Good & Bad Onion Companion Plants
You want to know what plants you should grow with onions? Great!
This article is for you since I will show you all the good and bad onion companion plants in the following chapters so that you can make the best decision in this regard.
Table of Contents
Why do I need Companion Plants to grow Onions?
While you don’t necessarily have to grow onion with other plants, you would still miss out on many beneficial effects good companion plants can have on the growth behavior and on the yield of onions.
Good companion plants loosen the soil, keep it moist, deter pests, attract pollinators and provide shade for your onion plants.
However, don’t expect all plants to have those positive effects.
In fact, there are some plants that do more harm than good when planted with onions.
Thus, make sure to have a look at the following tables to figure out the best onion companion plants and to also get to know which ones you should avoid at all costs.
Good Onion Companion Plants
| Companion Plant | Why is it good? |
|---|---|
| Dill | Keeps away pests and attracts pollinators. |
| Mint | Keeps away pests and improves the flavor of onions. |
| Parsley | Keeps away pests. |
| Oregano | Keeps away pests. |
| Thyme | Attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects. |
| Tomatoes | Improve soil conditions. |
| Lettuce | Good ground cover to keep the soil moist. |
| Spinach | Good ground cover to keep the soil moist. |
| Chamomile | Attracts pollinators. |
| Savory | Attracts pollinators and keeps away pests. |
| Strawberries | Improve soil conditions. |
| Kale | Onions deter cabbage worms. |
| Broccoli | Onions deter cabbage worms. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Onions deter cabbage worms. |
| Cabbage | Onions deter cabbage worms. |
| Cauliflowers | Onions deter cabbage worms. |
Bad Onion Companion Plants
| Companion Plant | Why is it bad? |
|---|---|
| Peas | Inhibit the growth of onions. |
| Beans | Inhibit the growth of onions. |
| Squash | Take away too many nutrients from onions. |
| Melons | Take away too many nutrients from onions. |
| Corn | Take away too much sunlight. |
| Asparagus | Heavy feeder that takes away too many nutrients from the soil. |
| Sage | Attracts bugs and other pests. |
| Leek | Attracts maggots and other pests. |
| Garlic | Attracts maggots and other pests. |
| Shallots | Attract maggots and other pests. |
Best & Worst Onion Companion Plants – Summary List
| Best Companion Plants | Worst Companion Plants |
|---|---|
| Brussels Sprouts | Asparagus |
| Cabbage | Leeks |
| Kale | Melon |
| Broccoli | Squash |
| Cauliflower | Beans |
| Tomatoes | Peas |
| Mint | Corn |
| Dill | Shallots |
| Oregano | Garlic |
| Chamomile | Sage |
| Thyme | |
| Parsley | |
| Spinach | |
| Lettuce | |
| Strawberries | |
| Savory |
What should you plant with Onions?
You should grow onions with chamomile, thyme, oregano, savory, parsley, dill, mint, spinach, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and cabbage varieties.
Avoid planting onions with corn, squash, melon, garlic, shallots, peas, beans, leeks, sage or asparagus.
If you want to learn more about growing onions in general, also make sure to check out my onions grower’s guide!
About the Author
My name is Andreas and I’m really passionate about our environment and also about growing plants. In fact, I have grown several different plants over many years. I love to see my plants grow and also always try new things to improve my overall conditions at home.
In my blog posts, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can become successful in growing various different plants and improving your home as well, even though you might still be a beginner right now.
