Companion Plants for Spinach
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Companion plants for spinach are plants that help spinach grow better and protect it from harm. Planting things together with a symbiotic relationship is key. To find out more about companion planting read on.
Spinach is a popular crop to grow at home. It can benefit from other crops growing near it. And it can be harmed by others. And it’s considered a superfood.
There are several varieties of spinach and most of them have similar needs and habits. Malabar spinach is a little different than the others and we will talk about that later.
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Good Companion Plants For Spinach
Here is a list of some of the best companions to grow with spinach.
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Beans
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Eggplant
- Garlic
- Horseradish
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Melons
- Nasturtium
- Onions
- Peas
- Radishes
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
- Zucchini
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What to plant next to spinach
Asparagus makes a wonderful companion for spinach because it grows tall and shades the spinach from the heat of the sun. Spinach is a tender spring and fall green. Asparagus is kind of picky about its roots competing, and spinach has a light root footprint.
Basil can repel insects that bother spinach in the garden.
Beans shade spinach to keep it from bolting AND release nitrogen into the soil as they grow.
Cole crops such as bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi can be planted closely with spinach to save space in your spring garden.
Celery and eggplant will share ground with spinach and provide shade.
Garlic is a great companion plant for spinach because it can repel aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles. The spinach provides ground cover for the garlic to help keep weeds out.
Horseradish is a root crop that grows underground while spinach grows above ground so they are great at sharing space.
Leeks and onions will keep away carrot rust flies that can attack spinach plants. They also grow underground to share growing space with plants like spinach.
Lettuce has similar water and sun needs as spinach so they make a great pair.
Melons and squashes grow on large vines and help provide shade for spinach.
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Spinach companion
Nasturtium support spinach by keeping beetles and aphids from it. The flowers attract them and keep the spinach from getting infested. They are also gorgeous and edible.
Peas are another nitrogen “fixer” that adds nitrogen to the soil from their roots. They provide shade for spinach as well.
Radishes are a trap crop for leafminers to help you keep them off your spinach. They are another root crop that grows opposite of spinach.
Strawberries do not compete with spinach for nutrients, they love the shade spinach provides as well. Spinach produces antibacterial substances that help strawberries grow.
Tomatoes can grow with spinach because they can grow together until the tomatoes get big and crowd out the spinach. Once it gets warm and tomatoes begin to grow quickly, the spinach will be bolting or burning up from the heat.
What not to plant with spinach
Bad buddies for spinach in the garden include fennel which doesn’t grow well with any other crops. And potatoes that compete with spinach for the same nutrients and can shade out the spinach plants in the spring and fall garden not leaving enough light for spinach to thrive.
Companion plants for malabar spinach
Like I said before, Malabar spinach is a little different. It’s a little beefier in texture and grows differently. Malabar spinach thrives in the heat, unlike other spinach. It grows in a more viney clump than the clusters of individual leaves traditional spinach produces.
Since it’s an aggressive climber, you can plant it on a trellis that has your peas from spring and as they begin to burn up, the Malabar spinach will take over the spot. You can also grow it successfully right along with traditional spinach. They get along well together.
I hope you are inspired to grow spinach in your garden this year. I can’t wait to see how your garden grows!
There are some crops that are easier to grow and are more nutrient and calorie dense that will save you the most money on your food budget as money gets tighter and tighter. Check out the essential crops to grow for a survival garden here. For more ideas on fruits and vegetables that will grow in shade, check these out.
For more ideas on companion planting, check these out:
