Top 10 Onion Companion Plants And 4 You Should Avoid
If you are thinking of the best onion companion plants to combine with your onion this season.
Then you are on to the right article, here is a list of crops that you can benefit from.
If you desire a bountiful harvest this onion planting season, do not grow them alone.
Why?
Because companion planting does not just give you a bountiful harvest but also wards off pests and diseases that may affect your plant.
Take advantage and maximize the benefits of the companion crops we are about to share below.
Most of them are herbs, others are vegetables, and even flowers.
However, the ideal plants to plant with onions are carrots, cabbage, roses, tomatoes, beets, summer savoury etc.
With companion planting, this strategy positively benefits the other plant in close proximity.
Onion has an insect repellent ability so while choosing a companion plant for it, this should be put into consideration.
Plants that would be able to benefit from this insect repellent propensity should be considered.
Furthermore, plants that can also add to the healthy growth of onion should be looked into as well.
In this article, we have put together a list of onion companion plants that have been proven to be beneficial to your harvest yield.
All you have to do is plant them in close proximity to onions.
Therefore, keep reading and find the best companion plants for your onion plant.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is a natural method that has been used by gardeners for years to aid pollination, keep the number of pests down and maintain a natural balance in your garden.
What this means is that planting some plants close to another will have a beneficial effect on each other’s growth or just be beneficial to one and not affect the other plant adversely.
Companion planting is all about planting some plants together because they have characteristics that complement each other.
Some attract beneficial insects, others repel pests, and some go as far as complementing each other’s nutrient requirements
Companion planting is one of the Gardening Tips And Tricks For Beginners that many often ignore.
This Gardening Tips For Vegetable Planting is a welcome development in the gardener’s world.
However, most gardeners find it suitable for both Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening and Indoor Vegetable Gardening.
Understanding this concept and putting it into use is a great way to make art out of your garden.
I’m pretty sure that is your intention.
Other times, a plant may have a neutral companionship with the primary crop.
Why Should I Use Companion Plants?
It’s no longer news that one of the reasons why most farmers do not plant companion crops is because they don’t know what this singular act brings to them.
For vegetable farmers as well as other gardeners, companion planting is an excellent idea and a great step in the right direction.
Some of the benefits of companion planting include
- Companion Plants wards off certain insects and attracts pollinators.
- Also, companion plants are great for shade and support especially for underground plants.
- Companion crops suppress weeds from thriving in the garden leaving the plants to enjoy the soil nutrients.
- Also, companion plants are a great natural and organic method to improve soil quality as Composting. See Composting For Beginners.
- Companion plants help improve plant growth and improve plant health.
All these will only be possible if you pay attention to the companion chart.
Do not overlook the smallest details, if you do, you’re likely to put the healthy growth of your plant at risk.
10 Best Companion Plants for Onions.
There are many great companion plants for onions.
These plants are quite compatible with onions and suit their overall survival in the garden.
Some of these plants include herbs like chamomile, and mints; vegetables like Cabbage, Carrots, and Lettuce; and flowers like Rose and Marigold.
Let’s take a good look at most of these favourable plants that you can easily grow with onions.
#1. Carrots:
Carrots are very good companion plants for onions.
Onions have a good reputation for keeping carrot flies at bay thereby enhancing the growth of your carrots.
In the same vein carrots also help to deter onion flies that pester onions.
Therefore they give mutual benefit to each other as companion plants.
You should also see our article on the Top 10 Carrot Companion Plants.
#2. Tomatoes:
The thought of tomatoes and onions together brings about the thought of either stew or sauce.
Nevertheless, they are not just only good together in the kitchen they also make good companion plants.
They are very compatible and get along with each other. Onions use their strong scents to repel different pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles that disturb tomatoes.
Check Also Tomato Companion Planting.
#3. Cabbage:
Members of the Cabbage family and onions do well as plant companions.
