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What can you plant with zucchini


The Best Companion Plants For Zucchini and Squash

The popular garden phrase "companion planting" refers to the art of intentionally placing certain vegetables, fruits and herbs next to each other in your raised garden bed or soil plot in an effort to enhance their growth. Different plants can help one another in different ways, either by offering protection from pests, amplifying the delicious flavor of a vegetable or fruit, keeping weeds at bay, preserving moisture, or adding nutrients to the soil. In some instances, tall sturdy plants can even provide some much-needed structure and support for nearby vining varieties like beans and peas.

Companion Plants for Zucchini and Squash

The best companion plants for zucchini and squash include beans and corn, a classic combination that benefits all three plants. This combination of plants has long been known as the "three sisters" approach and was practiced by the Seneca branch of the Iroquoian American Indian nation for centuries before Europeans arrived in North America and were taught the method.

Radishes, peas, peppermint, dill, parsley, oregano, and even flowers like marigolds or nasturtiums are a few other options for gardeners. Most importantly, zucchini and squash should grow with plants that also need regular watering but don't take up too much space.

Both zucchini and summer squash (members of the Cucurbia pepo species) require a lot of room in the garden, making it essential to find companion plants with opposite traits. They are also heavy feeders. Their broad leaves and vining nature offer shade which helps keep weeds in check and retain soil moisture which will benefit companion plants with those requirements. With this in mind, you can successfully choose plant companions that will thrive alongside these popular summer vegetables.

Tip

When plotting out your garden and choosing which plants to place near one another, you'll want to to focus on selecting plants that have different growth habits so that they do not out-compete each other for sun and nutrients. For small gardens, strategic companion planting is recommended in order to conserve space and create as bountiful a yield as possible in a small footprint.

The Three Sisters

Beans, corn, and squash are the ultimate companion plants in the gardening world. This top-notch trio is typically planted together in indigenous peoples' gardens and is collectively known as "the three sisters." Legend describes these three plants as "gifts from the gods," noting they should always be planted, eaten, and cherished together.

Each "sister" adds her own unique offering to the garden ecosystem. The beans (or any legume, including peas) pull nitrogen from the air and fixate it into the soil. Nitrogen-fixing plants benefit all other plants—especially heavy feeders like zucchini and squash—by providing the nutrients they need to grow. Corn, with its tall, sturdy stalk, gives vining plants like beans a backbone on which to trellis themselves.

Additionally, both corn and squash have the same moisture and soil fertility requirements, making them impeccable neighbors. The ample growth of squash and zucchini plants shade the soil and prevent the infiltration of weeds, while their spiny leaves deter rodents who may enjoy a bean or sweet corn snack. 

The Spruce / K. Dave 

Other Companions for Zucchini and Summer Squash

While the three sisters are common companion plants for zucchini and summer squash, they're not the only options. Mixing edible flowers and herbs into your vegetable garden will make it pleasing to the eye and can benefit your crops. Flowers like nasturtiums and marigolds act as a "trap crop" (a plant used to attract pests from another crop) for flea beetles and aphids (nasturtiums also repel squash vine borers). If you commonly deal with bugs in your garden, edge the perimeter of your squash plants with these two flowers—as a bonus, both plants bear colorful flowers that can be eaten, too. Nasturtium's spiciness adds a nip to a butter lettuce salad, while marigold's sweetness mellows out the peppery taste of arugula.

Fragrant herbs like peppermint, dill, oregano, lemon balm, and parsley help ward off pests and insects from squashes. However, take care when planting different varieties together—when strong-smelling herbs are planted side-by-side, their tastes can become altered. Additionally, two herbs that are heavy feeders can compete with each other and the squash plants for vital nutrients. On the flip side, blooming herbs like borage attract honeybees—crucial pollinators for any garden—and will increase the yield of your harvest.

Giving your zucchini and summer squash plenty of space to spread out is one of the most important considerations as you plan your garden. Other cool season crops like lettuces, beets, and radishes can be succession planted in garden areas shaded from the intense summer heat.

