fellow traveler planting is like a undercover superpower for your asparagus craw . It ’s all about swapping nutrients , scare away pests and inviting good bug over to your edible asparagus party . It ’s kind of a you - scratch - my - back - I - scar - yours deal .
There are many plants that make fantabulous companion for asparagus . Your choices admit veg , herbs , and even flowers .
One intriguing asparagus fellow combination includes strawberries , rhubarb plant , and horseradish . As for herbs , Asparagus officinales pairs well with comfrey , cilantro , and dill . It also grows well when you plant alongside certain unfolding plants like marigolds , nasturtium , and members of the Aster kin .
@lindaskolonistuga
But , you know , just like mass , some works are not urge plant partner for edible asparagus . If you ’re not a fan of Allium sativum and onions , Asparagus officinales is on your side . Keep them far away from your asparagus patch . And do n’t even mean about white potato . edible asparagus and Solanum tuberosum ? They ’re simply not BFF cloth .
So , it ’s significant to guarantee that all potential companions are compatible with asparagus before planting them together .
When make up one’s mind on plants to pair with your asparagus , it ’s essential to select those that wo n’t vie for resources and potentially handicap the increment of your asparagus . It ’s equally vital to void plants that could stunt your asparagus crop ’s growth .
@lindaskolonistuga
Ready to take the guess out ? Awesome ! This guide will give you the lowdown on the do ’s and don’ts of associate planting with edible asparagus . We ’ll dive into the best and worst neighbors for your asparagus , so you may make certain your garden is the place to be and your harvest is on full point !
Why Should I Companion Plant my Asparagus?
Before we dive into the companion plants that are most and least compatible with asparagus , it is crucial to understand why fellow traveler plants are important in the first space . If you are unconvinced about whether you should be implant your Asparagus officinales with companions this year , take a look at these benefits it can offer your plants :
1: It can ward off diseases and pests
Companion flora are often cited for their ability to keep undesirable cuss , viruses , and disease pathogen at bay . A major pest that goes after asparagus is the asparagus beetle and several plants , like tomatoes , emit sealed chemical in the soil that go on them out .
Asparagus can take years to establish in a bed so it is important that during its first year after plant that you take all possible action to keep pests and disease at bay – and fellow traveller plants are just the tag !
2: It bolsters nutrients in the soil
Asparagus are perennial that will pass yr after year , requiring the soil to have replenish its nutrient level to see to it that your next harvest has enough to feed on . Nitrogen , Lucifer , K , and magnesium are just a few of the nutrients that asparagus needs to have in abundance to thrive .
comrade plants for asparagus usually will either have different nutritive demand or supercede nutrients in the soil to ensure a equilibrium is maintained .
For example , beans and other legume fix nitrogen by pulling it out of the air and grime and making it available for other plant life to engross – making them a honorable fellow traveler for asparagus .
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3: Companion plants can provide shade and mulch
Asparagus seam can be very difficult to weed since the ascendant systems are so fragile and near to the surface of the ground . It is risky to habituate vulgar gardening tools like hoe or rakes to locoweed , so often you end up having to weed by hand- which takes a tenacious meter !
A good grounds to companion plant is to leave your Asparagus officinales crops with a living mulch that will shade the soil , cool it down and reduce the dehydration of soil water , and can suppress the development of weeds by rent up space .
Mulches are also a honest way to preclude corrosion , where the wind and rain can remove large amount of bare soil over clock time until your garden is leave with troughs instead of bed !
A good fellow traveler plant for this purpose is a low - growing plant such as clover , which covers the surface of the bed and also locating nitrogen in the grease .
Another common reason that mass choose to companion plant their asparagus is to make the best use of theirgarden bedsover the class . Since asparagus can take three years to establish itself , and then keep grow for many years after that , it makes sense to plant other compatible crops amongst it or at the end of the bed to make the most of your garden area .
It necessitate a balance between seasonality and food needs to make certain you do n’t imbed harvest that are die to compete with your asparagus .
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For this reason , annuals are often a safe family to pair off with a perennial like asparagus , as you will glean the whole plant come the end of every time of year and let the asparagus eternal rest between rotations .
This practice of scatter other type of flora in the same bed is call interplanting , and change over up which one are being planted is called crop gyration .
Since asparagus isharvested typically in the spring , establish an annual in the nightshade family line – like eggplant for example – makes sentiency for your space so that once your asparagus craw is eat up you are still using the outer space for later summertime – autumn harvesting .
20 Best Companion Plants to Grow with Asparagus
Asparagus can profit in many various way from being planted with companions , but it is important to check that you clean the right I as not every flora is a friend to asparagus . These are the best 20 plants to plant near your edible asparagus to get your practiced crop yet :
1:Tomatoes
Asparagus is aperennial vegetablethat will become found wherever you plant it . Intercropping tomatoes with asparagus makes efficient use of your space as the two crops are harvested at different times of the year – edible asparagus in the spring and love apple in mid to late summer .
Tomatoes do good Asparagus officinales by deter the asparagus mallet through a chemical substance they excrete ( solanine ) , and edible asparagus keep away the parasitical nematodes that can go after tomato theme .
flora tomatoes at either goal of your Asparagus officinales bed to draw the welfare without doing any damage to their sensitive ascendant systems . institute the Lycopersicon esculentum in the late give after the edible asparagus angry walk have been harvested .
2:Cilantro
Cilantro , or Chinese parsley depend on your emplacement , is a wonderful familiar herb for asparagus due to its ability to repel pests like aphids andspider mites . In the first few years of getting give , asparagus is very vulnerable to attacks from cuss and it is important to protect your unseasoned works during this clip period with pest - repelling herbs like cilantro .
In the former natural spring , before the Asparagus officinales harvest home , or in the tumble you may sow your cilantro seeds or plant your seedlings , depending on your climate . you could plant it under some taller companion ( like tomatoes ) to offer some shade to the leaves in very raging clime .
3:Basil
Basil is a great companion for many crop , and particularly for asparagus . Similar to many of the herbs on this list , basil volunteer the welfare of dissuade pests through its pungent aroma .
Specifically , basil can extend great aid in dissuade asparagus beetles and can also offer the benefit of protect major asparagus companions like tomato by deter tomato hornworms .
Basil should be planted as seedling , or seeds if you are in a warm climate , in the early summertime or former spring . Basil loves heat so verify it is not shade by anything else . you’re able to plant it at the edges of edible asparagus bed leave at least a couple of metrical unit of space between your basil and Asparagus officinales heads .
4:Eggplant
mad apple is a nightshade , in the same family as love apple , and offers many of the same benefits as tomatoes to asparagus . Namely , repelling the edible asparagus mallet which is well known to eat away at the young fronds of get asparagus plants and inhibit the growth of the crop over a foresightful time period of prison term . Also like tomato , asparagus will fall the flavor to eggplants and guard off beginning - nautical mile nematodes .
institute your eggplant seedlings around the same clip that you reap your asparagus spears . Like Lycopersicon esculentum , it is best to establish them at either end of your bed , or whatever that equates to for your particular bottom shape , so as to subjugate any root interference with young edible asparagus plants .
5:Horseradish
Horseradish is a fantastic asparagus fellow traveller because it keeps away a course of instruction of insects known as “ easy - bodied ” such as slugs . Not only does Armoracia rusticana have a pungent aroma but it also exudes a compound above and underground that deters these type of louse .
Horseradish has very similar soil call for to asparagus which also make it act well as a fellow , and you could plant it in between asparagus crops . Just be careful when harvest the root so you do not disturb the asparagus root as well- pull direct up and out !
6:Parsley
Parsley helps asparagus by warding off the Asparagus officinales mallet but also support all the flowering companions of edible asparagus as well . As asparagus does not of necessity attract many pollinators it is important to have companions that will stand its companions , so that your Lycopersicon esculentum can grow yield whilst acting as a guardian over your edible asparagus .
Plant Petroselinum crispum in the give before reap your asparagus or in the surrender at the end of the season . It is a cool time of year crop that will bolt if it becomes too red-hot , so it is a good theme to implant it on the border of your asparagus bed under the shade of magniloquent companions – like Lycopersicon esculentum .
7:Comfrey
Comfrey is a brawny associate to asparagus that repel pests such as spider mites and aphids and is also thought to ward off fungal disease pathogen that may infect your immature spears .
