Grow a healthier garden with Carrot Companion Plating! Read on to boost soil health, deter pests, and enjoy a bumper crop in your garden.
By using Carrot Companion Planting techniques, you can create a thriving garden ecosystem that helps deter pests, promotes soil health, and boosts the growth of your other plants.
Learn Growing Carrots In Containers here
Carrot Companion Planting
Wondering what is companion planting? It’s a gardening technique where certain plants are grown together to help each other thrive. While there is no scientific evidence to support the practice, many gardeners have had great success with it. So why not explore the wonderful world of Carrot Companion Planting and see the benefits for yourself?
One popular example is Carrot Companion Planting, where carrots are grown alongside other plants to improve soil health, repel pests, and promote growth. In fact, certain plants like tomatoes and lettuce are known to be great companions for carrots! Still thinking, what is a good companion plant for carrots? Let’s take a look.
Companion Plants for Carrots
1. Chives
Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
One of the best Companion Plants for Carrots, this herb repels pests like carrot flies and aphids.
Learn Growing Chives Indoors Year-Round here
2. Onions
Botanical Name: Allium cepa
When planted with carrots, Onions deter pests and improve soil health, resulting in larger and healthier carrot plants. Carrots and onions companion planting is a great one for any garden.
Can You Plant a Sprouting Onion? Click here
3. Leeks
Botanical Name: Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
Leeks attract beneficial insects that prey on pests harmful to carrots while also enriching the soil with nutrients.
4. Garlic
Botanical Name: Allium sativum
Another of the best Companion Plants for Carrots, Garlic repels pests and diseases that can damage carrots.
Take a look at these Bad Companion Plants for Garlic
5. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
The Rosemary herb is a good companion plant for carrots and is highly beneficial to the carrot plant as it repels harmful flies, mosquitoes, and moths.
Learn about Growing Rosemary in Pots here
6. Sage
Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
Sage is another excellent carrot companion and repels beetles, black flea beetles, and carrot flies.
Learn everything about Growing Sage In Pots here
7. Dill
Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens
Dill is a great option to plant with carrots as it attracts lacewings and syrphid flies that prey on aphids and keep the carrots safe. Ensure there is not a lot of Dill around carrots as that will impede carrot growth.
Learn about Growing Dill in Pots here
8. Parsley
Botanical Name: Petroselinum crispum
This herb attracts beneficial insects and repels pests that can damage carrots while also improving soil health and flavor.
Learn about Growing Parsley in Pots here
9. Thyme
Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris
Did you know that planting leeks, onions, parsley, or mint alongside your carrots can actually help prevent pesky carrot flies? These strong-smelling plants and herbs can mask the scent of your carrots, making it harder for the carrot root flies to find them.
Here are the Best Thyme Growing Tips
10. Marigolds
Botanical Name: Tagetes
Another of the best Companion Plants for Carrots, Marigolds are a great repellent of mosquitoes and other garden pests.
Learn the Benefits of Growing Marigold in the Garden here
11. Nasturtiums
Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majus
Nasturtiums benefit their neighboring plants by deterring aphids and other pests, and they also attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and bees.
Learn about Growing Nasturtium in Pots here
12. Lettuce
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
Lettuce and carrots grow well together because lettuce provides a natural mulch that keeps the soil moist and cool while also shading the carrots from the hot sun.
Learn some Brilliant Lettuce Harvesting Tips here
13. Spinach
Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
Spinach is another of the best Companion Plants for Carrots because it helps to improve soil quality by adding nitrogen to the soil.
Find the Types of Spinach for Pots here
14. Radishes
Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
Radishes make a great companion plant for carrots because they help to break up compacted soil, making it easier for the carrots to grow.
Learn about Growing Radishes in Containers here
15. Tomatoes
Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum
Tomatoes and carrots make great companions as they have opposite growing patterns – tomatoes grow tall, and carrots grow deep. You should definitely give carrots and tomato companion planting a try.
Learn How to Grow Spoon Tomatoes (World’s Smallest Tomatoes) here
16. Beans
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Beans and carrots make great companions because beans add nitrogen to the soil, which is beneficial to the carrots.
Find the Types of Beans that Grow Vertically here
17. Peas
Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
Peas and carrots are great companions because peas add nitrogen to the soil, and carrots provide support for the pea plants.
Learn Growing Peas in Pots & Containers here
18. Cabbage
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Cabbage and carrots make great companions because cabbage releases volatile compounds that repel pests and attract beneficial insects, which benefits both plants.
Find the Best Cabbage Growing Tips here
19. Broccoli
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. italica
Broccoli and carrots make great companions because broccoli has a shallow root system that doesn’t compete with the deep roots of carrots.
