Home » Misc » What to plant near peppers

What to plant near peppers


Learn About Plants That Like To Grow With Peppers

Home › Edible Gardens › Vegetables › Peppers

Peppers

By: Amy Grant

Image by phanasitti

Growing peppers? You’ll be glad to know that there are many pepper plant companions that can benefit your peppers. How can companions for peppers engender healthier plants with higher yields? Read on to find out about pepper companion planting and plants that like to grow with peppers.

Pepper Companion Planting

Companion plants for peppers or other veggies work together symbiotically, each giving and/or receiving something from the other. Companion planting simply means grouping different, but complimentary, plants together. This may accomplish several things.

Companion planting may provide shade or act as a wind barrier, it may succeed in retarding weeds or deterring harmful pests and disease, or it may act as a natural trellis or aid in moisture retention.

Plants That Like to Grow with Peppers

There a many plants suitable for growing alongside peppers.

Herbs

Herbs are wonderful pepper plant companions.

Vegetables

Tomatoes and bell peppers can be planted in the same garden, but be sure to rotate them to a different area the successive growing season so they don’t pass on overwintering pathogens. The tomatoes deter soil nematodes and beetles.

Carrots, cucumbers, radishes, squash, and members of the Allium family all do well when grown in close proximity to peppers.

Eggplant, a member of the nightshade family along with peppers, thrives alongside peppers.

Spinach, lettuce, and chard are suitable pepper companions. They help crowd out weeds and due to their short stature and rapid maturation, are a great way to maximize garden space and get in an additional crop. Beets and parsnips can also fill in space, retard weeds around the peppers, and keep the soil cool and moist.

Corn serves as a windbreak and sun barrier to peppers, while beans and peas fix nitrogen into the soil, a necessary nutrient for peppers, and also help block wind and sun. Buckwheat can be grown around pepper plants to attract pollinators and, once harvested, serves as green mulch for the garden.

Pepper plants comingled with asparagus is another great space saver. Once the asparagus has been harvested in the spring, the peppers can utilize the space.

Flowers

Many flowers also make terrific companion plants for peppers.

Plants to Avoid

As with everything, there is good with the bad. Peppers don’t like the company of every plant, although this is quite a lengthy list. Avoid planting peppers near members of the Brassica family or with fennel. If you have an apricot tree, don’t plant peppers near it since a common fungal disease of peppers may also spread to the apricot.

This article was last updated on

Read more about Peppers

Did you find this helpful? Share it with your friends!

You might also like…

Best (and Worst) Pepper Plant Companions in the Garden

If you’re new to growing peppers, or you have had some bad luck in the past, you may wonder what you should plant next to your peppers. The best neighbors for pepper plants will help deter pests and help avoid other common problems.

It’s a great idea to plan ahead of planting season so you are fully aware of what your garden will look like. We like to plan out our garden plot during the winter months so that we are ready come spring.

In this article, we’ll help you pick the best pepper plant companions for your garden. We’ll also cover a few plants to avoid planting with peppers.

Jump Ahead:

What Are Companion Plants?

Companion plants are plant varieties that complement each another when planted nearby. The most common examples are tomatoes and basil. The basil is said to help deter pests like mosquitoes and the hornworm as well as mildew. Basil is also harvested around the same time as tomatoes.

To top it all off, the crops are rumored to improve one another’s flavor (though there is little hard evidence proving this).

It is essential for any garden, large or small, to consider which plants to place next to each other. These choices can be the difference between a successful harvest and a lot of wasted effort. The ideal plant companion will attract pollinators, deter pests, or otherwise help its neighboring plant.

Companion planting is different than crop rotation, which involves changing the location of select crop varieties each year. A lot happens above and below the soil, so we should do our best to give our pepper plants helpful neighbors!

Can Tomatoes and Peppers Be Planted Together?

Before we dive into the best and worst pepper companions, I want to talk about tomatoes. They are another of the most popular vegetable plants for gardeners, and you’re likely wondering if they can be planted together.

In short, tomatoes can be planted with peppers in the same garden bed. However, be mindful of the proper plant spacing for each plant type, as they are quite different (see below).

