by Jennifer Poindexter
Companion planting is strategically ordering your garden where two plants, with a symbiotic relationship, grow near each other.
When growing carrots, you should consider planting them near their companions. Carrots have a variety of plants they grow well around.
If you’re new to companion planting, or growing carrots, don’t fret. I’ll provide you with a list of plants carrots tend to grow well with.
As you’re planning the layout of your garden, consider these plants to give your carrots every reason to produce an abundant harvest.
Here are the companion plants which grow best near carrots:
1. Chives
Chives are a gorgeous plant to add to your garden. They come back larger and more beautiful with each passing year.
Yet, these plants do more than taste delicious and add beauty. Chives help improve the flavor and texture of carrots. They also protect them from a variety of pests but especially aphids.
2. Leeks
Leeks are a part of the allium family and closely related to onions and garlic. They’re used in a variety of ways around the kitchen because of the amount of flavor they bring to the table.
This vegetable also makes a great companion for carrots. Leeks are mainly used to deter pests such as the carrot fly. However, carrots equally protect the leek by keeping pests away from it as well.
3. Beans
Beans are such a unique vegetable to have in the garden. Not only do they taste great and grow in a variety of ways, but they also enrich the soil they grow in.
Why is this such a big deal? Beans are known as nitrogen-fixers. When they perform the nitrogen fixing process, it’s a large help to the plants growing nearby including the carrot.
4. Nasturtiums
When you think of companion plants, do you only think of vegetables? You should also consider the flowers that grow well alongside carrots. One flower that makes a great companion for carrots is the nasturtiums.
These are brightly colored flowers that are easy to grow. They repel aphids and cucumber beetles which is a great help to carrots. Plus, these plants attract pollinators.
5. Lettuce
I love growing lettuce because it can be grown using a variety of gardening methods throughout the year. Due to its flexibility and quick harvest times, it’s a great crop for both the experienced and beginner gardener.
This vegetable is also a wonderful companion to carrots as it loosens the soil. Carrots must have loose soil to reach their full potential. Having this vegetable nearby is a great help to them.
6. Onions
Onions are a member of the allium family. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that they are helpful to the carrot when planted in close quarters.
As carrots grow, the onion keeps pests at bay such as the carrot rust fly. If you’d like to keep your carrots protected, consider growing onions in close vicinity to them.
7. Amaranth
Amaranth is a perennial plant which is used as a popular rice substitute. If you’d like to grow a healthy crop that can also benefit other vegetables in the growing space, amaranth might be a good choice.
This plant is a companion plant to carrots because it helps loosen the soil. As previously discussed, carrots need the soil loosened up to a foot beneath their growing space to grow properly. Amaranth can help keep the soil loose as the carrots produce which could greatly improve your harvest.
8. Rosemary
Companion plants aren’t always other vegetables. We’ve already discussed a few flowers and herbs that make wonderful companions to carrots. If you like to incorporate herbs into your vegetable garden, you might like to add rosemary, too.
Rosemary not only grows well next to carrots, but it also serves as a protector. Herbs are natural pesticides as their aroma can keep pests away. Rosemary is a wonderful deterrent to the carrot rust fly. Keep this in mind when planting carrots in your garden.
9. Brassicas
Brassica is a vegetable family. This includes vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. Typically, carrots help brassica plants by aerating the soil.
If you enjoy plants from the brassica family, consider planting them next to your carrots as this can prove to be a beneficial relationship that could boost your harvest.
10. Peppers
You may not think that peppers and carrots grow well together because carrots like to grow during cooler portions of the year and peppers like it hot! Peppers can help extend the growing season of the carrot.
Since they’re larger, they can provide necessary shade for carrot plants. Plus, carrots serve as a natural mulch and weed barrier for the peppers. If you’d like to grow carrots later in the year, try out this companion planting method to see if it works in your area.
11. Peas
Peas are a special plant. They perform a task known as a nitrogen-fix. This process starts with a bacteria that lives on the roots of peas. Because of this bacteria, the peas are able to pull nitrogen from the air and process it to where the nitrogen is easily absorbed by the plants’ root systems.
Therefore, it’s an excellent plant to grow around carrots because it can balance nitrogen in the soil. Carrots could be in good hands when planted near peas.
12. Tomatoes
This companion plant is slightly controversial. Some gardeners feel like tomatoes stunt their carrots’ growth. Yet, some feel like it’s worth having smaller carrots because the tomato improves the taste so much.
Plus, the tomatoes can provide additional shade to your carrots and extend their growing season. Try your hand at planting carrots and tomatoes together. See if you like the benefits the tomato provides to this crop.
13. Sage
If you’re growing carrots, you might be looking for natural pest deterrents as this crop has a few enemies in the garden.
When looking for a companion plant that can help protect your carrots, reach for sage. This herb is a beautiful plant that deters pests such as the carrot rust fly.
14. Radishes
Our final companion plant for the carrot is the radish. This is a wonderful vegetable to grow because it can produce a harvest in approximately 30 days.
Plus, it’s a great friend to the carrot as it loosens the soil around it. Where radishes grow faster, they loosen the soil quickly due to their rapid increase in size.
I know we’ve discussed all the plants which are great friends to carrots, but I can’t leave you all without warning against a few foes.
The plants you should beware of planting near carrots are dill, parsnips, and fennel. Dill contains elements which are known for stunting the carrot.
Parsnips attract many of the same pests as carrots which means they invite harm instead of protection.
Finally, fennel is another vegetable known for attracting many pests. If you plant it near your carrot crop, it could invite harm into your garden.
You now know which plants to grow near your carrots and which to avoid. By planting companion crops in the garden, it could not only boost your harvest but keep your garden healthier.
This provides beauty and a feeling of satisfaction. Hopefully, these tips will help you achieve the type of garden you desire.
More About Companion Planting
https://ag.umass.edu/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/companion-planting-in-vegetable-garden
http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota-docs/ag/OrganicVegetableGardening_CompanionPlanting.pdf
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/companion-planting-home-gardens
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