Learn about Broccoli Sprouts here
20. Cauliflower
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Cauliflower and carrots make great companions because cauliflower has similar growing conditions and nutrient requirements as carrots.
Learn about Growing Cauliflowers in Containers here
21. Oregano
Botanical Name: Origanum vulgare
Oregano is a fragrant herb that repels pests and attracts beneficial insects, making it a great Companion Plant for Carrots. Oregano is perfect for companion planting carrots in containers.
Here are the Best Oregano Companion Plants
22. Cilantro
Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro attracts beneficial insects that prey on pest insects harmful to carrots, and its strong scent can also help mask the scent of carrots from pests.
Here are the Best Cilantro Companion Plants
23. Borage
Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
Borage is one of the best Companion Plants for Carrots and a nutrient-rich plant that attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, helping to increase the yield of carrots.
24. Daffodil
Botanical Name: Narcissus
Daffodils are beautiful spring-flowering bulb that repels deer, rabbits, and rodents and adds visual interest to the carrot patch.
25. Scallion
Botanical Name: Allium fistulosum
Scallions, also known as green onions, can help deter all pests from carrots with their strong scent and also add a tasty addition to dishes made with carrots.
26. Beets
Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
Beets are a root vegetable that can help improve soil health and fertility, making them a great companion plant for carrots.
Learn about Growing Beet in Containers here
27. Turnip
Botanical Name: Brassica rapa
Turnips are another root vegetable that can improve soil health and attract beneficial insects, making them a good Companion Plant for Carrots.
Learn about Growing Turnip in Containers here
28. Bush Bean
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Bush beans are nitrogen-fixing plants that can help enhance soil fertility, making them amazing carrot companion plants.
29. Brassica
Botanical Name: Brassica
Brassicas can help repel root flies, keeping carrots safe from these. They also suppress weeds.
Bad Carrot Companion Plants
Just like any other plant, carrots have their own specific needs, so it’s important to choose their companion plants carefully. Now, let us move on to what not to plant with carrots. Here are some vegetables that may not be the best companions for carrots:
1. Pole Beans
Botanical Name: Phaseolus coccineus
Pole beans are known to be aggressive climbers that can take over and compete with carrots for space and nutrients.
2. Fennel
Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare
Another of the Bad Carrot Companion Plants, Fennel, attracts insect pests that can damage not only carrots but other vegetables in your garden as well.
Check out Companion Planting Combination Ideas here
3. Potato
Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum
Potatoes are also root crops that can compete with carrots for space and nutrients, so it’s best to keep them separated.
4. Parsnips
Botanical Name: Pastinaca sativa
With their similar growing habit, parsnips will compete with carrots for nutrients and space. They also share many diseases and pests, so growing them separately will help prevent the spread of any maladies from one to the other.
5. Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot)
Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Wild carrot is another one of the Bad Carrot Companion Plants and a close relative of the domesticated carrot, and it can cross-pollinate with domesticated carrots, resulting in bitter or off-flavored carrots.
6. Celery
Botanical Name: Apium graveolens
Celery is a heavy feeder and can compete with carrots for nutrients, water, and space.
Here are the Best Watermelon Companion Plants and the Bad Ones
7. Sunflowers
Botanical Name: Helianthus
Sunflowers can also shade out carrot plants, reducing their growth and yield. Additionally, they are heavy feeders and may compete with carrots for nutrients.
Here are the Best Sunflower Companion Plants
8. Mustard Greens
Botanical Name: Brassica juncea
Mustard greens are another Bad Carrot Companion Plants that can produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants, including carrots.
9. Strawberries
Botanical Name: Fragaria
Strawberries are prone to diseases and have shallow roots that compete with carrots for nutrients and water. Carrots and strawberries companion planting is a bad idea.
Check out our article on Best Strawberry Companion Plants here
Carrot as a Companion Plant
Carrots are a popular root vegetable, and they can also be an excellent companion plant in your garden. They can thrive in the same garden bed with cool-season crops, such as radishes, lettuce, and spinach, which can provide shade and help regulate the soil temperature.
- To ensure a consistent supply of fresh carrots throughout the growing season, it is recommended to sow carrot seeds every two to three weeks.
- Carrots are known to attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, which can help control pests such as aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars.
- Planting carrots near other crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and onions, can help to deter harmful insects and improve plant health. Carrots and peppers companion planting is a great way to get started.
- Carrots also produce a chemical called alpha-pinene, which has been shown to repel certain pests such as root maggots and flea beetles. Planting carrots in combination with other alpha-pinene-producing plants such as basil, dill, or parsley can help to repel these pests further.