Tomatoes require significantly more space between plants to allow for adequate airflow. Aside from patio-type tomatoes, most varieties require at least 18-24″ of space between stems. Without room to breathe, tomatoes become a host for disease and pests (blight, aphids, hornworm, etc.).

Peppers can be spaced closer together, depending on the variety. If you grow bell peppers and other annuum varieties, they can typically be planted about 12-18″ between plants (stem to stem). Some mild bottom pruning is all they need to breathe and thrive.

Tip: In addition to proper plant spacing, it is recommended that tomatoes and peppers be rotated each season to a new location. If you have multiple garden beds, simply plant them in another bed each year.

To summarize, tomatoes and peppers can be planted with each other in the garden. Just be sure to leave more room around each tomato plant to avoid overcrowding, and consider rotating your crops annually.

Best Pepper Plant Companions

We start with what you should plant alongside your peppers. There are many options, so it will be up to you to decide how you wish to organize your garden. These recommendations work for all peppers varieties, including spicy peppers like habaneros and sweet bell peppers.

Alyssum

Alyssums are beautiful, hardy plants that produce lots of tiny flowers. They are great for planting near peppers as they attract predatory wasps and the Minute Pirate Bug. These both feast on aphids and other pests that may otherwise infest your plants.

Get alyssum seeds >

Basil

Full of aromatic oils, basil is a fantastic garden herb that is easy to grow. It has a positive effect on peppers and tomatoes and does not take up much space in the garden.

Basil is known to deter pests like aphids, mosquitoes, and thrips. Scatter basil throughout your garden, and for added effect, you can occasionally crush a few basil leaves to release more fragrance. Try some of the unique varieties of basil like lemon, cinnamon, and (our favorite) sweet Thai!

Get basil seeds >

Beets

Another low-footprint crop, beets are a good pepper companion. Great for filling up unused space in the garden, beets are generally happy anywhere in the garden. However, some speculate that beets can interact poorly with sweet corn if planted too close.

Get beet seeds >

Brussels Sprouts

Though brussels sprouts can be tricky to grow without running into pest issues, they are comfortable being grown near peppers. If you love brussels, try planting dill nearby to help improve the plant’s resilience.

Get brussels sprouts seeds >

Chives

The fragrance of chives helps ward off certain types of flies. They also decrease the likelihood of gray mold and downy mildew. Chives are an excellent tasting, hardy plant that will produce year after year.

They are also likely to survive winter in hardiness zones 6 and above! We love chives and recommend planting them nearby your peppers. However, avoid planting them near beans and peas.

Get chive seeds >

Eggplant

Eggplants make great companion plants for peppers. They require similar maintenance and soil makeup and are harvested around the same time of year. This is because eggplants are closely related to peppers, coming from the same plant family, the Solanaceae, or nightshades.

They also complement each other well in cooking. Try this tasty red pepper and eggplant parmesan by Bobby Flay.

Get eggplant seeds >

Garlic

Garlic makes a great companion for most common garden plants, and this includes peppers. This is thanks to garlic’s antiseptic properties and it’s natural insect and fungal deterrence. Garlic is also delicious and high in value per square foot of garden space.

For this reason, we recommend planting garlic scattered throughout the garden in the autumn (garlic needs a cold period to produce properly). The only potential clashes for garlic are artichoke, peas, and beans.

Buy seed garlic >

Green Beans

Though there are arguments for and against growing green beans nearby peppers, we have never had issues with the combination. Green beans prefer neutral soil while peppers prefer slightly acidic soil.

However, the green beans will tolerate pH levels down to 5.5 and grow just fine. If you are tight on space and want to grow both peppers and green beans, you likely won’t have any problems.

Buy green bean seeds >

Onions

Onions don’t take up much space in the garden and can be another method for using every square foot. They are also fairly easy to grow and cook well together with peppers. Planting carrots nearby onions can help complete the symbiosis as carrots tend to ward off onion flies.

Buy onion sets >

Peppers!

Of course! Peppers compliment other peppers. We grow more peppers than any other type of vegetable, and we like to organize by heat level. Since we save our seeds, we keep the hottest pepper plants farthest from our heatless peppers to avoid unwanted cross-pollination.

The more pepper varieties you have, the more intentional cross-breeding can be done to create interesting new pepper types in the next growing season!

See our favorite places to buy pepper seeds >

Petunias

Looking to add some color to the garden? Petunias are a beautiful, decorative flower the may also help distract certain pests. These include hornworms, leafhoppers, and aphids. Though they can also become subject to attack, better on the flowers than your tasty peppers!

Buy petunia seeds >

Rosemary

One of our favorite herbs, rosemary is a hardy plant that helps keep the soil moist for longer. Use rosemary as a ground cover around your pepper plants to decrease the rate of moisture evaporation from the soil.

Tip: Pair rosemary, carrots, and onions; they’re all beneficial to one another!

Buy rosemary seeds >

Tomatoes (see more info above)

Though this is debated, we grow tomatoes and peppers in the same garden every year without issue. We do recommend that you rotate the crops each year to avoid root-based pathogens from thriving.

If you have enough space, keep the tomatoes separated from your peppers, but know that there shouldn’t be any harmful interaction between tomato and pepper plants.

Buy tomato seeds >

Yarrow

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is an easy to grow flowering plant that is known for attracting ladybugs and other beneficial insects. These flying friends help pollinate your pepper flowers and also feast on aphids. Instead of buying live ladybugs for your garden, plant things that attract them naturally!

Buy yarrow seeds >

Other plants that attract ladybugs include coriander, dill, dandelion and more. See this great list of plants for attracting more beneficial insects.

There are many more options for plants to put near your peppers. This list is by no means exhaustive, so keep researching if you have a specific plant in mind! However, most herbs will be safe to plant near peppers, and if you avoid the following plants, you will most likely be safe.

Worst Companions For Peppers (Avoid!)

Though there aren’t too many plants to avoid planting near peppers, we have a few recommendations. In most of these cases, you can plant these plants in the same garden with peppers, but they should be adequately spaced out to avoid potential issues.

❌ Fennel

Fennel is not a great companion for any veggie garden plant. It attracts certain insects and pests, which means it can be a deterrent, but only when planted far away from your vegetables. Fennel is a nutritious, tasty herb that you should plant, just not near your peppers and other veggies.

❌ Brassicas (Cabbages)

While cabbage won’t destroy your pepper harvests, they do prefer a different soil. Peppers prefer a more acidic pH balance while cabbage needs a more neutral soil makeup. You can plant these in the same garden as your peppers, but be aware of the fertilizing needs of each!

❌ Kohlrabi

Despite this being a fairly uncommon plant, it is not recommended that you plant kohlrabi near your pepper plants. This comes from the same family as cabbage and broccoli and can attract cabbage butterflies.

I hope this article helped you plan out what to plant near your peppers. There are infinite options to choose from, but following these pepper plant companion guidelines will help ensure a great harvest! Happy gardening, pepper geeks!

Good neighborhood: what can be planted next to peppers

Sweet (aka Bulgarian) pepper is a rather whimsical and heat-loving plant. Therefore, in our middle latitudes, it is most often grown in greenhouses and hotbeds, in which you want to save space by planting several more crops next to pepper.

However, are all plants good neighbors for pepper in the garden, or are some of them incompatible with the capricious nightshade? Let's figure it out together.

We have already introduced you to the basic principles of creating dense plantings on the site and the rational use of protected greenhouse beds on the principle of correct alignment of plants in time and space. Properly planted plants are really capable of not only saving space in the greenhouse, but also protecting each other from diseases and pests, promoting active growth and even improving the taste of each other.

So, you have chosen a suitable variety of pepper for the greenhouse, successfully grown its seedlings at home and are preparing to transfer them to a new place of residence. What exactly should be planted next to bell pepper in a greenhouse, and which plants will be bad neighbors for it?

Good neighbors for peppers

One of the main tasks of the gardener, when it comes to the greenhouse, is to protect plants from possible diseases and prevent their development. Indeed, there is little space in the greenhouse compared to open ground, the plants "sit" in a fairly close neighborhood, and due to the special microclimate with high humidity and temperature, the spread of infections occurs faster.

