Companion Plants for Peppers
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Knowing the best companion plants for peppers will help you have the best garden possible in the space you have. When it comes to growing peppers, whether sweet bell peppers or spicy varieties, selecting the right companion plants can help deter pests, improve flavor, boost pollination, maximize space, and even increase yield.
With thoughtful planning, you can create a thriving pepper patch surrounded by helpful neighbors that support a healthy, productive garden. Companion planting is an age-old gardening technique that pairs certain plants together for mutual benefit.
Why Use Companion Planting with Peppers
Companion planting offers a wide range of benefits for pepper plants, including:
- Pest control: Certain herbs and flowers repel insects that commonly attack peppers, such as aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles.
- Attracting beneficial insects: Pollinators and predatory insects are drawn to some companions and help manage pests naturally.
- Improved soil health: Plants like legumes can enrich the soil with nitrogen, while others help aerate the ground or serve as living mulch.
- Better growth and yield: Strategic pairings can result in larger, healthier plants and better harvests.
- Efficient use of space: Combining compatible plants in a single bed or raised bed maximizes space in small gardens.
Best Companion Plants for Peppers
The following plants work exceptionally well when growing peppers, offering various benefits from pest prevention to soil improvement.
Basil is one of the most famous companion plants for peppers. Not only does it enhance the flavor of the peppers when planted nearby, but it also helps repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. It’s believed that the scent of basil confuses pests and masks the scent of the peppers. Plus, basil and peppers make a great culinary pair, so harvesting them together is convenient. (We always grow basil with our tomatoes and peppers for flavor enhancement)
Marigolds are bright, hardy flowers that serve as excellent pest deterrents. They repel nematodes in the soil, aphids, whiteflies, and beetles. Their vibrant blooms also attract pollinators and beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which feed on aphids. Plant marigolds around the border of your pepper bed to create a natural pest barrier.
Allium family members, including onions, chives, garlic, and scallions, make excellent companions for peppers. Their strong scent helps deter pests like aphids, beetles, and rabbits. Additionally, onions don’t compete heavily for space or nutrients, so they can be tucked around pepper plants without interfering with growth. We grow onions in all of our vegetable beds. A row of onions down the middle will grow early, then adding our plants in with them on each side will give the onions some shade to finish bulbing when it’s getting hot. Then we harvest the onions when they fall over and the other plants have more room to finish growing. It helps greatly with many pests.
Carrots and peppers grow well together because they have different root depths. Carrots have long taproots, while peppers have shallower root systems. This allows them to share soil space efficiently. Carrots also help loosen the soil, improving drainage and aeration for pepper roots.
Leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce enjoy the partial shade provided by taller pepper plants, especially in warmer climates. They don’t compete for the same nutrients and can be harvested quickly, leaving more space for peppers to mature. This type of interplanting also helps suppress weeds and keep the soil moist.
Radishes are fast-growing and make a great trap crop for pests like flea beetles. They’re often sacrificed to draw pests away from more valuable crops like peppers. Additionally, radishes are harvested early in the season, freeing up space as your peppers grow larger.
Legumes like green beans, bush beans, and pole beans fix nitrogen in the soil, making it more fertile for peppers. While peppers don’t require large amounts of nitrogen, a small boost can support healthy leafy growth. Just be sure pole beans don’t shade out the peppers.
Corn grows tall and can provide a natural windbreak for pepper plants, which can be fragile in gusty conditions. The corn also offers a bit of afternoon shade, which can help prevent heat stress on peppers during very hot summers.
Peppers and tomatoes are both nightshades and can grow well together since they share similar water and sunlight needs. However, because they are both susceptible to some of the same diseases (like blight), it’s important to rotate their planting locations annually to avoid soil-borne issues.
Nasturtiums are bright, trailing flowers. Another fantastic trap crop for aphids and other small pests. They also deter whiteflies, squash bugs, and beetles, and their low growth habit makes them great ground cover beneath pepper plants.
Oregano and Thyme are low-growing herbs that help deter pests with their strong scents and can act as living mulch to reduce weeds and retain soil moisture. Oregano, in particular, attracts beneficial insects that help keep pest populations in check.
