Asparagus is a popular vegetable that is easy to grow in the home garden. Its perennial status takes some of the legwork out of planting in the spring. While asparagus may already be a low-maintenance crop, it can be made easier with certain companion plants. This article will outline the best companion plants for Asparagus.
Companion plants are plants planted near one another. They can help to reduce weeds, deter pests, and even improve soil quality. These benefits culminate in stronger crops and higher yields. In this article, we’ll look at the best plants to pair with your asparagus for a healthy and productive garden. We’ll discuss the benefits of each companion plant and provide tips for successful pairing.
Best Companion Plants for Asparagus
Asparagus is a hardy vegetable but can benefit from companion plants. Asparagus can be prone to weed infestation and disease, which can be reduced by planting companion plants. Certain plants provide nutrients or protection. companion plants attract beneficial insects that can help with pollination, as well as predatory insects that can keep pests in check. Sow the following plants to maximize your crop yields and garden space.
Tomato
Tomato and asparagus plants are famously best friends. Tomato plants produce a chemical, solanine, that repels asparagus beetles. Asparagus beetles can quickly infest your crops and can be hard to deal with. Asparagus naturally repels nematodes which can destroy your tomato roots. The roots of the tomato plant go much deeper than the asparagus’s so there is no competition for nutrients.
Dill
Dill is an excellent companion plant for asparagus. It attracts beneficial bugs such as ladybugs and lacewings, which feed on pests that may harm asparagus. This herb is a natural deterrent to caterpillars, aphids, and spider mites. Dill can also help to improve soil quality with its deep root system and its ability to raise nitrogen levels. Don’t mix the dill and the cilantro up as they interfere with each other’s growth.
Coriander/Cilantro
Cilantro and asparagus make great companion plants because they both benefit from the same environmental conditions. Cilantro can act as an insect repellent for garden pests such as aphids and spider mites which are attracted to the sweet sap of the succulent stems found on young shoots of asparagus plants. Additionally, due to its strong aroma cilantro repels some beetles & caterpillars.
Basil
Basil’s major contribution to asparagus is protection and attraction. It can act as an insect repellent for garden pests such as aphids and spider mites which love asparagus. Additionally, due to its strong aroma, it repels some beetles (including asparagus beetles) & caterpillars. Basil does attract many pollinators which are good for your garden as a whole, especially the asparagus it is next to.
Marigolds
Flowers can be great companion plants. Marigolds in particular work very well with asparagus. Their hollow roots don’t conflict with the growth of the asparagus. Marigolds naturally repel whiteflies, aphids, and nematodes. All these pests tend to infest asparagus crops whenever they can. Planting these next to your asparagus will cut down on pesticides!
Eggplants
The eggplant’s benefits as an asparagus companion plant are similar to that of tomatoes. Eggplants repel certain beetles including the asparagus beetle. There are smaller varietals of eggplant if you are limited in space. Pro tip: leave the stems and roots from the harvested eggplant as an easy composite for next year’s crop.
Parsley
Parsley is a great low-effort option for keeping pests away from your asparagus crop. They deter asparagus beetles and other pests. Parsley has shallow roots so it won’t compete for nutrients with the asparagus. Parsley is a great option for filling the area around your asparagus!
Strawberries
Strawberries make a stellar neighbor for asparagus. they both start growing early in the season with compatible harvest times. The strawberries keep the ground covered, killing weeds and shading the soil. It should be said that sometimes their roots can interfere with each other. To solve this just plant your asparagus a little deeper, about 4-6 inches. This ensures they won’t have to compete over soil space.
Rhubarb
Rubarb’s leaves and roots are toxic so they act as above and ground protectors of the asparagus they are planted around. This is great because they are also perennials just like asparagus. If planted together you can save a lot of time because your local ecosystem will renew come spring. Just be careful to allow enough space between the two.
Horse Radish
Horse radish works as an excellent obstacle for any soft-bodied pest. It naturally repels aphids, blister beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, and whiteflies. All of these love to attack asparagus. Pro tip: farmers have been growing horse radish, strawberries, and asparagus together for years. All three together provide each other with layers of protection from pests and weeds!
The worst companion plants for asparagus
Not all plants play nice with asparagus. We would avoid anything with long roots that would interfere with the asparagus roots. Carrots and potatoes are good examples of this competition. Some plants simply stunt asparagus growth and yield because of their inherent properties. Fennel and the Allium family will stunt your asparagus growth considerably.