So, first of all, when choosing neighbors for pepper, we will try to prevent possible infections. For this, cultures that produce biologically active substances that can repel harmful insects and / or inhibit the growth and development of pathogenic bacteria are perfect.

The most popular and well-known such helper plants are, of course, onion and garlic. They are not only useful in themselves, but also take up almost no space in the greenhouse, without interfering with the main crop to successfully grow and bear fruit. Due to their volatile properties, they will become good neighbors for almost all garden crops - and pepper is no exception.

In addition to onion and garlic, other herbs have a similar effect and even some ornamental plants that can further attract pollinating insects. The crops listed below make excellent pepper neighbors both outdoors and in a greenhouse:

Pepper also responds well to the presence of early crops nearby in the greenhouse ( radishes, lettuce, spinach ), which are sown early and, if space is scarce, harvested shortly after planting. However, it is possible to grow such green crops next to pepper on an ongoing basis as additional ones that do not interfere with the development of pepper. Moreover, being near the ground itself, they perfectly protect the soil from excessive evaporation of moisture after watering and will not allow the soil to crack in the heat. Carrots can also be attributed to the above crops (its seedlings, by the way, repel some pests no less successfully).

Pepper also feels good next to cabbage – but not everyone! The best partners for him in the greenhouse will be white cabbage and cauliflower. The neighborhood of pepper in a protected building with zucchini, celery, okra is quite acceptable.

It is interesting that even weeds can become a pleasant and useful neighbor for pepper. Nettle, chamomile and even dandelions contribute to the early ripening of the vegetable. Of course, in a greenhouse they should live in single copies, and not fill all the available space with themselves.

Bad neighbors for peppers

Of course, not all cultures get along so well with pepper in a greenhouse, with some others it will compete for resources, and still others are even able to reward it with diseases or oppress it in growth and development.

Above, we talked about the wonderful neighborhood of pepper with spicy herbs, which not only protect it from pests, but also give zest to the taste of pepper fruits? But it turns out that not all of them are so good - all this does not apply to such fragrant plants as fennel and dill . It is not recommended to plant them next to pepper in a greenhouse, especially in large quantities. Fennel is generally an antagonist of almost any culture because of its aggressiveness in distribution - it is able to "strangle" even immature pepper plants. In addition, it takes a lot of nutrients from the soil and releases strong aromatic substances "unpleasant" to pepper.

Almost the same applies to the neighborhood with thickets dill , which also actively spread over the beds, besides preventing the pepper from receiving enough sunlight, shading its young shoots with tall peduncles and large umbrellas. And dill can also become a refuge and distributor of carrot flies and aphids - dangerous insect pests.

Pepper does not tolerate the neighborhood with beets, which, in the constant struggle for resources, actively takes away most of the nutrients and light from it. By the way, the same applies to some varieties of cabbage - namely, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi, which also compete with pepper for water.

Neighborhood with legumes is also not good for pepper. Even taking into account the fact that in general they enrich the soil with nitrogen and loosen it, peas and beans are quite capable of suppressing the development of pepper plants, and they also have common diseases, for example, anthracnose. And peas can still try to use the seedlings of the latter as a support for their shoots, which also will not benefit the pepper.

In general, it is not recommended to plant bell peppers in a greenhouse and next to members of the family Solanaceae . Peppers, potatoes, tomatoes , and eggplants all take up a lot of space, consume the same nutrients, and are prone to the same diseases and pests. By planting these vegetables side by side, you are more likely to cause competition and disease outbreaks that are characteristic of these relatives.

However, by and large, if you are confident in the quality of your seedlings, have a large enough area in the greenhouse and are ready to carefully provide all nightshades with good protection against insects and infections - you can try to grow them next to each other, nothing is impossible in this.

