Pepper companion planting: beneficial neighbours - Plantura (2024)

A bountiful pepper harvest from your own garden is not very easy to achieve. A key aspect in achieving this is having the right neighbours who have a beneficial impact on the pepper plants. Learn all about pepper companion planting.

Pepper companion planting: beneficial neighbours - Plantura (1)

Companion planting, or polyculture, is one of the most natural gardening methods. Yet what has been established in nature over many years can be difficult to imitate in the garden. The interactions between plants in a polyculture are many and varied and are still not completely understood. Recommendations for good and bad neighbours for sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) have emerged mainly from many years of cultivation experience. This is also the reason why some information varies from source to source. You can only be sure whether or not something works well in your garden after you have tried it yourself.

Contents

  • Pepper companion planting: these plants work best in a polyculture
  • Bad companion plants for peppers: these plants are bad neighbours
  • Crop rotation for peppers

Pepper companion planting: these plants work best in a polyculture

Sweet peppers or simply peppers belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which includes other plants frequently seen in the garden, such as tomatoes(Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and physalis(Physalis peruviana). The best companion plants for peppers are members of a different plant family, which have similar location preferences but lower nutrient requirements. Ideally, they have additional benefits for the sweet peppers:

For example, a good companion plant for peppers is garlic (Allium sativum). The pungent essential oils it contains can, among other things, prevent aphid infestation.

If you want to grow other vegetables together with peppers, then carrots(Daucus carota subsp. sativus) or onions (Allium cepa) are good choices. Lettuces, especially varieties that grow well in semi-shade, are also great companion plants for peppers.

The numerous types of brassicas are also commonly recommended as good companion plants for pepper plants. It is possible that these plants do not have a negative impact on each other but bear in mind that cabbage draws a lot of nutrients from the soil. As a result, it is probable that the pepper plants will fail. So, if you grow peppers together with cabbage, then you will need to feed them sufficiently.

Plants that attract insects, thus enabling more pepper flowers to be pollinated, are borage(Borago officinalis), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), calendula (Calendula officinalis) and marigold (Tagetes). In addition, many insect pests find the odour of chamomile and marigold unpleasant, causing them to stay away from your pepper plants. Calendulas and marigolds prevent nematodes from reproducing and thus contribute to chemical-free nematode control in the garden. Herbs that are good companions for peppers include basil (Ocimum basilicum), parsley (Petroselium crispum) and dill (Anethum graveolens).

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In many vegetable gardens, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are planted together simply because they all go into the bed at about the same time, have similar location requirements and are usually grown on trellises or staked. But can you really grow peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes together? Opinions on this vary. The three have been described as everything from good, neutral to bad neighbours. In any case, remember that peppers and tomatoes belong to the same plant family, the nightshade family. As a result, the two are likely to compete for nutrients and are susceptible to the same diseases and pests. Nevertheless, with proper care and crop management, peppers and tomatoes usually make great companion plants. There are rarely any problems with cucumbers; the only issue is that cucumbers can quickly become infested with mildew, which can then easily spread to your pepper plants. In order to improve the soil, which is heavily stressed after this crop, sow a green manure in autumn after removing the plants. The soil cover, root penetration and possible nitrogen fixation have a positive effect on many soil properties.

Tip: Good neighbours alone do not guarantee a bountiful pepper harvest. It is critical to properly care for and feed your pepper plants. This includes tailored fertilisation, especially if you plant peppers alongside tomatoes and cucumbers. Pepper plants are nourished optimally with our Plantura Tomato Food, which has a long-term effect. In addition to its optimal nutrient composition, it is predominantly organic, animal-free and effective for three months.

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In a raised bed, various herbs such as basil, parsley or dill are good companions for peppers. Lettuce, carrots and onions also make good neighbours for peppers in a raised bed.

Bad companion plants for peppers: these plants are bad neighbours

Although there are many good neighbours for peppers, there are also some plants that do not make good companions. Some examples of poor neighbours for peppers include peas (Pisum sativum), fennel(Foeniculum vulgare), beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva), aubergine(Solanum melongena), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), courgettes(Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina) and celery (Apium graveolens). Many of these vegetables are said to inhibit the growth of pepper plants or compete with them for nutrients. Moreover, they may be affected by the same diseases.

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Good companion plants for peppers at a glance:

  • Borage
  • Basil
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Carrots
  • Lettuce
  • Chamomile
  • Marigold

Bad companion plants for peppers:

  • Peas
  • Fennel
  • Beetroot
  • Aubergine
  • Potatoes
  • Courgettes
  • Pumpkins
  • Celery

Crop rotation for peppers

Since pepper plants need warmth, they are not planted in the bed until May. This means there is still time to plant some fast-growing crops. The first batches of lettuce and radishes(Raphanus sativus var. sativus) have usually already left the bed by the time the pepper plants are planted in May. When the pepper plants leave the bed around September, there is still time to plant some low-yielding, cold-tolerant crops, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea). After growing peppers, a green manure such as mustard (Brassica) or clover grass is a good choice to support the soil. When it comes to peppers, wait at least three to four years before planting them in the same spot. This prevents soil depletion as well as repeated disease infestation.

