Companion planting is an agricultural technique in which different crops are grown closely together for various benefits, such as better flavor, pest control, pollination, and providing habitat for beneficial insects. This technique also helps maximize space and increase crop productivity.

When it comes to potatoes, strategic companion planting can significantly enhance their growth and yield.

Certain plants can repel pests that affect potatoes, like the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and wireworms, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting a healthier garden ecosystem. Additionally, some companions can attract beneficial insects that prey on these pests, providing a natural form of pest control.

Companion planting can also improve the microclimate around the potato plants. Some plants can provide shade or wind protection, creating a more favorable environment for potato growth. This can be especially important in areas with harsh weather conditions.

Best 10 Companion Plants for Potatoes

The key to successfully planting companion plants alongside potatoes is to choose shallow-rooted fruits and vegetables. This way, the companion plants do not compete with the potatoes for space and nutrients. Here are the plants that will grow best with potatoes:

Brassicas

Brassicas are some of the best companion plants for potatoes. The family include:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collard greens
• Kale
• Kohlrabi

Brassicas help improve potato soil health. Their roots can break up compacted soil, enhancing soil structure and making it easier for potato roots to grow. This improved soil condition allows potatoes to access water and nutrients more effectively, promoting better growth and higher yields.

Additionally, brassicas deter pests that commonly affect potatoes. These plants attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and predatory wasps, which prey on harmful pests like aphids and caterpillars. This natural pest control helps keep potato plants healthy and reduces the need for chemical pesticides.

Brassicas and potatoes also have different nutrient needs, meaning they do not compete heavily for the same soil resources. Potatoes are heavy feeders that require a lot of nutrients, while brassicas can add organic matter to the soil as their leaves decompose. This nutrient addition benefits both crops, leading to a more fertile garden.

Chives

Chives are a great companion plant for potatoes because they naturally repel pests that commonly affect them, such as aphids and spider mites. Their strong scent acts as a natural deterrent, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and helping to keep potato plants healthy.

Chives have shallow roots that do not compete with potatoes’ deeper roots. This allows both plants to access nutrients and water without interference. Chives also add nutrients to the soil as their leaves decompose, enriching it with organic matter that benefits potatoes.

Chives can enhance the flavor and quality of potatoes. Some gardeners believe that planting chives near potatoes improves their taste, making the harvest more enjoyable.

Corn

Corn and potatoes have different growth patterns and root structures, which means they do not compete for the same soil space. Corn grows tall and has deep roots, while potatoes grow low to the ground with shallower roots. This allows both plants to access nutrients and water without competing, promoting healthier growth.

Additionally, corn provides natural shade for potatoes. The tall corn stalks create a cooler environment underneath, helping to protect potato plants from excessive heat. This shade can also help retain soil moisture, which is beneficial for potato growth.

Corn and potatoes have complementary nutrient needs. Corn requires a lot of nitrogen, which it can absorb from the soil. Potatoes benefit from the nutrient cycling created by the decomposing corn leaves and stalks, enriching the soil with organic matter.

Cilantro

Cilantro being an aromatic herb, repels pests that commonly affect potatoes, such as aphids and potato beetles. It also attracts beneficial insects, including hoverflies and predatory wasps. These insects prey on pests that can harm potatoes, creating a natural pest control system and promoting a healthier garden environment.

As cilantro grows, its roots help to aerate the soil, enhancing soil structure and making it easier for potato roots to access water and nutrients. When cilantro plants die back, they add organic matter to the soil, enriching it with nutrients that benefit potatoes.

Cilantro grows quickly and can be harvested before it competes with potatoes for resources. This efficient use of space allows both plants to thrive, maximizing garden productivity.

Legumes

Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils, have the unique ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This natural enrichment of the soil provides essential nutrients for potatoes, promoting healthier growth and better yields.

Additionally, legumes and potatoes have different growth habits that allow them to coexist without competing for space. Legumes often grow vertically, using supports like trellises, while potatoes spread out horizontally. This efficient use of garden space ensures that both plants can thrive without overshadowing each other.

Legumes also help improve soil structure. Their roots help aerate the soil, making it easier for potato roots to access water and nutrients. This improved soil condition benefits potatoes and other garden plants.

Moreover, the presence of legumes can help suppress weeds. As legumes cover the ground and climb upwards, they shade the soil, reducing weed growth that would otherwise compete with potatoes for resources.

Nasturtiums

This low-lying plant acts as a living mulch, preventing moisture loss in the soil, suppressing weeds, and minimizing soil erosion. Essentially, this plant helps create a better-growing environment for potatoes.

Nasturtiums repel pests that commonly affect potatoes, such as aphids, potato beetles, and whiteflies. Their strong scent and bright flowers act as natural deterrents, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and keeping potato plants healthy.

Nasturtiums also attract beneficial insects like bees and predatory wasps. Bees are vital for pollinating various plants in the garden, while predatory wasps feed on pests that can harm potatoes. This natural pest control system helps create a balanced and healthy garden environment.

Additionally, nasturtiums act as a trap crop. They attract pests away from potato plants, protecting the potatoes from damage. By luring pests to themselves, nasturtiums sacrifice their own leaves while keeping the potatoes safe and productive.

Leeks

Leeks and potatoes have different growth habits, allowing them to coexist without competing for space. Leeks grow vertically with shallow roots, while potatoes grow horizontally with deeper roots.

Leeks help repel pests that commonly affect potatoes, such as aphids and carrot flies. Their strong aroma acts as a natural deterrent, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and keeping potato plants healthy.

Leeks’ dense foliage shades the ground, reducing weed growth that would otherwise compete with potatoes for resources. This ground cover helps retain soil moisture and prevents soil erosion, creating a better growing environment for potatoes.

Spinach

Spinach roots are shallow and fibrous, which means they do not compete with the deeper roots of potatoes. This allows both plants to coexist without hindering each other’s access to water and nutrients. Spinach also adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes, enriching it with essential nutrients that benefit potato growth.

Spinach matures relatively quickly and can be harvested before it competes heavily with potatoes. This efficient use of garden space allows both crops to grow side by side, maximizing productivity and yield. Its dense foliage acts as a shade to the soil. This helps retain moisture and suppress weed growth.

Additionally, spinach attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and predatory beetles. These insects feed on pests that can harm potatoes, providing natural pest control and helping to keep potato plants healthy.

Basil

Basil enhances the flavor of potatoes when grown nearby. Some gardeners believe that the aromatic compounds released by basil can improve the taste of potatoes, making them more flavorful when harvested.

Basil is an aromatic herb that repels pests commonly found in potatoes, such as aphids, spider mites, and mosquitoes. Its strong aroma and essential oils act as natural deterrents, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting healthier potato plants.

It attracts beneficial insects like bees and predatory insects. These insects help pollinate flowers in the garden and prey on pests that can harm potatoes, contributing to a more balanced and thriving garden ecosystem.

Onions

Onions are excellent companions for potatoes. They repel pests, efficiently use garden space, improve soil health, and potentially act as a trap crop. This combination leads to healthier potato plants and better yields, making them a beneficial addition to any garden.

Onions can act as a trap crop. They attract pests away from potato plants, serving as sacrificial plants that protect potatoes from damage.

Because onions have different growth habits compared to potatoes, they can grow with potatoes without competing for space. Onions grow vertically with shallow roots, while potatoes grow horizontally with deeper roots. This efficient use of garden space ensures both plants can thrive without hindering each other’s growth.

Onions also improve soil health. Their shallow roots help to aerate the soil, improving soil structure and nutrient uptake for potatoes. When onions decompose, they add organic matter to the soil, enriching it with nutrients that benefit both crops.

A Few More Tips…

Important: Not all plants will benefit from being grown with potatoes. Certain plants can develop blight and stunt growth when grown side-by-side with potatoes.

For example, tomatoes, squash, and raspberries become vulnerable to blight when grown with potatoes. Carrots, asparagus, turnips, and fennel can stunt potato growth and development. When grown alongside plants from the nightshade family, potatoes become susceptible to diseases and stunted growth because the plants compete for nutrients.