In addition , they appeal beneficial insects to your asparagus crop such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , which will raven on the ball of the asparagus beetle and foreclose them from ravaging your young craw .
Comfrey is a perennial and you’re able to plant it amongst your edible asparagus a few week before the first frost . Do n’t glean too much from it in the first twelvemonth of output but every yr following ensure to trim it back so that it does n’t take over your Asparagus officinales bed entirely .
@reggies_little_veggies
8:Dill
Dill is a fragrant herb that , like to other fragrant herbaceous plant on this list , repels common asparagus herbs with its pungent aroma . In particular , spider mites and aphids will steer clear of dill which make it an effective familiar for not only edible asparagus but many of asparagus ’s other fellow as well – like tomatoes .
Although dill weed is a great companion it does have a farseeing taproot and in its mature stages can become a challenger for certain grease food , so it is safe to keep Anethum graveolens nearby but confined to pots or raised beds .
9:Marigold
Marigolds keep common insect pests away from your asparagus but also nuisances like theme roundworm and mammal pests , such as rabbits , from messing with your spears . As a flower , they are great for attracting pollinators and helping out other friends of edible asparagus with fruit production .
Plant marigolds wherever you could discover a spot – at the goal of your asparagus bed or in and amongst the plant . Just ensure to exit a few feet of space between the nearest fizgig to prevent messing with the solution organization .
10:Nasturtiums
Nasturtium are trailing edible flowers that deter beetles and ants and attract good insects such as hoverflies . This is good to your asparagus as hoverflies junket on aphid and other plaguey pests that care to attack young edible asparagus plants .
Nasturtiums are fantastic molding flower to your asparagus beds , at every corner or running along the sides . Their tail vines can also be super helpful in shading dope and suppressing their growth .
11:Clover
Clover is a nitrogen - fixing plant in the legume family that can gain asparagus by acting as a know mulch and restoring dirt food . As trefoil is low - mature it can be extremely beneficial when implant in edible asparagus bed as it wo n’t fill in the gig but will help the soil retain water and suppress gage growth .
Clover seeds should be break up in the pin or early spring and they should be continuously shorten back to foreclose gigantism or flowering . Do n’t sow in seeds too close to the lance themselves or it may interfere with the asparagus root system .
12:Beetroots
Beetroots are a good spatial companion for asparagus as they wo n’t take up a draw of distance and have a relatively high turnover rate pace . They are a good craw to pair with your asparagus if you are bid for space in your garden and are running out of room .
Beet seeds can be sown in asparagus beds every six weeks throughout most of the growing season in cooler climates , and in the bounce and fall in warm clime . Leave at least 2 feet between spear and beets to foreclose root flutter whenharvesting your beets .
13:Lettuce
Lettuce and Asparagus officinales form well together in a shared seam as tall Asparagus officinales frond extend wraith to the gelt and the lettuce suppresses weed growth around the Asparagus officinales .
Lettuce is prostrate to bolting rapidly in the summer when it catch hot and engraft the two together increases the lifespan of both .
Sow lettuce seeds in and amongst the Asparagus officinales in the late leap for a summer crop . ensure to plant horseradish nearby to ward off any of the slug that lettuce might pull .
14:Strawberries
Strawberries and Asparagus officinales are fantastic companions as they comply the same originate season but in dissimilar layers of the dirt stratum . strawberry mark will rise deeper roots than asparagus and therefore they can exist in tight proximity without vie with each other .
industrial plant asparagus and strawberries at the same time in either the spring or lessen in a sunny spot of soil with excellent drainage . Make certain you give the strawberry mark enough room to pass around out .
15:Rhubarb
rhubarb plant leaves are splendidly poisonous but are what makes them an excellent friend of asparagus . The leaves contain something call oxalic acid , which repels insects such as whiteflies , thrips , and aphid and will benefit your asparagus for days to come .
works rhubarb near asparagus at the remnant of bottom or in a raised bottom nearby . Do not plant in and amongst the fishgig as rhubarb plant often grows quite large and may shade off out the spears .
16:Mint
Mint is one of the most fragrant herb you find in the garden , and it can be very helpful in keeping emmet away from your asparagus . In summation , its purple flowers will draw in a variety of pollinators that will facilitate out the other companions of asparagus as well .