Good companion plants for zucchini and other summer squash work in one of three ways: by repelling damaging insects, by attracting useful insects, or by improving cultural conditions for the zucchini plants. Many plants offer more than one benefit. Here is a list of helpful companions categorized according to the benefits they offer:

Pest Control Companions

Growth Companions

Beneficial Insect Companions

The Spruce / K. Dave  

Companion Plants to Avoid

While there are many plants that work great together, there are some flowers and vegetables that shouldn't be in the same plot of soil. There are several bad companions for zucchini and other types of summer squash. For example, Irish potatoes shouldn't be planted with squash, cucumbers, pumpkins or tomatoes, as they can negatively impact a variety of other vegetables planted nearby, due to their ability to deplete the soil of nutrients. For this reason, many potato farmers often rotate their crops year after year, making sure to plant nitrogen fixers in their place before reintroducing a subsequent potato crop to that same spot the following year.

It's not a good idea to mix zucchini or summer squash with another vining ground crop. For example, don't plant cucumbers and zucchini together, as the vines will become enmeshed and may even choke one another out. Similarly, it's not a good idea to plant zucchini next to other types of squash, such as pumpkins, for the same reason.

Tips for Success

Both zucchini and summer squash are heavy producers when grown in the correct conditions and this means less is often more. Two or three plants can provide enough yield for a family of four. You will enjoy a better yield with fewer healthy plants than with 5 or 6 crowded together. While you may see these plants for sale at your local garden nursery, both are easily grown by simply pressing a seed into the soil.

You may want to experiment with different companion crops until you find the perfect combination to fit your personal tastes and growing conditions. Avoid planting zucchini and summer squash with all other vining plants which include cucumbers and sweet potatoes as well as pumpkins, winter squashes, and melons.

It helps to know that these summer-type squashes tend to hide among the large leaves and vines of the plant, so check your plants daily as they begin to fruit. They can grow overnight to an unpalatable size, especially after a good rainfall.

The Spruce / K. Dave  

A Companion Planting Trio: Tomatoes, Borage, and Squash

14 Companion Plants For Zucchini (And What Not To Plant Nearby)

Zucchini plants have a variety of excellent companions that provide nutrients while keeping pests away.

The best companion plants for zucchini include other squash, corn, lettuce, melon, peas, radish, marigolds, and sunflowers. These plants each have specific benefits, including adding nutrients to the soil, decreasing pest insects, attracting pollinators, or providing groundcover to keep moisture in the soil. Avoid planting brassica plants like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage nearby your zucchini plants.

If you’re thinking of growing zucchini in your garden, read on. This post will go through the best and worst zucchini plant companions to help your garden thrive!

Zucchini Background

1. Pumpkins

2. Cucumbers

3. Hubbard Squash

4. Corn

5. Melons

6. Peas

7. Sunflowers

8. Nasturtium

9. Marigold

10. Lettuce

11. Dill

12. Chamomile

13. Lavender

14. Radishes

Bad Companions To Avoid Planting Nearby

Resources

Zucchini Background

Zucchini plants are part of the Cucurbita family, which also includes squash, gourds, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkins. Zucchini grows well with other members of the Cucurbita family since they thrive in comparable environments, have similar pollination requirements, and are resistant to similar pests. There are also several other beneficial vegetables, herbs, and flowers that make great companion plants for zucchini.

1. Pumpkins

Because pumpkin plants attract squash bees (Peponapis species), zucchini plants thrive when planted near pumpkins. These native bees look like honeybees, but the males like to sleep within squash blooms (like zucchini blossoms). Squash bees also pollinate many other nearby plants, including pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, zucchini, and other crops. Because squash bees are helpful to a wide range of plants, try to avoid disturbing the garden soil. The bees make their solitary homes in the soil, so you want to avoid disturbing them. 

2. Cucumbers

Cucumbers make excellent companions for zucchini they attract squash bees just like pumpkins. These bees are helpful to zucchini plants because they pollinate both the zucchini and cucumber plants, which produces more veggies for your harvest.

3. Hubbard Squash

Hubbard Squash is an excellent companion for zucchini plants because they attract zucchini pests, acting as a “trap” companion plant. Squash bugs and squash vine borers, two typical zucchini pest insects, like feeding on Hubbard Squash. These pests prefer Hubbard Squash and become distracted from devouring the zucchini plants.

If you plan on growing Hubbard Squash as a trap crop, plant them at least two weeks before the zucchini so the pests discover them first. In addition, you want to keep them at least a few feet apart from the zucchini plants for optimal results. Lastly, try to plant your Hubbard Squash along the garden’s perimeter if possible.