Pepper companion planting: beneficial neighbours - Plantura (15)
Pepper companion planting: beneficial neighbours - Plantura (2024)

FAQs

Pepper companion planting: beneficial neighbours - Plantura? ›

If you want to grow other vegetables together with peppers, then carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) or onions (Allium cepa) are good choices. Lettuces, especially varieties that grow well in semi-shade, are also great companion plants for peppers.

What should not be planted next to peppers? ›

4 Plants to Avoid Growing With Peppers
  1. Apricot: Avoid planting peppers near apricot trees. ...
  2. Beans: Peppers and beans have incompatible soil nutrient needs. ...
  3. Brassicas: The brassica family—broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale—has different soil preferences than peppers.
Aug 9, 2021

What is the best intercrop for peppers? ›

Tomatoes: Peppers and tomatoes are both members of the nightshade family, and they complement each other well. Basil: Basil is a fragrant herb that can repel pests such as aphids, flies, and spider mites. It also attracts pollinators such as bees, which can help improve the yield of pepper plants.

What plants grow well with watermelon? ›

Some companion plants for watermelons can reduce pest infestations, like corn, garlic, radishes, broccoli, marigolds, and certain herbs. Lavender and borage can help promote pollination, while pole or bush beans can increase nitrogen in the soil.

Can I plant tomatoes and peppers together? ›

Although it's usually recommended to not plant tomatoes and peppers right after each other in the same bed every year, they can be grown together in the same garden bed (and then rotated to another bed next season).

What plants don't like peppers? ›

Beans also don't do well with peppers, either the sweet green peppers or their fiery cousins the jalapeños. One plant that I was shocked that beans don't get along with are marigolds, which are typically crowd pleasers as they deter pests. In fact, all the plants that the bean family shuns are those that deter pests.

Can you plant cucumbers and peppers together? ›

Cucumbers and squash plants pair well with peppers because their low growth habit shields the soil from direct sun, prevents weeds, and keeps your soil from drying out too quickly.

What grows well with peppers in a raised bed? ›

Dill, fennel, cilantro, and other members of the carrot family. Flowering herbs in the carrot family are exceptional companion plants for peppers. Their umbrella-shaped clusters of tiny flowers are ideal for supporting a broad array of predators of aphids, hornworms, bud worms, and other pepper pests.

What is the best spacing for peppers? ›

Set pepper plant seedlings out after the last spring frost. They grow well in raised beds, containers, and in-ground gardens. Plant them 18 to 24 inches apart in a sunny, well-drained spot. Pepper plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.

How many peppers will one plant yield? ›

Expect 5-10 large bell peppers per well-grown plant, and 20-50 hot peppers per plant. Storage: Peppers don't stay fresh and crunchy for more than a few days, even in the refrigerator, so use them while they are in season. Small chiles can be dried if laid on cookie sheets in an airy place.

What not to plant near watermelon? ›

For companion plants, you're going to want to plant it with things like radishes, lettuces & then avoid things like cucumber, zucchini, and basically anything in the melon family. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases.

What not to plant with cantaloupe? ›

Cucumbers and squash share common pests with cantaloupes, such as cucumber beetles and squash bugs. Planting these crops in close proximity can lead to higher pest populations and increased damage to all plants involved.

What not to plant with cucumbers? ›

Brassicas: Plants like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can compete with cucumbers for the same nutrients in the soil. They also attract pests that can damage cucumber plants, such as flea beetles and cabbage worms.

Can I plant peppers and cucumbers together? ›

Vining vegetables like cucumbers actually make perfect companions to bushing veggies like peppers. They enjoy similar growing conditions and can grow together in about the same amount of space as a single plant. Ensure you trellis your cukes and plant your peppers in front so they aren't shaded by growing vines.

Do peppers need 2 plants? ›

Peppers have what are called “perfect flowers,” which means that each individual pepper flower contains both the male (stamens) and female (pistil) reproductive organs. As a result, each pepper flower can “self- pollinate” to produce a pepper on its own.

What is the best support for pepper plants? ›

Finally, varieties that produce large peppers appreciate the extra support under the weight of their bounty. To stake pepper plants, simply drive a 2- to 3-foot wooden, bamboo, or other sturdy-material garden stake at least 6 inches deep into the soil right beside each plant.

What not to plant near jalapenos? ›

Beans, in particular, are not good jalapeno pepper companions and should not be planted near them. Peas should also be avoided. Anything in the brassica family are not good companions for jalapenos.

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