Companion planting is a smart way to get more from your raised garden beds. The idea is simple: grow plants that help each other thrive. Some plants boost growth, improve flavor, attract pollinators, or repel pests for their neighbors. When done right, companion planting can lead to healthier crops, fewer pests, and better use of space.

But not all plants make good neighbors. Choosing the right combinations is essential, especially in raised beds, where space is limited. Here’s how to pick plants for garden beds that actually work well together and support each other through the growing season.

Start With The Goals Of Companion Planting

Before choosing which plants to pair, it helps to know why companion planting works. Most combinations aim to:

●     Improve soil health

●     Repel harmful insects or attract beneficial ones

●     Provide shade or support

●     Help with weed control

●     Use nutrients differently to avoid competition

When selecting plants for garden beds, consider which benefits you need most.

Understand The Basic Rules Of Pairing Plants

Good companion planting isn’t random. Here are a few general rules to follow:

●     Pair plants with different root depths – This helps avoid overcrowding underground.

●     Combine fast growers with slow growers – You can stagger harvests and use space more efficiently.

●     Avoid planting crops from the same family together – They often attract the same pests or compete for the same nutrients.

●     Use herbs as companions – Many herbs like basil, thyme, and dill repel pests and improve nearby plant health.

Classic Companion Plant Combinations That Work

Here are a few tried-and-true plant pairings for raised beds:

●     Tomatoes + basil – Basil may improve tomato flavor and repel pests like whiteflies and aphids.

●     Carrots + onions – Onions deter carrot flies; carrots don’t crowd onion roots.

●     Lettuce + radishes – Lettuce offers shade to the soil, while radishes grow quickly and help break up the surface.

●     Cucumbers + nasturtiums – Nasturtiums act as trap crops for aphids and beetles.

●     Peppers + marigolds – Marigolds are great for pest control and attract pollinators.

●     Corn + beans + squash (Three Sisters) – Beans add nitrogen, corn provides support, and squash shades out weeds.

●     Spinach + strawberries – Spinach provides ground cover to retain moisture, while strawberries help shade spinach roots and reduce weed growth.

●     Beets + bush beans – Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits beets, and their growth habits don’t compete for space or nutrients.

Know Which Plants Don’t Get Along

Just as some plants help each other, others do more harm than good when placed together. A few examples to avoid:

●     Onions + beans or peas – Onions may stunt legume growth by releasing compounds that interfere with root development. Instead, pair onions with carrots or beets, which benefit from onion’s pest-repelling properties without root conflict.

●     Tomatoes + corn – Both are heavy feeders and may compete for nutrients, weakening each other over time.

●     Fennel + almost everything – Fennel releases compounds that can inhibit growth of nearby plants.

●     Cabbage family plants (broccoli, kale) + strawberries – They may affect each other's growth and attract shared pests.

Think In Layers And Spacing

In raised beds, every inch matters. Try planting in layers to get the most from your space:

●     Tall plants in the back or center (like tomatoes, corn, or sunflowers)

●     Medium plants in the middle (like peppers or bush beans)

●     Low-growing herbs or greens along the edges (like thyme, lettuce, or marjoram)

This tiered layout helps light reach all plants and encourages airflow, which can reduce disease. It also keeps fast growers from crowding slower ones.

Use Herbs And Flowers As Support Players

Many herbs and flowers serve as natural pest control and pollinator magnets. Adding them to your raised beds gives nearby vegetables extra help:

●     Marigolds: Repel nematodes, whiteflies, and beetles

●     Chives: Help deter aphids and improve carrot flavor

●     Calendula: Attracts beneficial insects and adds beauty

●     Dill: Good near cucumbers and leafy greens; draws ladybugs and hoverflies

You can't tuck these in corners or between rows to keep pests away and boost plant health.

Conclusion

Clever companion planting makes your garden more efficient and resilient. Choosing the right plants in a limited space like a raised bed is about pairing crops that work together.

Stick with proven combos, avoid known conflicts, and don’t be afraid to mix in herbs and flowers. With just a little planning, your raised bed can become a healthy, thriving space that gives you better harvests with fewer problems. The more your plants support each other, the less work you’ll have to do later.