4. Corn

To make a living trellis, plant corn alongside your zucchini plants. Weeds are kept at bay by the zucchini plant’s leaves, which conceal the corn.

In addition, the old “three sisters” companion planting arrangement is mutually beneficial to squash and can be done with zucchini plants. You can create this arrangement by planting your zucchini plants alongside corn and beans. As your zucchini plant produces zucchinis close to the ground, the beans climb the corn. Because of the zucchini plant’s enormous leaves, the ground is shaded to provide natural weed suppression and keep moisture in the soil.

5. Melons

Melons and squash are similar in that both plants attract pollinators. These bees pollinate both melons and zucchinis, leading to greater harvests. In addition, melons also encourage earthworms, which aerate the soil as they travel through it.

6. Peas

Peas are an excellent companion plant for zucchini plants because their roots provide nitrogen that can later be consumed by the heavy-feeding zucchini plants. Nitrogen can help your zucchini plant produce higher yields because of its importance in growing large healthy leaves for optimal photosynthesis and energy production.

7. Sunflowers

Sunflowers make great companions for zucchini because they act as a vertical trellis when planted alongside zucchini plants. Zucchini plants don’t typically need a trellis but can be more productive if staked. If possible, use zucchini cultivars that don’t weigh down the sunflower.

Sunflowers also entice natural pollinators like bees. As a result, these bees fertilize the surrounding zucchini blossoms. Sunflowers also attract birds during the fall, that consume the seeds of the sunflower plant. Because these birds consume the seeds of the sunflower plant, they might eat other pests that can attack your zucchini plants.

8. Nasturtium

Nasturtiums are excellent companion plants for zucchini plants because they keep pests like striped cucumber beetles, cabbage loopers, and squash bugs at bay. So, many gardeners grow nasturtiums near zucchini plants and other favorite garden vegetables to deter pests.

9. Marigold

Marigolds, like nasturtiums, repel striped cucumber beetles, cabbage loopers, and squash insects. Furthermore, marigold is helpful in repelling nematodes. Nematodes reside in the soil and can wreak havoc on zucchini plants. Finally, marigolds repel aphids, which are a common pest among most plants.

10. Lettuce

Lettuce is a compact, quick-growing plant that may be grown with zucchini plants. Lettuce plants have very short roots, so they don’t fight for space and nutrients, making them perfect companions for zucchini. Additionally, even if zucchini plants are planted nearby, you can still sow your lettuce plants and it won’t affect your zucchini plants!

11. Dill

Dill plants deter cabbage worms from laying eggs in the zucchini plant’s leaves, making them perfect companions for zucchini plants. Beneficial pollinators are also attracted to dill when the plant is in flower.

12. Chamomile

Chamomile prevents beetles from damaging your zucchini plants, making them wonderful companions for zucchini plants.  These plants also produce a host of dainty flowers that attract beneficial insects to your veggie patch.

13. Lavender

Because it attracts bees, lavender is a great companion for zucchini plants. These bees pollinate the lavender plant, making their way over to pollinate your zucchini plants as well. As a result, the bees will distribute more zucchini pollen throughout your garden, hopefully yielding more zucchini at the time of harvest.

14. Radishes

Pests like flea beetles are drawn to radishes, which keeps them away from zucchini plants. Flea beetles, unfortunately, feast on the leaves of a multitude of vegetable plants, including pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, kale, and squash. Radish leaves are more enticing to flea beetles, potentially causing them to ignore your other vegetable plants. Another nuisance insect repelled by radish plants is the striped cucumber beetle.

Bad Companions To Avoid Planting Nearby

Kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are members of the brassica family and shouldn’t be planted anywhere near your zucchini plants. Brassicas absorb a large number of soil nutrients, robbing your zucchini plants of essential resources. They also may attract pest insects to your squash plants like zucchini.

Furthermore, you should avoid planting potatoes near zucchini plants. Potato roots take up a lot of room in the soil since they are deep-rooted plants. Consequently, if zucchini plants are planted alongside potatoes, they may not receive the nutrition they require for growth. Potatoes also may attract harmful pests to your zucchinis.

Finally, avoid planting zucchini plants near fennel since it might stunt their growth. Both herb fennel and Florence fennel are generally considered poor companion plants for most other food crops in the garden.