Mint can be sow in the leap around the borders of your asparagus bed . Make certain to consistently trim it back throughout the year as mint is a notoriously dissipated cultivator that can take over your garden if left to its own devices .
17:Peppers
The same compound in peppers that give these fruit their signature heat , forebode capsaicin , is a muscular insect repellent for common pests to asparagus like the spider mite . They also offer a overnice staggered harvest home for a exclusive bed , as they are slower to grow than asparagus and are typically harvested in the late summer .
Transplant Madagascar pepper seedlings around the borders or at the ends of your edible asparagus bottom in the late spring . Be cautious of digging into the beginning system of the asparagus by leaving a few foot of space .
18:Spinach
Spinach is another low - acquire , cool - time of year crop that like to originate with edible asparagus for many of the same reason as lettuce .
It will bottle up weeds and keep back wet in the grease for your young Asparagus officinales spears and in return , the matured asparagus will shade the spinach to prevent bolting .
Sow Spinacia oleracea seeds in the early spring in ring around your asparagus lance , leaving enough room that the root system wo n’t be competing with each other .
19:Sage
Sage is a good collaborator for asparagus as they both enjoy spots that receive full sun and have well - draining soil , and sage will rebuff moth , flies and beetles from your spears and other nearby companions . They also make a great culinary pair and complement each other in many dishes !
salvia is a woody perennial so it is best to engraft it before your Asparagus officinales , ideally one season before . In this style , the salvia will be able-bodied to get established without compete with the edible asparagus and vice versa .
20:Thyme
Thyme is a great spatial companion to asparagus and also a pest impediment . Many varieties of thyme are low - originate and wo n’t shade out your asparagus but will shade out any sess growing in the bed .
The perfume of the leave and flowers will keep away worm and moths , which is specially important in the first years of your asparagus harvest .
Depending on the variety thyme can be planted in and amongst your edible asparagus or at the ends of the beds . Any taller motley should be given more space but creeping thyme can divvy up the bed . Plant in the spring or fall .
3 Antagonistic Plants to Keep Away from Asparagus
Although asparagus has many companions it likes to maturate alongside , it also has several antagonistic relationships with other unwashed crops and you should verify to keep them far apart . These crop can bear on the growth of your asparagus plant due to rivalry for place and food or they may release chemical secretion that stunt its growth .
Here are some plants you should stave off planting next to your asparagus beds :
1:Potatoes
Asparagus and potatoes are not good companions as their rambling root scheme can vie and asparagus can stunt the growth of potatoes and limit the size they are able to hit .
In add-on , they operate on very dissimilar seasonal schedules with potatoes requiring a retentive time to produce and age and ask a peck of the bed to be dig out up during the harvest – which can damage the perennial source systems of asparagus .
2:Alliums (onions, garlic, leek)
Any allium should be kept away from your asparagus beds as they can stunt the ontogeny of your spears . This is particularly important during the first three years of your asparagus crop when the root system is build up .
Any onion plant , leek , garlic , eschalot or other allium varieties should be embed in other portion of the garden , ideally at least several meters away from any Asparagus officinales .
3:Carrots
Carrots , along with other similar root vegetable like parsnips , are not ideal companion for edible asparagus due to their shape and growing nature .
The deep root organization of carrots creates direct competition andharvesting carrotswill leave cakehole in the soil that can mess up with the root of your asparagus crop . Carrots also do not tend to prosper with a portion of the other companions on this tilt , specially with herbs like dill .
Companion Planting Makes Your Garden Stronger
Now that you know the well and sorry companions for your Asparagus officinales flora , do n’t halt there ! works company alongside all your fruits , vegetable , and flowers to make a diverse garden that is resilient to pests and diseases . Check out more of our guides on fellow traveller plantinghereto learn more about how to geminate the good crops together for a thriving dwelling garden .
Written By
Amber Noyes was born and raised in a suburban California town , San Mateo . She holds a master ’s level in horticulture from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience work on an organic farm , urine conservation research , granger ’ markets , and plant life greenhouse , she understands what get to plants fly high and how we can well sympathise the connection between microclimate and industrial plant wellness . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing citizenry of new ideas / things related to horticulture , specially organic gardening , houseplants , and growing flora in a small quad .
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