Companion Planting with Potatoes: What Grows Together and Avoid
Companion planting with potatoes can improve yields, reduce pest problems, and make the most of your garden space. After decades of growing potatoes alongside vegetables, herbs, and flowers in both raised beds and containers, I’ve learned which plants make great neighbors—and which can cause trouble.
Here’s my complete guide to what grows well with potatoes and what to avoid.
Best Companion Plants for Potatoes
1. Beans
Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, helping feed potato plants naturally. Bush beans are especially good because they don’t shade potato foliage.
2. Cabbage Family (Brassicas)
Broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts benefit from potatoes’ ability to repel certain pests like aphids and flea beetles. Plant them nearby but not so close that foliage crowds.
3. Corn
Corn’s tall stalks provide light shade to potato foliage during hot summer afternoons, helping prevent heat stress.
4. Horseradish
A traditional companion for potatoes—horseradish at the corners of your potato bed may help repel Colorado potato beetles.
5. Marigolds
These flowers release compounds that may deter nematodes and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphids.
Plants to Avoid Near Potatoes
1. Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants
All are part of the nightshade family and share similar diseases, such as late blight. Planting them near potatoes increases the risk of spreading these problems.
2. Cucumbers
They can attract pests like aphids that also target potatoes, and they compete for similar nutrients.
3. Sunflowers
They produce allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit potato growth and reduce yields.
4. Carrots
Both carrots and potatoes are root crops that compete for underground space and can hinder each other’s growth.
Gardener’s Tip:
In my Sonoma Valley garden (Zone 9), I rotate potatoes each season and avoid planting them in the same spot—or near nightshades—for at least three years. This reduces disease pressure and keeps yields high.
Potato Growing Hub
Start here: The Ultimate Potato Growing Guide: From Seed to Harvest
🥔 Varieties & Planting Prep
- Best Potato Varieties for Different Cooking Uses – Detailed profiles on varieties for boiling, baking, mashing, and roasting.
- Guide to Fingerling Potatoes: Growing, Cooking, and Varieties – Spotlight on fingerlings with care tips and culinary uses.
- How to Prepare and Cut Seed Potatoes for Planting – Step-by-step guide to maximize yield and reduce disease risk.
- Seed Potato Starting Tips – Ready your seed potatoes and plant
🌱 Planting & Early Growth
- How to Grow Potatoes in Containers: A Complete Guide – Soil, container size, watering, and harvesting tips for small-space growers.
- Grow Potatoes in Pots and Grow Bags: Seven Easy Steps
- 6 Easy Steps to Grow Organic Potatoes
- Companion Planting with Potatoes: What to Grow Together and Avoid – Maximize garden health and productivity through smart companion planting.
- Growing Potatoes in Mild Winter and Tropical Climates – Specific tips for successful potato cultivation in warmer regions.
- How to Identify Potato Growth Stages and Troubleshoot Problems – Recognize each growth phase and manage issues at every stage.
🌿 Care & Maintenance
- How and When to Hill Potatoes for Bigger Yields – Detailed instructions and timing for hilling to support tuber development.
- Watering Potatoes: Best Practices for Healthy Growth – Provide consistent moisture without risking rot or stress.
- Common Potato Pests, Disease, and Problems: Organic Solutions – Identification and natural control strategies for common pests.
- Crop Rotation Strategies for Potatoes to Prevent Soil-Borne Diseases – Plan your garden for long-term soil health and disease prevention.
🧺 Harvest & Storage
- Harvesting Potatoes: Signs of Maturity and Techniques to Avoid Damage – Know when potatoes are ready and how to harvest carefully.
- How to Harvest and Stoe Potatoes – Ideal temperature, humidity, and storage environments to keep potatoes fresh.
🍽️ Cooking & Kitchen Insights
- Testing Potato Starch Levels: Why It Matters and How to Do It – Understand starch content to choose the right potato for each dish.
- Seven Ways to Cook and Serve Potatoes – Easy ways to serve your potato harvest.
- How to Cook New Potatoes with No Recipe – Here’s how to get those little spuds on the table fast.