Similar questions arise when you would like to grow bitter (hot) vegetable peppers next to bell peppers. It seems that "siblings" cannot harm each other in any way, and the growing conditions require the same. Everything would be so, but peppers tend to pollinate, and in the case of a joint planting, sweet pepper is likely to take on the taste of its more burning neighbor. As a result, instead of two different types of pepper, you will get a kind of hybrid of an incomprehensible taste, and even with crushed fruits. Moreover, its “offspring” will be just as indistinct in taste and size.

Strange as it may seem, this does not apply to hot pepper varieties Capsicum frutescens - it is quite possible to plant it with our sweet capsicum (vegetable) pepper in the neighborhood without any damage to the taste of the fruits of both species.

Slightly different situation with the simultaneous cultivation of peppers and cucumbers in a greenhouse - these crops are not related and do not directly harm each other, but require different growing conditions. This is especially true of humidity, which cucumbers love very much and peppers do not tolerate. Therefore, it is rather problematic to combine cultures in one closed room without prejudice to one of them.

As you can see, growing sweet bell peppers in a greenhouse next to other plants is not difficult at all, you just need to learn more about their properties and needs so as not to create competition in a closed room.

What can and cannot be planted next to peppers? Combined landings. Photo - Botanichka

Supporters of joint planting of vegetables, as well as those who want to save space in the garden, will probably be interested in learning about the best companions for pepper. In this article I will tell you which vegetables, flowers and herbs will create a harmonious combination with sweet and hot peppers. At the same time, successful neighbors will protect pepper from diseases and increase its yield. And, of course, we will also consider those garden crops, the neighborhood with which pepper must be avoided.

What can and cannot be planted next to peppers?

Benefits of mixed plantings

Growing vegetables, in particular hot and sweet peppers, together with herbs, flowers and other vegetables is a method that is widely used by adherents of organic farming. This method of growing plants is called joint or combined planting.

Growing peppers with the right neighbors has numerous benefits. First of all, this is the attraction of beneficial insects and the repelling of pests from pepper by its companions. Secondly, the maximum use of garden space. And, according to some gardeners, a good neighborhood enhances the taste and aroma of pepper.

Planting the right companion plants along with peppers is also a good way to avoid the use of powerful chemicals and heavy doses of mineral fertilizers for insect control or plant nutrition.

We usually plant plants next to each other that require similar growing conditions. Namely: a similar temperature regime, air humidity, types and frequency of top dressing, as well as irrigation regime. Bulgarian and hot peppers, we usually have where he can get quite a lot of sun. This means that numerous vegetable and spice crops, which also require a large amount of light, can be successfully grown next to it.

To implement co-planting, one-row alternation of companion plants is usually used, or the companion crop is planted in row-spacings. Some plants are suitable companions simply because they do not harm their neighbors. Others can indeed exert some kind of positive influence on each other by establishing a symbiotic relationship. And still others will harm the main culture.

See also our article Mixed plantings - which crops are best to grow together?

Which plants can be grown next to sweet peppers?

The best vegetable neighbors for peppers

Bell peppers and tomatoes are very good companions: they belong to the same family and require the same growing conditions and the use of the same means to protect against diseases and pests. At the same time, tomatoes and peppers are often successfully combined in a greenhouse. True, tomatoes require an influx of fresh air to a greater extent and need more frequent ventilation than peppers. However, this does not have a special effect on the overall yield of these crops when planted together.

Eggplant also grows well with sweet peppers. In addition, peppers can be grown together with onions, carrots and cucumbers.

Sometimes in the literature you can find recommendations that bell pepper is also good to grow next to a pumpkin. But in such cases, one should take into account the scale of pumpkin bushes with long lashes and huge leaves. They are able to shield the pepper from the light. Therefore, it is important to maintain the desired distance between plants, as well as move the lashes away from the pepper bushes as they grow.

Bell peppers and tomatoes are very good companions for growing in the same bed. © iFartWhenILaughh

Herbs to grow alongside peppers

Experienced gardeners have observed that basil, dill and coriander are the best companions for peppers in the garden. There are over 50 different varieties of basil that can be grown with peppers. Among them there are also sweet varieties (lemon, caramel, mint, cinnamon), and vegetable (classic, clove, large-leaved). And they will all grow equally well next to pepper. And varieties with bright purple foliage will also give the garden a decorative look.