Resources

What to plant zucchini next to: the best neighbors for zucchini

Contents:

Growing a large crop of zucchini will be a pleasure for any gardener who loves this crop. Zucchini is fairly easy to grow, but only produces a great harvest under the right growing conditions. The article will describe what to plant zucchini next to, what crops they get along with, and which ones they don’t.

The best neighbors for zucchini

Before describing what to plant zucchini next to, it is worth considering the zucchini as a culture similar. For starters, this is a melon plant. Zucchini are liana-like plants, some species of which can literally braid the entire site if their growth is not controlled. Based on this, you need to understand that not every garden plant will be able to grow next to them at all.

The best neighbors for zucchini

Important!

Root vegetables, eggplants, herbs, legumes and nightshades are the best for zucchini.

The ripening period of the culture also plays a significant role in the choice of cohabitants for zucchini. So, in the aisles, you can plant early plants, such as winter garlic or onions, radishes. Until the zucchini begins to grow as much as possible, they will already need to be removed. Reliable and good neighbors for a zucchini are:

Interesting!

The black radish has long roots, due to which it can get its own nutrients even next to such a "gluttonous" companion. At the same time, the smell of black radish will scare away pests from zucchini. So this is a good option for those who do not know what to plant zucchini next to.

In addition, many gardeners practice planting near peas. It grows quickly, up, enriches the earth and does not interfere with zucchini. Carrots, like beets, can also be good partners. Of course, zucchini leaves can shade them from the sun, but if you maintain a distance, this will not happen. In addition, not only the sun is important for the growth of root crops, but also nutrient soil - these are good neighbors.

Zucchini, corn and sunflowers on the same plot

Zucchini, corn and sunflowers on the same plot

Deciding what to plant zucchini next to, many gardeners simply come to a standstill. This culture grows strongly, has large, lobed leaves and therefore obscures everything around. Therefore, tall plants are often planted nearby - sunflowers and corn. If you maintain a normal distance between the beds, they can grow side by side without any problems.

So corn and sunflower are two good options. True, both of these plants greatly impoverish the soil, so you need to fertilize it in a timely manner and observe crop rotation - these plants are never planted twice in the same place!

Is it possible to plant courgettes and squash next to each other?

Is it possible to plant marrows and pumpkins side by side? In principle, zucchini and pumpkin in the same area get along without problems, they can be good cohabitants, they are often planted in one row. The reason is that their care is similar. The type of watering, fertilizing does not differ, and even the loosening of the earth is carried out until a certain time.

Interesting!

Zucchini and squash require a lot of nutrients to grow vigorously. If they grow nearby, they will have to be fertilized very often and abundantly. The competition of these crops for food and water is high!

The main problem gardeners face is pollination. Many are afraid of pollinating similar crops (zucchini, squash, cucumbers, pumpkin, melons, watermelons) and therefore do not plant them side by side. However, experts note that their hybrids can only be obtained in the second year, if seeds are collected and sown from plants growing nearby. In the first year, the hybrid will not grow. So the neighborhood of zucchini, pumpkin and squash will be unfavorable only if the gardener collects seeds from grown fruits.

Can marrows be planted next to tomatoes?

Is it possible to plant zucchini next to tomatoes

You can plant tomatoes next to zucchini, but you need to be careful. In general, these plants do not compete, but they need different care, nutrition and even watering - this should be taken into account. Often, gardeners complain that watering tomatoes abundantly makes the land unsuitable for zucchini, which do not need so much moisture.

Interesting!

It is worth noting that zucchini can be planted in the same place only once every 5 years, otherwise the yield will be low.

Also, tall tomatoes on a good trellis won't interfere with the zucchini, but if it's a simple peg tie and not a trellis, the tomatoes can fall on the zucchini and nothing good will come of it. Low and medium-sized tomatoes with pitching usually get along, but you need to maintain a distance so that the zucchini lashes do not begin to choke the tomatoes.

Zucchini and cucumbers

Zucchini and cucumbers

Zucchini and cucumbers belong to gourds, and these are completely incompatible crops. They can cross-pollinate if they grow next to each other (which is important for those who collect seeds). In addition, they have similar pests and diseases, so if cucumbers get sick, zucchini will also become infected from them. But the main problem is that zucchini take on too many nutrients from the ground, leaving nothing for cucumbers.

