A key element of organic gardening is to plant as much diversity as possible. Companion Planting takes this one step further by growing beneficial plants next to each other. This can benefit one or all of the plants in the grouping.

Companion Planting also masks the smell and shapes of plants which pests use to locate their favourite foods. If you plant carrots and onions together it confuses both the onion fly and carrot fly!

Generally speaking, the greater variety of herbs you have growing in your garden, the fewer insect problems you'll have.

Some combinations that prove beneficial include: tomatoes, lettuces, cabbages, beets, carrots and parsley are all good companions. Tomatoes and basil are great companions (in the ground and in your cooking), as are eggplants and beans.
Sweet corn, beans or cucumbers are good together. Lettuces are much better performers when planted next to French or African marigolds. Borage is liked by tomatoes, squash and strawberries, improving growth and flavour.

While many plants benefit from growing next to certain plants, some have a negative effect. Some plants are antagonistic towards each other, such as legumes and members of the onion family; or cucumbers don't like being near potatoes or aromatic herbs.

Some plants attract useful insects to help pollinate the flowers of another. Basil attracts bees, which will pollinate your tomatoes. In this way they make good companions. I have also found that planting basil and tomatoes together gives my tomatoes delicious flavour and the basil is very pungent – this makes the best pesto!

It is far from an exact science, and results differ from garden to garden, so this

is another great use for your garden diary. Take notes of what groupings 

perform best in your garden.

Growing a decoy crop can protect the valuable yield of a desired crop. Try growing garlic chives to attract aphids away from roses. French marigold kills harmful nematodes – grow them alongside your tomatoes.  

Herbs play an important role in companion planting. Careful placement of them throughout your vegetable garden can be very beneficial. Here are a few more gems that you can try:

*  Basil should not be planted near rue as they inhibit each other's growth.

*  Chervil grows well with dill and coriander.

*  Chives and parsley grow better when planted together.

*  Dill and fennel like each other, but have a tendency to cross-fertilize.

*  Rosemary and sage grow well together.

*  Rue, as well as not being planted near basil, should also not be planted near sage.

*  Fennel should not be planted near caraway or coriander.

*  Coriander and anise seeds sown together will germinate more quickly.

*  Chillies help plants which are affected by root rot.

*  Horehound improves the fruiting of tomatoes.

Don't be too intimidated by it all. The effects of Companion Planting can be the difference between an OK harvest and an abundant one. However, I like to give my plants every opportunity to do the best they can.

This art has been handed down for centuries and is quite plant specific. I hope you experiment in your garden to see what works for you - for detailed information take a look at my e-book Companion Planting - a Complete Guide to Growing Healthy Plants (including 3 great bonus reports "Seed Saving Tips and Techniques", "Pest and Disease Deterrents" and "The Four Year Rotation Plan" )!