Growing basil next to peppers is highly desirable. It is noticed that its presence makes the taste and aroma of hot or sweet pepper more intense. At the same time, it is believed that thrips, flies and mosquitoes do not like the smell of basil.

Dill and coriander planted next to peppers help deter aphids and attract beneficial insects to the garden, including ladybugs and lacewings.

Marjoram, oregano (oregano), chives and parsley are also good companions for pepper bushes and can be grown with bell peppers without any negative effects.

Flowers that can be planted next to sweet peppers

Some flowers are also valuable companions of peppers. Roman chamomile (navel) increases the resistance of pepper to various diseases, however, when planted at close range.

It is very good to plant marigolds next to peppers, as their roots secrete a substance that protects the soil from nematodes and kills fungi that harm peppers and other vegetable plants.

The popular bright nasturtium flower with edible flowers and seeds is also a good companion to grow with peppers, and its foliage will enrich the soil when it rots in autumn.

Due to belonging to the same family, petunias are successfully grown together with pepper. Geraniums (pelargoniums), planted together with peppers, repel Japanese beetles (beetles) with their essential oils. These are very dangerous pests that damage a huge number of horticultural and horticultural crops, including peppers.

Read also our article 12 of the most delicious varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers that I have grown.

Because of their belonging to the same family, petunias are successfully grown together with pepper

What to plant next to hot peppers?

Hot peppers produce a chemical from their roots that prevents root rot and fungal diseases on nearby plants, such as eggplant. For the same purpose, you can sprinkle pumpkin, chard, tomatoes and cucumbers with ground hot pepper.

Spinach, lettuce, basil, dill, thyme and cilantro pair well with hot peppers. It is noticed that they have a positive effect on the taste of bitter pepper. The most important thing to consider is that companion plants do not cast too much shade on the peppers. And there should be many times more bushes of a burning vegetable than neighboring greens.

Shift crops

Growing crops with different harvest times on the same bed is another option for co-planting. To make the most of the space in a small garden, increasing the yield per square meter, you can grow early-ripening and late-ripening crops together.

Pepper ripens quite late, and due to its thermophilicity, it is planted in open ground in late spring-early summer. Therefore, in his garden before planting seedlings, you can grow early ripening crops - green onions, radishes, peas or lettuce.

Growing crops with different harvest times on the same bed is another option for co-planting

Can hot and sweet peppers be planted side by side?

It would seem that sweet and hot peppers are similar in many respects, which means that they can successfully grow side by side. However, they cannot be grown together. The biological characteristics of pepper are such that it belongs to the so-called "facultative self-pollinators".

That is, in principle, peppers do not need to be pollinated by pollen from other plants in order for them to form fruits. And if you grew pepper in a single copy in a pot on the windowsill, you probably noticed that fruiting does not suffer from this.

However, at elevated air temperatures, peppers can often cross-pollinate. This usually takes place in the southern regions. And in the middle lane, this happens in very hot weather or when grown in a greenhouse.

Usually, when pollinating the “mother” sweet pepper with pollen from the hot “father”, nothing threatens the latter, but the fruits of sweet pepper often become bitter. And if the pollen of sweet pepper pollinates hot pepper bushes, then the latter may lose some of its sharpness. Sometimes the shape may also change - the wall thickness and size of the fetus.

Therefore, if you want peppers to taste and shape according to the cultivar, it is better not to plant sweet and hot peppers side by side.

Which plants should not be planted together with peppers?

Some horticultural and spice crops should not be grown next to bell peppers as they can harm each other. Often a negative impact is felt even if an unsuitable neighbor is in a neighboring garden.

Members of the cabbage (cruciferous) family, which includes cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard and other crops, should never be grown in the garden with sweet or hot peppers.

Beans, beans, including soybeans and lima beans, are also poor companions for bell peppers. A close relative of dill, fennel should not be planted next to any garden crops, including peppers, as it has a negative effect on all of its neighbors.

Do not plant bell peppers near apricots, as the fungal pathogen that affects peppers can also spread to the apricot tree.

Learn more