Companion planting is a great way to transform your home vegetable garden into a vibrant, thriving ecosystem.
By strategically placing different types of plants next to each other, you can create synergistic interactions that benefit the health and productivity of your garden.
From attracting beneficial insects, suppressing weeds, improving soil conditions, and some even adding flavor to produce – companion planting is a wonderful way to encourage organic growth in your garden.
It’s also an easy and enjoyable approach to reducing the need for pesticides. So, if you’re ready to reap the rewards of companion planting, let’s get started!
This guide will take you through everything you need to know about why companion planting peppers.
Best Companion Plants For Peppers
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a great companion plant to peppers. Not only do they provide an attractive display in the garden, but their leaves act as traps for aphids and other pests – meaning fewer problems for your peppers!
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are also great companions for peppers, as they attract pollinators and beneficial insects that help to keep pests in check. To learn more about creating a pollinator garden check out Creating A Bee-Friendly Garden: 27 Essential Plants To Attract Pollinators!
Alyssum
Sweet alyssum is an excellent choice for companion planting with peppers. Its small blooms attract a variety of beneficial insects, including parasitic wasps, syrphid flies, tachinid flies, ladybugs, and lacewings.
These insects feed on pests like aphids, whiteflies, and thrips while also laying their eggs in pests like hornworms, budworms, and fruit worms.
In addition to enhancing biological control, sweet alyssum also helps improve soil conditions and suppress weeds – making it a great addition to any pepper garden!
Seet Alyysum
Okra
Okra is a great companion planting for peppers. Not only do they both thrive in hot conditions, but the presence of pepper plants can also even act as a deterrent to cabbage moths who are attracted to okra.
Alliums
When it comes to using good companion plants for peppers, the best options are alliums.
Alliums are a family of vegetables that includes onions, chives, garlic, and scallions.
These plants have been proven to deter green peach aphids – one of the most common pests of pepper.
Planting them around and in between your peppers can create a natural deterrent to the aphids, helping to deter pests and protect your pepper plants from damage.
More onion companion planting can be found here, Onion Companion Plants – Plus The Worst Companions
Celery
Celery is a great companion for pepper plants. Celery can limit soil disease and promote the growth of nearby plants, making it an excellent addition to any pepper plant or garden.
It is important to note that celery does require quite a bit of water – but the extra attention to that area of your garden will no doubt benefit your peppers in the long run!
By incorporating these great companion plants into your home vegetable garden, you’ll be helping to create an ideal environment for your peppers to thrive.
You’ll also be reducing your need for pesticides, creating a healthier and happier ecosystem for all the other plants already in your garden! So get growing, and good luck!
Cowpeas
Cowpeas are an excellent companion plant for peppers. Cowpeas are a legume that helps to improve soil fertility and suppress weed growth.
Additionally, they can also help keep away Green Stink Bugs – a major pest of peppers. The bugs are highly attracted to cowpeas and will often choose them over your pepper plants.
Clover
Subterranean clover is an ideal cover crop for peppers, as it helps to reduce weed growth and adds nitrogen to the soil. Its deep roots also help to aerate the soil, improving drainage and providing a healthy environment for pepper plants.
Subterranean clover acts as a living mulch that can keep down weeds and conserve moisture in the soil, allowing your pepper plants to get the nutrients and water they need without competition.
Additionally, subterranean clover helps to attract helpful insects like bees, providing a natural source of pollination for your peppers!
This makes it an excellent choice for any home vegetable garden. So give it a try and see how you can benefit from this
Herbs
Herbs can be a great addition to your companion planting scheme, as they are compatible with an array of vegetables, especially peppers and tomato plants. Some of our favorites are listed below.
Parsley
Parsley is a great companion for peppers, as it deters pests such as aphids, spider mites, armyworms, earworms, and beetles. Plus, many of our favorite recipes include parsley and peppers. Making a delicious fresh meal.
Cilantro
Cilantro is another great choice for companion planting with peppers. Not only does it repel pests like aphids, but its strong aroma also helps to deter larger garden pests such as deer.
Thyme
Thyme has a variety of uses in the kitchen, and it’s equally beneficial in the garden.
Planting thyme near your pepper plants can help ward off ants and other small-bodied insects that may feed on young pepper seedlings.
Thyme releases natural oils that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden.
Basil
Basil is another great companion for peppers as it works as an organic repellent against thrips.
Thrips are tiny flying insects that feed on plant leaves and flowers which can cause damage to pepper crops. Planting basil near your peppers can help to keep them away and protect your pepper crop.
Basil is also a great companion for peppers in that it helps to improve the flavor of your produce!
So, if you’re looking to give your pepper crops some extra protection while also enhancing the flavor of their fruit, consider planting alliums and basil alongside.
Pepper Plants Love Companions
Pepper companion planting is an incredibly fun and rewarding way to garden.
Not only does it give you the opportunity to enjoy a variety of beautiful herbs and flowers, but it also helps keep pests away from your peppers.
Planting garlic or onions near your pepper plants can create an aroma that will ward off aphids, while basil provides protection from thrips.
If you’re looking for a splash of color, nasturtiums and sweet alyssum provide gorgeous accents to the garden that will attract beneficial insects to help keep pests away.
