas may require a more alkaline soil environment than potatoes, which tend to thrive in slightly acidic conditions. To address this disparity, I’ve found it helpful to mulch the potato rows with pine bark, effectively creating a buffer zone that allows both plants to flourish without compromising their respective needs.
Legumes
Legumes play a crucial role in enriching soil quality, particularly when paired with potatoes. By replacing nitrogen in the soil, legumes foster a more conducive environment for potato growth, leading to improved yields and better tuber quality. In turn, potatoes exhibit natural pest-repellent properties, discouraging unwanted visitors like the Mexican bean beetle and other potential pests.
Complementary planting options worth exploring include black-eyed peas, fava beans, chickpeas, and lentils. Alternatively, peanuts can be a suitable companion crop for potatoes, as they share similar growing requirements, including soil pH and nutrient levels. Simply ensure sufficient spacing to accommodate any differences in harvest timing.
Corn
When planting corn alongside potatoes, keep in mind that corn has relatively shallow roots and provides natural shade to the potato plants. Be mindful of the sun’s trajectory in your garden to ensure neither crop is overshadowed. This pairing can also enhance the flavor of the harvested potato tubers. As both crops mature at a similar pace, it’s a great opportunity to make the most of your garden space.
To get the best out of this combination, be sure to provide adequate nutrients for both corn and potatoes. One of the perks of growing these two crops together is that you can harvest a portion and leave the rest to ripen, making them perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Horseradish
While often overlooked for home gardens, horseradish makes an excellent companion to potato plants. It’s said to enhance the flavor of potatoes and repel the notorious Colorado potato beetle, a significant threat to these crops. Additionally, horseradish may aid potato plants in their defense against various diseases by bolstering their overall resistance.
Its repellent properties also extend to other pests that can harm potatoes, including aphids, blister beetles, whiteflies, and certain species of caterpillars. As horseradish tends to spread quickly, it’s crucial to remove any remaining roots from the soil after harvesting to prevent regrowth. For optimal results, I recommend planting horseradish in pots and interspersing them between potato rows, which are then planted directly into the ground.
Cilantro
Cilantro’s synergy with potatoes is undeniable, much like basil’s affinity for tomato plants. In fact, if I had to choose only one herb to pair with potatoes, it would be cilantro every time. This dynamic duo attracts a diverse array of beneficial insects, including ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and hoverflies, which are naturally drawn to the area. These helpful visitors are instrumental in controlling pests that can harm potato plants, such as the notorious Colorado potato beetle.
But that’s not all – cilantro also repels other unwanted visitors like aphids, spider mites, and various moth and fly species.
Leeks
While potatoes derive their sustenance from a distinct layer of soil, leeks draw nutrients from a different stratum altogether. This versatility makes them an ideal pairing with potatoes in various culinary applications. In fact, combining the two can yield a delightful meal; simply harvest a few potatoes and a leek to create a hearty soup, or experiment with other dishes that highlight their complementary flavors.
Nasturtiums
When incorporating nasturtiums into your garden, consider planting them as companion plants to lure pests away from other vegetables. One key consideration is placement – keep them at a distance from potatoes to effectively practice trap cropping. This technique relies on attracting aphids and potato beetles to the nasturtiums rather than allowing them to target your potato crops. By using nasturtiums in this way, you can cleverly redirect pests away from your valuable potato plants.
As an added benefit, nasturtiums are relatively easy to manage – simply place them in containers and harvest their seeds in the fall before they have a chance to spread and take over an entire area.
Chives
When it comes to pairing chives with potatoes, they make for a harmonious duo. The shallow roots of chives allow them to thrive in the shade provided by the taller potato plants, creating a natural border effect. Furthermore, chives complement the earthy flavor of baked potatoes and butter, making for a match made in heaven.
Lettuce
Consider combining lettuce with potatoes in your garden. The shallow roots of lettuce make it an ideal crop to plant between potato rows. This technique is particularly well-suited for loose-leaf lettuce varieties, which can be harvested repeatedly as needed.