While not a classic companion, cucumbers can coexist with peppers if given enough space and airflow. They have similar moisture needs, and planting them together can help you maximize bed space if grown with care.
Cilantro repels aphids, spider mites, and harmful beetles, while also attracting beneficial insects like predatory wasps and hoverflies. Allowing cilantro to flower near your pepper plants boosts biodiversity in the garden.
Beets are root vegetables that don’t compete heavily for the same nutrients as peppers. They’re a good filler crop that helps you make the most of your garden space.
Borage is a flowering herb that attracts pollinators and improves the overall health of neighboring plants. It’s been shown to deter tomato hornworms and may help boost pepper production when planted nearby.
What Not to Plant with Peppers
While many plants help peppers thrive, some can cause competition, attract the wrong pests, or spread disease. Avoid planting these near your peppers:
Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and other brassicas are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients with peppers. They prefer different soil pH levels and growing conditions, making them poor companions.
Fennel secretes compounds into the soil that inhibit the growth of nearby plants, including peppers. It’s best to plant fennel in its own section of the garden.
This may sound surprising, but apricot trees are susceptible to a fungus that can be carried by peppers and other nightshades. Avoid planting them close together to reduce risk. This is one I have learned recently and added to my notebook of companion information. Who knew?
Like tomatoes, potatoes are in the nightshade family. They compete for similar nutrients and are prone to the same diseases, especially blight. Potatoes also dig deeply into the soil, disturbing pepper roots.
Another nightshade, eggplant can be planted with peppers in moderation, but they attract many of the same pests, especially flea beetles and spider mites. To avoid infestation, don’t crowd them together or grow them side by side for multiple seasons.
Garden Design Tips for Companion Planting with Peppers
To create a successful companion planting layout for your peppers, keep these design principles in mind:
- Space wisely: Avoid overcrowding. Peppers need good airflow to prevent fungal diseases.
- Layer heights: Use taller plants like corn or sunflowers to provide shade and wind protection.
- Interplant rows: Alternate pepper rows with beneficial flowers or herbs like marigolds, basil, or nasturtiums.
- Stagger harvests: Include fast-growing crops like radishes or lettuce to fill in space early and leave room as peppers grow.
- Use borders: Ring pepper beds with strong-smelling herbs or flowers that deter pests.
- Succession plant: After early crops are harvested (like spinach or radishes), replant the space with another companion or cover crop.
Pest and Disease Prevention Through Companions
Companion planting is one of the best natural methods to protect your pepper plants from common threats:
- Aphids: Repelled by basil, cilantro, onions, and marigolds.
- Spider mites: Controlled by moisture retention (from ground cover plants) and repelled by strong-smelling herbs.
- Flea beetles: Trapped by radishes and repelled by nasturtiums.
- Cutworms: Discouraged by surrounding onions and garlic.
- Blight and fungal diseases: Minimized with good air circulation and rotating plants yearly with non-nightshade families.
Using Companion Plants in Containers
If you’re growing peppers in pots or containers, companion planting still works! Use large containers or cluster smaller pots together with combinations like:
- Peppers + Basil + Marigolds
- Peppers + Oregano + Nasturtiums
- Peppers + Lettuce + Chives
Just be mindful of container size and watering needs, as all plants will compete for limited moisture and nutrients in pots.
Seasonal Considerations
Peppers are warm-season crops that thrive in full sun and warm temperatures. Cool-season companions like lettuce, spinach, and radishes are best planted early in the spring before peppers are transplanted outdoors. You can interplant these around your young peppers and harvest them before the peppers need the space.
Once the heat sets in, switch to summer-friendly companions like basil, marigolds, and beans. Planning your garden around seasonal transitions helps maximize yield and reduce pest pressure.
Companion planting peppers with the right herbs, vegetables, and flowers can transform your garden into a vibrant, resilient ecosystem. From repelling pests and attracting pollinators to improving soil health and conserving space, the benefits are well worth the effort.
Every garden is different, so don’t be afraid to experiment with combinations and see what works best for your space. Keep records from season to season, rotate crops to maintain soil health, and adjust your layout as needed. By integrating smart companion planting strategies, your pepper plants will be healthier, more productive, and a joy to grow.
For more companion planting ideas, check these out:
