Everybody needs a best bud—even your veggies. Garden buds will increase the plant diversity in your garden, making your plants healthier and resulting in higher yields. Buds will also bring more beneficial insects and pollinators to establish natural pest controls. Join Extension Master Gardener Nina DeRosa, a leader in our Organic Vegetable Demonstration Garden, for our discussion on companion planting, and gain confidence to employ this concept in your garden.
This is the second of three shorter, focused classes on vegetable gardening.
Zoom session, recorded June 13, 2025
Class Video
Chapter Breaks
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:50 Definition and Origins of Companion Planting
- 05:14 Beneficial Relationships Part 1: Dynamic Accumulators, Nitrogen Fixing, Soil Protection, Living Mulch, Organic Matter, Microbial Diversity, Pollination, Flavor Enhancement
- 15:01 Q & A
- 20:40 Beneficial Relationships Part 2: Pest Control, Trap Crops, Weed Suppression, Maximizing Space 36:49 Companion Planting Tips & Resources
- 38:15 Q & A
Additional Resources
Online Resources
- Chalker-Scott, Linda. 2023. Gardening with Companion Plants (Home Garden Series). Washington State University Extension Publications.
https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/gardening-with-companion-plants-home-garden-series/ - Harris, Natasha and Streets, Jesica. 2022. Companion Planting. West Virginia University Extension.
https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/gardening/garden-management/companion-planting - Hoidal, Natalie. 2021. Companion planting in home gardens. University of Minnesota Extension.
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/companion-planting-home-gardensMother Earth News: The Original Guide to Living Wisely. https://www.motherearthnews.com - Kosto, Allison. 2019. The Science of Companion Planting in the Garden. Montana State University, Broadwater County Extension.
https://www.montana.edu/extension/broadwater/blog-article.html?id=18786 - Kourik, Robert. 2016. Companion Planting and Flower Borders. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ulster County.
https://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/resources/companion-planting-and-flower-borders - PLANTS Database: Plant List of Attributes, Names, Taxonomy, and Symbols. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
https://plants.usda.gov - Plant NOVA Natives: Promoting native plants in Northern Virginia.
https://www.plantnovanatives.org
Books
- Cunningham, Sally Jean. 2000. Great Garden Companions: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden. Rodale Books.
- Frost, Jesse. 2021. The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower’s Guide to Ecological Market Gardening. Chelsea Green Press.
- Lowenfels, Jeff and Lewis, Wayne. 2010. Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web, Revised Edition. Timber Press.
- McClure, Susan and Roth, Sally. 1994. Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening: Companion Planting. Rodale Press.
- Riotte, Louise. 1998. Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Storey Publishing, LLC.
Walliser, Jessica. 2020. Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. Storey Publishing, LLC