Bad

Plant Good Neighbours How it works

Neighbours

Nasturtium climbs tree and is said to repel

Apple Nasturtium, Chives Potatoes
codling moth

Basil and tansy are said to repel damaging

Apricot Basil, Tansy, Asparagus  
insects

Apricot, Basil, Chives, Comfrey, Basil and Parsley are said to improve flavour.

Asparagus Lovage, Marjoram, Parsley, Onions and garlic release substances reducing Garlic, Onions

Tomatoes growth.

Balm Attracts bees, said to enhance flavour and

Tomatoes  
(Lemon) growth

Basil Tomatoes Basil said to repel flies and mosquitoes  

Beetroot,

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Chives,

Beans Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Garlic,

 
(climbing) Corn, Lettuce, Lovage, Majoram, Gladiolus,

Parsley Onions,

Sunflower

Beans (bush), Broccoli, Brussel

Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beans

Bad Neighbours roots release substances
Beetroot Kohl Rabi, Lettuce, Lovage, (Climbing),
reducing growth
Marjoram, Onion, Peas, Potato, Tomato

Spinach, Silverbeet

Said to deter tomato worm and improve tomato

Borage Squash, Strawberries, Tomato flavour and yield. Said to increase strawberry  
yield.

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours
 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

Beans, Beetroot, Carrots,

Dill attracts a Cabbage White Butterfly
Chamomile, Coriander,
Brassicas - controlling wasp. Nasturtium disguises and
Cucumber, Dill, Lettuce, Lovage, Garlic, Rue,
Broccoli, repels aphids. Sage repels the Cabbage White
Marjoram, Marigold (French), Strawberry,
Cabbage, Butterfly. Zinnias attract ladybirds, which we
Mint, Nasturtium, Pea, Potato, Tomato
Cauliflower love! Bad Neighbours roots release substances
Rosemary, Sage, Tansy, Thyme,
reducing growth
Zinnias

Capsicum,
Carrots, Onions, Tomato    
Chilli

Beans, Chives, Coriander,

Cucumber, Leeks, Lettuce, Bad Neighbours roots release substances

Carrots Dill, Celery
Lovage, Marjoram, Onion, Pea, reducing growth

Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato

Cabbage, Chives, Dill, Dwarf

Carrots,
Beans, Leek, Lovage, Majoram, Bad Neighbours roots release substances
Celery Parsnip,
Onion, Pea, Sage, Spinach, reducing growth
Potato
Tomato

Deters flies and mosquitoes. Strengthens

Chamomile Cabbage, Onion  
neighbouring plants

Apples, Cucumbers, Lettuce,

Chives Prevents Apple Scab. Said to deter aphids Beans
Peas

Brassicas (Incl: Broccoli, Dill attracts a Cabbage White Butterfly

Dill  
Cabbage, Cauliflower) controlling wasp

Eggplant Beans, Spinach    

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours
 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

Beans,
Kohl Rabi Beetroot, Onion  
Tomato

Basil, Bens, Borage, Broccoli,

Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Potato, Sage,

Carrot, Cauliflower, Corn, Dill Bad Neighbours roots release substances Strongly
Cucumber
Kohl Rabi, Lettuce, Lovage, reducing growth Aromatic

Marjoram, Nasturtium, Parsnip, Herbs

Pea, Radish, Sunflower, Tansy

Beans,
Apricot, Cherry, Mulberry,
Deters aphids, especially from roses and Cabbage,
Garlic Parsnip, Peach, Pear, Raspberry,
raspberry. Repels Cabbage White Butterfly Peas,
Rosemary, Rose
Strawberry

Carrot, Celery, Lovage, Majoram, Beans, Peas,

Leek  
Onion, Parsnip, Strawberry Parsley

Achillea, Beans, Beetroot,

Cabbage, Carrot, Chervil,

Coreopsis, Cucumber, Lovage, Achillea, Coreopsis & Zinnia attract pollinators

Lettuce Parsley
Marjoram, Marigold (French), and offer shade for lettuce

Onion, Parsnip, Pea, Radish,

Strawberry, Zinnia

Marigolds Numerous vegetables, including

Kills root knot nematodes and eel worm  
(French) tomato

Melon Radish, Sweet Corn    

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

 
Mint Cabbage, Tomato Deters pests such as Cabbage White Butterfly,
 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

ants and fleas

Cabbages, Fruit Trees, Radishes, Flowers repel aphids and codling moth. Cabbage

Nasturtium Zucchini white butterfly is attracted to this plant, and will  

seek it out over cabbages

Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage,

Carrot, Chamomile, Leeks,

Smell of onion said to deter numerous Asparagus,
Lettuce, Lovage, Marjoram,
Onion pestsOnions release substances reducing growth Beans,
Parsley, Parsnip, Silverbeet,
of Bad Neighbours Gladioli, Peas
Strawberry, Summer Savory,

Tomato

Said to improve flavour of asparagus and

Parsley Asparagus, Sweet Corn, Tomato  
tomato

Beans, Beetroot, Brussel

Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot,

Bad Neighbours roots release substances Chives,
Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber,
Peas reducing growth. Sweet Corn has traditionally Garlic, Onion,
Lettuce, Lovage, Marjoram,
been used as "living stakes" for peas Shallots
Parsnip, Potato, Radish, Sage,

Squash, Sweet Corn

Beans, Cabbage, Eggplant, Peas, Bad Neighbours roots release substances

Pumpkin Potato
Radish, Sweet Corn reducing growth

Blackberries,

Raspberry     Potato,

Tomato

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

Potato Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Sweet Alyssum and Marigolds attract beneficials Apple, Celery,
 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

Cherry,

Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Cucumber,

Eggplant, Horseradish, Lovage, Pumpkin,

and suppress weedsPotatoes release substances
Marjoram, Marigold (French), Raspberry,
reducing growth of Bad Neighbours. Horseradish
Nasturtium, Parsnip, Peas, Sweet Rosemary,
should be planted at the corners of the patch
Alyssum, Sweet Corn, Squash,

Watermelon Sunflower,

Tomato

Beans, Carrot, Chervil,

Cucumber, Sweet Corn,

Radish is said to attract leaf miners from
Radish Cucumber, Lettuce, Lovage, Hyssop
Spinach
Marjoram, Nasturtium, Parsnip,

Pea, Spinach, Sweet Corn

Said to deter Cabbage white butterfly. Attracts

Rosemary Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage  
beneficials

Brassicas (Incl: Broccoli,

Sage Cabbage, Cauliflower), Carrot, Sage repels the Cabbage White Butterfly Cucumber

Rosemary

Beetroot, Cherry, Lavender, Basil,

Silverbeet  
Lovage, Marjoram, Onion Wormwood

Spinach Celery, Eggplant, Strawberries    

Borage, Lovage, Marjoram,

Squash Nasturtium, Peas, Sunflower,   Potato

Sweet Corn, Tansy

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

 
Sunflower Apricots, Cucumbers, Squash Beans, Potato
 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

Brassicas

(Incl:

Broccoli,
Beans, Borage, Chives, Leek,
Cabbage,
Strawberry Lettuce, Marigold (French),  
Cauliflower),
Onion, Pyrethrum, Sage, Spinach
Brussel

Sprouts,

Garlic

Beans, Cucumbers, Lovage,

Sweet Corn has traditionally been used as "living
Marjoram, Melon, Parsnip, Peas,
Sweet Corn stakes" for peas. Bad Neighbours roots release Cabbage
Potato, Pumpkin, Radish,
substances reducing growth
Squash, Zucchini

Asparagus, Basil, Celery, Borage, Apricots,

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Carrot, Beetroot,

Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Dill, Marigolds said to repel white fly and root knot Cabbage,

Tomato Gooseberry, Grape, Hyssop, nematode. Bad Neighbours roots release Fennel, Kohl

Lovage, Mariglod (French), substances reducing growth Rabi, Potato,

Marjoram, Mint, Nasturtium, Rosemary,

Onion, Parsley, Parsnip, Turnip Sweet Corn

Cucumbers, Lettuce, Nasturtium,

Turnip    
Peas, Tomato

Watermelon Potato    

Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

 
Yarrow Most aromatic herbs When planted along pathways, is said to

enhance essential oil production and herb

 Bad
Plant Good Neighbours How it works
Neighbours

flavour.

Lovage, Marjoram, Nasturtium,

Zucchini  
Sweet Corn
COMPANION PLANTING
 Basil helps repel flies and mosquitoes.

 Borage in the strawberry patch will increase the yield.

 Catnip repels fleas, ants and rodents.

 Caraway helps breakdown heavy soils.

 Chamomile deters flies and mosquitoes and gives strength to any plant growing nearby.

 Chives grown beneath apple trees will help to prevent apple scab; beneath roses will keep away aphids

and blackspot.

 Elderberry a general insecticide, the leaves encourage compost fermentation, the flowers and berries

make lovely wine!

 Fennel (not F. vulgare or F.officionale) repels flies, fleas and ants.

 French Marigold root secretions kill nematodes in the soil. Will repel white fly amongst tomatoes.

 Garlic helps keep aphids away from roses.

 Hyssop attracts cabbage white moth keeping brassicas free from infestation.

