Companion Planting
Use zones and planting logs to track companion planting combinations, record what works in your garden, and plan better pairings each season.
Companion planting — growing certain plants together for mutual benefit — is one of those garden practices where your own observations matter more than any chart. MyVeggieGarden helps you build that personal knowledge over time.
How the app supports companion planting
MyVeggieGarden doesn't prescribe companion planting rules. Instead, it gives you the tools to record and learn from your own experiments:
- Zones show you exactly what's planted where and how close things are
- Logs capture observations about plant interactions ("Basil next to tomatoes — fewer aphids this year")
- Season review lets you evaluate combinations and decide what to repeat
- Planning carries your decisions forward — "Plant marigolds along the border again"
Recording companion planting observations
The best way to track companion planting is through planting logs with specific notes:
Good notes:
- "Tomatoes next to basil in back bed — no hornworms this season, basil is thriving"
- "Squash and corn together in bed 3 — squash vines shading corn roots, both doing well"
- "Dill near tomatoes — attracted lots of beneficial wasps"
Less useful notes:
- "Companion planted" (too vague — won't help next year)
Using zones for proximity tracking
Since zones represent physical garden spaces, you can see at a glance what's growing near what:
- Plants in the same zone are physically close together
- Zone constraints let you note incompatible combinations ("No fennel — stunted tomatoes last year")
- Year-over-year zone history shows what worked together in the past
Planning companion combinations
During season planning, use the Plan column to deliberately group compatible plants:
- In the Reflect column, review which plant combinations had good outcomes
- In the Plan column, assign plants to zones with companion pairings in mind
- Add planning notes like "Pair with basil again — great results in 2025"
Common companion planting strategies
While the app doesn't enforce these, here are combinations many gardeners track:
| Combination | Why gardeners try it |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes + basil | May deter pests, both love heat |
| Squash + corn + beans | The "three sisters" — traditional polyculture |
| Carrots + onions | May confuse carrot flies |
| Marigolds + anything | General pest deterrent along borders |
| Lettuce under taller plants | Uses shade to extend lettuce season |
The point isn't to follow a chart — it's to record what you try and see what actually works in your garden.
End-of-season evaluation
During end-of-season review, look at plant combinations through the lens of:
- Which plants thrived next to each other?
- Which had pest problems despite companions?
- Which zones had the best overall health?
Mark successful combinations as "Yes" (grow again) and failed experiments as "Try differently" with notes about what to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does MyVeggieGarden prescribe companion planting rules?
No. The app gives you tools to record and learn from your own experiments: zones show proximity, logs capture observations, and season review evaluates combinations. Your observations matter more than any chart.
How do I track companion planting results?
Write specific log notes about plant interactions: "Basil next to tomatoes — fewer aphids this year." At season end, evaluate which combinations worked and mark them for next year.
How do I plan companion combinations?
During season planning, review which combinations had good outcomes in the Reflect column, then assign plants to zones with companion pairings in mind in the Plan column.
Related
- Zones and layout — How zones help track what's planted where
- Tracking and logging — Writing useful observation notes
- End-of-season review — Evaluating what worked