With onions in your cabbage garden, you don’t have to worry about pests such as Cabbage worms, weevils, moths and Cabbage loopers.
Furthermore, they also use their scent to confuse other unwanted animals that are looking for green leaves to devour such as rabbits.
See the Best 10 Plants To Plant With Cabbage.
#4. Beets:
Beets and onions make good companion plants in the garden.
Onions protect beets from different garden pests and insects such as aphids and sugar-flea beetles.
#5. Lettuce:
Lettuce is another great companion plant for onions. Planting the two together is a sure way to maximize your garden space.
Because onions have shorter root depths than lettuce, the two plants can be easily planted close to each other.
Both plants are very compatible as they do not compete with each other for resources.
#6. Roses:
The rose plant is one flower onions thrive well with.
Onion is known to repel certain pests that disturb this beautiful flower, making it bloom and blossom well.
Therefore you are sure to have a harvest of beautiful roses free from pests such as aphids and other sap-sucking insects.
Roses are one of the Best Flowers To Grow In Your Garden.
#7. Marigold:
Marigolds make great companion plants with onions.
Also, marigold helps to enhance the growth of your onions to a large extent.
It is known for attracting useful insects that can pollinate and also feed on pests and other harmful insects in your garden.
Therefore, if you are looking for a beautiful flower that can make your onions flourish well, then a marigold can be the one for you.
#8. Strawberries:
Interestingly another good crop to plant with your onion is strawberry.
Strawberries are known to easily fall prey to slugs and pests such as aphids.
However, with an onion nearby you can easily deter these pests from coming around.
And also you really don’t have to worry about onion influencing your taste or flavour of yours.
Your strawberries and onions will do just fine together.
#9. Summer Savory:
Summer savoury is another good companion plant for your onions if you want them to taste sweeter.
Also, Summer savoury has a way of enhancing the taste of your onion and its growth as well.
So if you want a tasty onion you should do well to plant it together with summer savoury.
#10. Chamomile:
Another nice companion plant for onion is chamomile.
It uses its properties to improve the flavour of your onions when planted closely.
Chamomile makes an awesome companion plant for onions.
Other plants that do well as companion plants when you plant them with onion include;
- Parsley: Top 10 Parsley Companion Plants And 4 You Should Avoid
- Mint
- Swiss chard
Plants You Will Regret Planting With Onions.
As much as you’re looking for companion plants to follow through with the benefits of Companion Planting this season, there are crops you should not plant if you’re planting onions.
These plants either compete for soil nutrients and space, or they have a toxic nature that can eliminate your desired crop.
That will result in a low harvest as well as poor performance of crops.
Whatever research you want to do, do not plant these plants close to onions;
- Peas:
- Beans
- Asparagus
- Sage; Top 10 Sage Companion Plants And 5 You Should Avoid
The above-mentioned plants are very harmful to onions in different ways.
Some of these plants attract pests and diseases which may affect your onions.
If you’re intending to get a bountiful onion harvest, do not plant these crops with onions.
Frequently Asked Questions About What To Plant With Onions.
Can I Plant Onions And Garlic In The Same Bed?
Yes, you can plant both in the same bed, because they have no adverse effect on each other.
Can I Plant Beans and onions Together?
No this is not advisable!
You can not grow onions and beans together.
If you do, your onions will be disadvantaged.
This is because onion is a leguminous plant, and leguminous plants can make onions have stunted growth.
Do Onions Need Full Sun?
Yes, they do, always plant your onions where they won’t be shaded by other plants.
Can You Plant Onions In Summer?
Yes, onions can be planted in late summer or early autumn in warmer regions.
Summary
Onions are a great plant to cultivate, with a lot of interesting varieties to choose from.
It is quite beneficial both in the kitchen and in the garden.
To increase your chance of having a great harvest, you need to employ the technique of companion planting and know what plants are best planted with onions.
Also do not forget to read this article on How To Prepare The Soil For Planting Vegetables.
It will go a long way for you!!!