Thyme
Thyme, a flavorful herb often overlooked in gardening circles, boasts several benefits for your potato crop. Its earthy aroma is said to enhance the taste of your potatoes, giving them a richer, more complex flavor profile. Moreover, thyme has natural pest-repellent properties that can help keep flea beetles at bay. As an added bonus, if allowed to bloom, thyme will attract bees in abundance, drawing pollinators away from your potato plants.
The versatility of this herb makes it a valuable addition to any garden.
Sage
When it comes to potato plants, one of the most common and frustrating pests is the flea beetle. These tiny insects can cause significant damage by eating numerous holes in the leaves of your potato plants. To combat this issue, gardeners have found that planting sage nearby can be an effective way to repel these unwanted visitors. By placing sage as close to your potato rows as possible, you can create a natural barrier that will help keep flea beetles at bay and protect your crop.
Parsley
Parsley has a unique ability to attract beneficial insects, specifically hoverflies, which feed on pests that can harm potato plants. This natural pest control method not only promotes healthy plant growth but also enhances the overall flavor of potatoes when used as an additive. The symbiotic relationship between parsley and these helpful insects makes it an attractive addition to any garden, offering a holistic approach to maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Chamomile
Incorporating chamomile into your vegetable garden offers a dual benefit – it repels pests while attracting beneficial insects. One of the most effective ways to utilize this lovely herb is to plant it alongside potatoes, where its strong scent will naturally deter unwanted visitors. You can also scatter chamomile around other plants in the garden, as its sweet aroma is equally appealing to pollinators and other beneficial bugs.
As a delightful bonus, you’ll have a hardy chamomile crop at your disposal, perfect for brewing herbal teas that soothe and calm.
Basil
When it comes to companion planting, basil is a versatile choice that can harmonize with a wide range of plants. One notable pairing is with potatoes. Not only does basil repel undesirable pests like aphids, whitefly, and various beetles from damaging your potato crop, but it also attracts beneficial pollinators and butterflies to the garden, fostering a healthier and more resilient ecosystem.
Peas
When provided with adequate support, peas are capable of growing upwards, casting a canopy that can even offer shade to potato plants below. However, it’s essential not to let them grow too tall, as this can hinder the maturation process of your potatoes. On top of that, peas also contribute to enriching the soil with nitrogen, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the two crops.
Marigolds
When cultivating potatoes, a clever trick to keep potato beetles at bay is to incorporate marigolds into your garden design. This can be achieved by planting them alongside the potato rows or even interspersing them between the rows. A dual benefit of using marigolds is that they not only repel pests but also serve as an edible addition to your harvest.
This synergy with vegetables and flowers makes marigolds a valuable ally in the pursuit of a thriving garden, particularly when space is limited.
Yarrow
The benefits of yarrow extend beyond its ornamental value, as it has a profound impact on the surrounding soil. The plant’s extensive root system is responsible for breaking up compacted soil structures, allowing for improved drainage and aeration. Furthermore, planting yarrow alongside potatoes is said to enhance their flavor profile, while its attractive blooms serve as a beacon for beneficial insects.
Petunias
When selecting companion plants for your potato crop, consider petunias as a valuable addition to your garden. These flowers not only draw in beneficial insects and pollinators, but they also coexist harmoniously with potatoes, allowing them to thrive without competition or interference.
Alyssum
One of my go-to companion plants for potatoes is alyssum, which serves as a vibrant groundcover, suppressing weeds and maintaining soil moisture. This annual flower also attracts beneficial wasps that feed on garden pests, making it an excellent addition to any potato crop. What’s more, I’ve found that alyssum thrives when treated with the potato liquid fertilizer I use, creating a harmonious and productive growing environment.