With the right companion plants, your pepper crops can thrive and be enjoyed for years! So why not give it a try?
Bell Peppers Companion Planting Benefits
Bell peppers are one of the most popular vegetables in many gardens, so it’s important to choose the right companion plants to help them thrive.
Carrots, beets, and radishes are excellent companions for bell peppers as they share similar soil requirements with sweet peppers and can improve the flavor of the peppers.
In short, the above companion plants for other pepper plants will also work for bell papers.
By choosing the right companion plants for your bell pepper garden, you’ll be able to ensure that your pepper crops grow healthy and abundant!
Pepper companion planting not only helps to protect your peppers from pests and disease, but it can also improve the flavor of your produce.
By combining compatible plants in the same garden bed you’ll be able to boost the nutrient content within the soil, creating a richer environment for all your vegetables to thrive.
What to Avoid Planting Around Your Peppers
While companion planting peppers can be beneficial for your garden, it is important to remember that there are some plants that should not be planted near peppers.
Plants from the brassica family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale should all be avoided when companion planting with peppers due to their strong odors which can inhibit the growth of pepper plants.
Companion Plants and Their History
Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together in order to benefit each other. Generally, companion planting works by one plant attracting beneficial insects or providing nutrients to the soil, which can help its neighboring plants thrive.
This practice has been used for centuries and is a common way for organic gardeners to promote biodiversity in their gardens, as well as encourage natural pest control and healthier produce.
Throughout history, cultures around the world have employed companion planting techniques; North American Indians famously planted corn, beans, and squash together as “The Three Sisters” while some French farmers are said to have grown celery and tomatoes next to each other to enhance flavor.
Today, many gardeners still use these practices – pairing compatible plants to create a healthier and more sustainable garden.
Companion planting can be used to make the most of limited garden space, attract beneficial insects, or increase crop yield – making it an excellent addition to any gardener’s toolkit.
5 Tips on Planting Peppers in Containers
Quality Potting Mix
Use a potting mix designed for containers – It is important to use soil specifically designed for container gardens as it will contain the right amount of nutrients and moisture needed for peppers to grow in containers. To learn more about our favorite potting mix be sure to check out Happy Frog The Best Potting Soil: Plus Reviews
Large Pot
Choose a large enough container – When selecting a container, choose one that is at least 12 inches deep and wide to give your peppers enough space to develop a strong root system.
Drainage
Provide adequate drainage – Make sure that your containers have several holes at the bottom for water to drain out, as this will prevent root rot.
Sun
Place in an area with full sun exposure – Peppers prefer 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day, so make sure to place your containers in an area that gets plenty of suns.
Water Regularly
Make sure to keep the soil lightly moist and check on it daily, as peppers don’t like their soil to dry out completely. By following these simple tips you can ensure that your pepper thrives in containers
Organic Pest Control for Pepper Plants
Organic pest control for pepper plants doesn’t have to be boring! In fact, some of the most fun methods use natural ingredients that can help you keep pests away without using harsh chemical pesticides.
For example, why not try planting marigolds around your peppers – their bright yellow flowers will give your garden a pop of color and their strong scent is known to repel certain insects.
Or why not create your own natural bug spray using a combination of neem oil, castile soap, and water for aphids and other pests?
You can also take advantage of companion planting by growing compatible plants such as basil or coriander around your peppers – this will help attract beneficial insects which can help keep pests away!
Finally, don’t forget the power of good old-fashioned handpicking – it might be time-consuming, but if you catch the problem before it gets out of control it can make all the difference. So get creative and enjoy natural pest control for your pepper plants!
Companion Plants that Repel Insects from Pepper Plants
1. Marigolds
2. Basil
3. Coriander
4. Garlic
5. Lavender
6. Chrysanthemums
7. Nasturtiums
8. Catnip
9. Rosemary
10. Mints, such as Peppermint
11. Oregano
12. Borage
13. Fennel.
These plants are known for their strong aroma which can repel unwanted insects from your pepper plants, without having to use chemicals or synthetic pesticides. Planting these around your peppers will increase the biodiversity of your garden and give it a boost.
Final Thoughts
By using companion planting for peppers, you’ll not only create a healthier and more sustainable garden – but also enjoy the added bonus of having fewer pests to worry about.
With so many different options available, why not give it a try? You may even find that your pepper plants taste better than ever!
And who knows – you might just have the best pepper plants in town!
With good pepper companion plants, you can reap the rewards of a natural and organic garden while still keeping pests at bay. So give it a go – you’ll be glad you did!
FAQs
It is important to remember that not all plants make good companions for peppers. Plants such as potatoes, eggplant, cabbage, and cauliflower should not be planted near peppers, as they can cause nutrient imbalances in the soil.
Basil is one of the best companion plants for peppers, as its strong aroma helps repel unwanted insects from your pepper plants without having to use chemicals or synthetic pesticides. Growing basil near your peppers can also help increase the biodiversity of your garden and give it a boost.
Yes, you can plant peppers near tomatoes. Tomatoes and peppers both belong to the same family of plants (Solanaceae) and share many of the same nutrient requirements. Planting them near each other can be beneficial since they can share resources and help keep pests away.