Potatoes Companion Plants
Companion planting pairs potatoes with neighbors that may confuse pests, draw in helpful insects, or make better use of garden space. Traditional gardeners have long grown beans and flowering herbs near their potato rows to help mask the crop and support beneficial bugs. These pairings are folk practice backed by grower experience rather than firm guarantees, so treat them as a helpful starting point.
Good companions for Potatoes
| Plant | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Bush beans | As a legume they add nitrogen to the soil, and some gardeners find they help discourage Colorado potato beetles. |
| Horseradish | Traditionally planted at the corners of the potato patch, where it is thought to boost overall vigor and deter pests. |
| Marigold | Bright blooms draw in pollinators and beneficial insects that prey on common garden pests. |
| Cilantro | When it flowers it attracts beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pests. |
| Nasturtium | Acts as a trap crop that lures aphids and beetles away from the potato plants. |
| Peas | Another legume that helps enrich the soil with nitrogen as it grows alongside the potatoes. |
Keep Potatoes away from
| Plant | Why to separate them |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Both are in the nightshade family, so they share blight diseases and the same beetle pests that can spread between them. |
| Cucumbers and squash | They are prone to blight and compete heavily with potatoes for space, water, and light. |
| Sunflowers | Traditionally thought to slow potato growth while competing strongly for resources. |
| Fennel | Often a poor neighbor for garden vegetables and may hinder the growth of plants nearby. |
Tips
Tuck low herbs and flowers like cilantro, marigold, and nasturtium along the edges of your potato rows so they do not shade the hills or compete for root space. Keep potatoes well away from tomatoes and other nightshades, and rotate their bed each year to reduce the buildup of shared soil diseases. Companion planting is a traditional practice and results vary with your climate, soil, and pest pressure, so watch your own garden and adjust what you pair together.
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Companion planting is a traditional practice; results vary with your climate, soil, and garden. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.