15 Best Cucumber Companion Plants to Grow in Your Vegetable Garden
Your cucumber harvest is going to be better than ever!
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The best gardeners know that the secret to successful crops often involves more than just planting seeds and watering. Companion planting, the strategic placement of certain plants together for mutual benefit, is a time-honored technique that can take all of your crops—including your cucumber harvest—to new heights.
"Using companion plants can improve the health of your plants and increase the yield," says Nancy Awot-Traut, a horticulture expert at Burpee Gardening. "It allows you to use fewer pesticides while taking advantage of plants' natural relationships to create a better garden. I use companion planting myself because it's an easy and inexpensive way to improve my garden."
Ahead, we'll explore a range on companion plants that will not only keep your cucumber patch healthy and thriving but also increase your yields and ward off pesky intruders. From cornstalks that cast cool shade to herbs like oregano that will enhance the flavor of your cucumbers, these companion plants have so much to offer. You'll also find a few flowers that will attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden.
"Cucumbers are a monoecious type of plant, which means they have separate male and female flowers on the same plant," Awot-Traut explains. "Although there are a few that are self-pollinated, most are dependent on bees to pollinate the female flowers and produce fruit. That's why it's very important to include flowers near cucumbers."
Each plant on this list brings its own magic to the mix, creating a vibrant ecosystem right in your backyard. So, pick a few cucumber companion plants and get ready for your best harvest yet!
Marigolds
Marigolds give off a strong scent that repels nematodes and other harmful insects, acting as a natural pest deterrent for cucumbers. Plus, their bright blooms will bring a welcome pop of color to your garden!
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums protect cucumbers from common garden pests like aphids and cucumber beetles. Their colorful flowers also attract pollinators, making for a more bountiful cucumber harvest.
Dill
Dill attracts beneficial insects such as predatory wasps and pollinators, which help control pests and promote healthy cucumber growth. Its aromatic leaves will also give your cucumbers a welcome flavor boost.
Beans
Beans offer a sturdy natural trellis for cucumbers to climb, making the most of garden space. Plus, they enrich the soil with nitrogen, giving both plants a healthy boost.
Radish
Radishes deter cucumber beetles, a common pest for cucumbers, through their natural repellent properties, reducing the risk of damage to the cucumber plants.
Corn
Corn provides natural shade for cucumber plants, shielding them from excessive sunlight, while the cucumbers benefit from the nitrogen-fixing properties of corn, improving soil fertility.
Borage
Borage improves the health and flavor of cucumbers through its nutrient-rich leaves and flowers, while also attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden.
Lettuce
Lettuce provides shade and moisture retention for cucumber roots, reducing soil moisture evaporation and competition from weeds, resulting in healthier cucumber plants and improved yield.
Onions
Onions repel pests like aphids and discourage the spread of diseases, acting as a natural pest deterrent and disease suppressant for cucumber plants when interplanted with them.
Oregano
Oregano repels pests such as mosquitoes and spider mites, reducing the risk of pest damage to cucumber plants. Oregano's aromatic foliage also enhances the flavor of cucumbers, resulting in tastier harvests.
Sunflower
Tall sunflowers provide shade and support for cucumber vines, protecting them from intense sunlight and wind damage, while also attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden.
Lavender
Lavender repels pests like moths and fleas, reducing the risk of damage to cucumber plants, and its aromatic scent masks the smell of cucumbers, potentially deterring pests that are attracted to them, making it a beneficial companion in the garden.
Calendula
Calendula flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on aphids and other pests that can damage cucumber plants. These bright blooms will also add a cheerful touch to any garden!
Peas
Peas provide a natural trellis for cucumbers to climb, maximizing vertical space in the garden, and they enrich the soil with nitrogen, promoting healthy growth and high yields for both plants.
Chamomile
Chamomile not only repels pests like flies and mosquitoes but also enhances the flavor of cucumbers when planted nearby. Its delicate, daisy-like flowers add a charming aesthetic to the garden.
Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.
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