Clover
By addressing nitrogen deficiencies in the soil, clover plays a crucial role in promoting healthy plant growth. Furthermore, its natural ability to suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture makes it an invaluable asset for maintaining a lush and thriving landscape.
Plants to Avoid Planting With Potatoes
When it comes to growing potatoes, having the right companion plants can make all the difference. But, just as important as finding the perfect friends for your spuds is knowing which ones to keep away from. In this next section, we’ll explore some of the plants that you should avoid planting alongside your potatoes.
Onion
When cultivating potatoes, it’s crucial to maintain a safe distance between onion and potato plants. Research suggests that onions can negatively impact potato growth, causing a reduction in yields or even preventing the tubers from forming altogether. To avoid this issue, gardeners are advised to keep onions at least four rows away from their potato counterparts.
Fennel
As fennel grows, it has an unintended consequence that stifles the growth of nearby potato tubers. This phenomenon is not unique, as fennel also serves as a preferred host for swallowtail butterflies. The female butterflies deposit their eggs on the fennel plant, which in turn, gives rise to caterpillars that migrate to the potato plant. This symbiotic relationship highlights the complex interplay between plants and insects.
Cucumber
Due to their inherent vulnerability to blight, cucumbers are often separated from potatoes, another crop susceptible to the same issue. Moreover, cucumbers possess a voracious appetite and tend to aggressively compete with potatoes for essential nutrients, making it crucial to maintain a healthy distance between these two crops in order to promote optimal growth.
Raspberries
While raspberries are a delicious and nutritious addition to any diet, they can have an unexpected impact on your potato harvest. Specifically, having raspberries nearby can inadvertently increase the likelihood of blight affecting your potatoes. This is because both plants belong to the same family – Solanaceae – which makes them susceptible to similar diseases.
So, if you’re looking to keep your potato patch healthy and thriving, it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance between your raspberries and spuds.
Pumpkin
When growing pumpkins and potatoes together, a crucial consideration is the potential impact on their growth. As they require different conditions and timeframes to thrive, it’s essential to maintain a suitable distance between them. The lengthy duration of their maturation periods means that failed crops can have far-reaching consequences. To avoid disappointment and wasted effort, it’s recommended to keep these vegetables separate, allowing each to flourish in its own environment.
Zucchini
When it comes to cultivating potatoes and zucchini, it’s essential to consider their nutrient requirements. Both vegetables are classified as ‘heavy feeders,’ meaning they demand a significant amount of nutrients from the soil. As a result, they can compete with each other for these essential resources. To avoid this competition, it’s crucial to plant them in separate areas, allowing each crop to thrive without interference.
Sunflowers
While sunflowers are a delight for honey bees and bumble bees, their presence can have unintended consequences in the garden. Specifically, when planted too close to potatoes, sunflowers can negatively impact the tubers’ growth. The key is to provide a reasonable distance between the two plants. By planting sunflowers at least two rows away from potatoes, you’ll mitigate any potential issues caused by the terpenes and phenolic compounds they release into the soil.
This will allow both plants to thrive without compromising each other’s growth. If space is limited, maintaining a safe distance is crucial, but with a bit of planning, it’s possible to create a harmonious coexistence in your garden.
5 Tips for Companion Panting With Potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes, it’s essential to source them from a reputable supplier to avoid introducing potato diseases into your garden. These diseases can spread quickly through soil and air, potentially affecting your entire crop. To promote healthy growth, plant companion species that provide shade for the potato roots and maintain consistent moisture levels. As heavy feeders, potatoes thrive in nutrient-rich environments with easy access to essential minerals.
Comfrey fertilizer in liquid form is an excellent option, as it’s not only beneficial for potatoes but also many other plants. For a bountiful harvest, consider incorporating multiple companion species alongside your potatoes. This diversity can lead to a more robust yield compared to growing them alone. Furthermore, be sure to provide potatoes with soil rich in well-rotted manure and compost, which helps prevent them from depleting nutrients from their neighboring plants.