Experienced gardeners note that it is possible to plant both of these crops in one dacha, but away from each other. In addition, after zucchini, cucumbers cannot be planted in the same area, and zucchini is not planted after cucumbers.

Can cabbage be planted next to zucchini?

You can also plant cabbage next to marrows

As a rule, cabbage is planted in an open area with plenty of sun. And therefore, next to the zucchini, she has no place. The fact is that even young cabbage needs a lot of time to ripen. By the time she begins to gain head size, the zucchini will already grow and cover all the sun. And without an abundance of light, cabbage simply cannot fully grow and collect juices.

Greens and zucchini on the same bed

Greens and zucchini on the same bed

Greens is an option that will always work. It does not pull on a lot of nutrients from the ground, can grow in any type of soil and gets along with almost any crop. In the case of zucchini, you can make a neighboring bed with greens or plant it in the aisles. According to gardeners, knowing what to plant zucchini next to can increase productivity. Suitable for this case:

But it is worth noting that such a neighborhood is fruitful only at an early stage of development of zucchini. When they grow up, they will shade everything below them with their leaves, and the greenery will begin to lag behind in growth.

What can be planted next to zucchini in the open ground: compatibility of crops in the garden

A rare household plot today does without zucchini, and after all, a vegetable once imported from Mexico was grown in the botanical gardens of Europe exclusively as a decorative overseas curiosity. It took almost two centuries for medieval gourmets to appreciate the taste and health benefits of zucchini dishes.

Growing an unpretentious pumpkin culture is not particularly difficult and usually succeeds even for beginner gardeners the first time. However, a truly record harvest can be obtained only by choosing the right neighbors for zucchini.

Requirements for growth conditions

The place for planting zucchini should be sunny, well protected from the wind with low groundwater. The soil is preferably light, fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline. Good predecessors for culture are tomatoes, peas, carrots, parsley, cabbage, onions, garlic, lettuce, bad ones are all members of the Pumpkin family.

The bed is prepared in autumn: the soil is dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet, while adding organic and mineral fertilizers. For each m² of planting area, 5 kg of compost or humus, 20 g of potassium sulfate and 30 g of superphosphate are added. Nitrogen fertilizers (15 g of ammonium nitrate per m²) are added in the spring for shallow (10-12 cm) loosening of the soil.

Partnership with other crops

Given the love of zucchini for abundant watering and feeding, good neighbors for them will be moisture-loving crops with a moderate appetite, such as:

Regarding the compatibility of zucchini and tomatoes , gardeners have no consensus: on the one hand, whiteflies, weevils and aphids do not like the smell of tomato tops, on the other hand, nightshade culture needs frequent watering, sunlight and a full range of nutrients. On the same bed, tomatoes and zucchini will probably be a bit crowded.

Unfortunate neighborhood

Worst of all, zucchini grows next to potatoes , which actively absorb minerals from the soil, taking nutrition from neighboring crops. The proximity to the “second bread” also negatively affects the quality of the fruit: the squash pulp becomes loose and acquires an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.

Joint planting zucchini and cucumbers is unprofitable primarily for the latter. The roots of a stronger brother “strangle” the weak root system of cucumber bushes, slowing down their development and reducing yields.

And yet, the most heated debates are over the partnership of the zucchini with its kindred pumpkins, squash, watermelons, melons . The fact is that all of these crops are prone to cross-pollination. Experts say that the close proximity of pumpkin is dangerous only if it is planned to take seeds for sowing from plants at the end of summer: hybrids can inherit the characteristics of several crops at once. Gardeners, on the other hand, argue that the results of pollination can be seen already in the current season, supposedly next to pumpkins, the flesh of zucchini turns orange, while pumpkins, watermelons and melons next to zucchini grow unsweetened and thin-skinned. Sometimes the fruits change shape and color or “dress up” in an unusual pleated “skirt” (when pollinated with squash). However, these nuances are not the only obstacle. When planting together, there is a high risk of infection of plants with diseases or pests characteristic of pumpkin. Yes, and related cultures consume the same useful substances, which means that in the process of development they will “eat up” their neighbors. Conclusion: it is desirable to grow zucchini, pumpkins, melons, watermelons separately from each other.

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