 Mint repels cabbage white moth. Dried and placed with clothes will repel clothes moth.

 Nasturtium secretes a mustard oil, which many insects find attractive and will seek out, particularly

the cabbage white moth. Alternatively, the flowers repel aphids and the cucumber beetle. The climbing

variety grown up apple trees will repel codling moth.

 Pyrethrum will repel bugs if grown around the vegetable garden.

 Rosemary repels carrot fly.

 Rue (Rutus, not Peganum) keeps cats and dogs off garden beds if planted round the borders.

 Sage protects cabbages from cabbage white moth.

 Tansy (Tanacetum, not Senecio) repels moths, flies and ants. Plant beneath peach trees to repel

harmful flying insects. Tansy leaves assist compost fermentation.

 Wormwood (Artemesia, not Ambrosia) although it can inhibit the growth of plants near it, wormwood

does repel moths, flies and fleas and keeps animals off the garden.
ALTERNATIVE / HOME MADE SPRAYS
 

Bug juice Collect about half a cup of the offending insects. Place them in a blender with 2 cups of water and

whizz until homogenised, then strain it. Use all of it right away, as it will not keep. Do not use this method on

pests that may harbour human disease, such as houseflies, mosquitoes, fleas or ticks.

Soapy water Particularly good against aphids. Can be repeated as many times as you like. After spraying the

affected plants, hose them down gently with clear water. Dissolve 225g of plain soap (not detergent) in 9 litres

of hot water. Stir well to make sure all the soap has dissolved. Cool before use.

Seaweed Effective against mildew and acts as a feed too. Spray as a precaution whenever you think plants

might be in danger, such as growing very close together and the weather is humid. Either leave the seaweed to

soak in water for a fortnight or boil it up well-covered with water until the liquid begins to thicken. In either

case, dilute it until the colour of palest sherry before using it.

Chamomile Useful against mildew, fruit rot, rust and fungal diseases generally. Use at the first sign of trouble.

Use fresh flowers, dried flowers or commercial sachets. Cover with water, bring to the boil and hold it there for

a minute or two before removing from the heat. Leave to cool, then strain and dilute with four times the

amount of water.

Stinging nettles Repels aphids, reduces mildew and is a good foliar feeding spray and liquid manure. Cut the

tops off nettles and leave the roots to grow on. Cover stems and leaves in water and bring to the boil. Hold for

about about 10 minutes. Cool and strain. Dilute to the colour of weak tea before use. The sludge can be tipped

on the compost heap.

Onion Effective against red spider mites. Cut up onions, skins and all, and leave covered with boiling water.

Use well diluted. Instead, for a spray with more oomph, put the onions through the blender, add a garlic clove

and a couple of chilli peppers, cover the mush with water, strain and dilute.

Chives Useful for fungal problems on roses or cucurbits (squashes, courgettes, cucumbers). Spray regularly to

prevent fungal problems developing. Pour 50ml of boiling water over a handful of fresh chives or 1 Tbsp of

dried chives. Leave for an hour, then strain and store in a jar or bottle until needed. Use one part of chive liquid

to two parts of water.

Elder leaf A general insecticide and fungicide. Cover a quantity of leaves with water and bring to the boil.

Simmer for 20 minutes. Don’t inhale the steam. Cool, strain and dilute until the colour is pale yellow before

using.

Rhubarb leaf  Helps control aphids, thrips, whitefly and other pests. Best sprayed towards evening once bees

have gone to sleep as contact with the spray may harm them, but it will soon break down. Only hose it off if

there are a lot of dead insects you want to clean up. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to people - don’t inhale the
steam during preparation, only make enough spray to use in one go and never store it. Chop up the leaves,

cover with water and boil up. Keep on a slow boil for about half an hour. Cool, strain and add the liquid to at

least an equal amount of soapy water before use.

Garlic Effective against aphids, white butterfly, beanfly, leaf curl, brown rot, ants, spiders and caterpillars, but

kills some useful predators too, so only use for severe infestations. Crush 4 cloves of garlic and soak them

overnight barely covered in vegetable oil. Strain and add to a litre of soapy water. Stir well. Strain again into a

non-metallic container and store till needed. To use, dilute 1 part of this mixture to 20 parts of water.

Feverfew (pyrethrum) A general insecticide. Use in the evenings after bees have gone to bed as you don’t

want to hurt them. Keep it away from ponds and streams to avoid killing aquatic creatures. Don’t make too

much at a time and use every other day or so as its effect is short-lived, particularly when the sun is out. Use

the dried flowers of feverfew. Pour boiling water over them and leave to steep until cold. Do not boil them, as

the fumes could make you ill. Add a little soapy water. The spray should be pale in colour