Imagine stepping outside your house to a life-filled garden—green spinach leaves, fragrant herbs, and colorful flowers dancing to the breeze.
Planting spinach is one of the easiest vegetables to plant as a beginner to have that magical garden. Spinach is not only full of nutrition but also a plant that gardeners enjoy planting because of how fast it grows, and it can grow in cool weather too.
However, did you know that planting spinach with the right companion plants can unlock even greater benefits?
Companion Plants for Spinach
Companion planting improves spinach growth while preventing pests, improves the soil, and creates a diverse garden ecosystem.
Choosing the right companion plants can maximize space, attract pollinators, and have a healthier harvest. Companion planting is a simple and effective way to bring your gardening experience to the next level.
The best companion plants for spinach include a mix of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and other beneficial plants. These companion plants provide specific benefits, such as repelling pests, nutrient enrichment, and shade—a must for several vegetable plants.
Here’s a breakdown of some top choices:
Herbs:
- Borage: Attracts beneficial insects and repels pests.
- Cilantro: Attracts pest-eating insects.
- Chives: Repel pests and may prevent powdery mildew.
- Parsley: Repels flying pests.
- Dill: Attracts beneficial insects and enhances plant health.
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Basil: Protects spinach by scaring off pests.
Vegetables:
- Legumes (Peas, Beans): Nitrogen-fixers that improve soil fertility.
- Radish: Acts as a trap crop for pests like flea beetles.
- Lettuce and Leafy Greens: Provides shade and suppresses weeds.
- Tomatoes: Give partial shade to prevent bolting.
- Kale: Provides shade and doesn’t compete for nutrients.
- Swiss Chard: Loosens soil and provides shade.
- Bok Choy: Has similar growing conditions to spinach.
- Cucumber: Offers shade to prevent bolting.
- Scallions and Leeks: Repel pests with their strong odor.
- Garlic: Repels pests, while spinach acts as ground cover.
- Eggplant: Provides shade and ground cover benefits.
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Watercress: Works as a living mulch.
Flowers:
- Marigolds: Repel root-knot nematodes, aphids, and rabbits.
- Nasturtiums: Attract beneficial insects and deter pests.
- Calendula: Repels rabbits and pests.
- Tansy: Insect-repellent qualities.
- Sweet Alyssum: Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.
- Yarrow: Attracts predatory insects.
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Dwarf Sunflowers: Provide partial shade.
Other Plants:
- Strawberries: They have benefits that are similar to spinach, including disease control and shading.
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Crimson Clover: Nitrogen-fixer that shades the ground.
Companion Plants for Lettuce and Spinach
Lettuce and spinach are cool-season greens that grow well alongside the right companion plants. Pairing these “leafy” greens with the right companions can help improve yields, repel pests, and make the most of your garden space.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Lettuce and Spinach
- Pest Control: Certain companions will repel pests that target leafy greens
- Nutrient Enrichment: Nitrogen-fixing plants enhance soil fertility for greens.
- Shade and Moisture: Taller companion plants can protect lettuce and spinach from harsh sunlight, reducing bolting risks.
- Weed Suppression: Ground-cover plants help prevent weeds.
- Improve Yield: Combining plants with complementary growth habits maximizes garden productivity.
Good Companion Plants for Lettuce and Spinach
Pairing lettuce and spinach with the right companion plants can improve soil fertility, give shade to smaller plants such as spinach, and keep pests away.
Here are some of the best plants to grow alongside these greens:
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Legumes (Beans, Peas)
- These are nitrogen-fixing plants that enrich soil for better leaf growth.
- Provide shade for lettuce and spinach in warm weather.
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Garlic, Chives, and Leeks
- These bring strong odors and repel aphids, slugs, and other pests.
- Easy to grow alongside leafy greens without competition
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Marigolds
- These repel nematodes, aphids, and beetles
- Their bright flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
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Nasturtiums
- Work as a trap crop for aphids and whiteflies.
- Attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies.
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Radishes
- Works as trap crops for pests like flea beetles.
- Quick-growing roots can be harvested without disturbing greens.
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Borage
- Repels worms and pests like cabbage loopers.
- Adds nutrients to the soil.
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Strawberries
- Benefit from spinach and lettuce's weed suppression while providing shade for them.
- There is no pest competition.
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Leafy Greens (Kale, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy)
- Provide shade and help suppress weeds.
- These have similar growing conditions.
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Clover
- Acts as living mulch and fixes nitrogen for spinach.
- Acts as living mulch and fixes nitrogen for spinach.
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Tomatoes
- Provide shades to prevent bolting during hot weather.
- Provide shades to prevent bolting during hot weather.
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Sweet Alyssum
- Attracts beneficial insects that protect spinach from pests.
Plants to Avoid
Not all plants make good companions for spinach and lettuce. Some can slow their growth, compete for nutrients, or attract unwanted pests.
Avoid planting these near your greens:
- Fennel: Releases compounds that will slow down their growth.
- Potatoes: These will compete for nutrients and space.
- Corn: Shades excessively and competes for resources.
- Sunflowers: These are allelopathic and can release chemicals that will stop the growth of nearby plants.
- Mint: Spreads aggressively, overtaking garden space and crowding slower-growing plants.
- Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower): These crops share similar nutrient needs and pests, like aphids and cabbage loopers, increasing the risk of infestation.
By having the right plant combinations, you can create a balanced garden ecosystem that supports the growth of both spinach and lettuce while reducing pest infestation.
What to Plant with Spinach to Keep Bugs Away
Certain companion plants naturally repel pests or attract beneficial insects that prey on common spinach pests.—I know it may sound like too much if you’re new to gardening, but don’t worry, we’ll guide you on what to plant.
Below is a guide to the best pest-repelling plants for spinach, along with any potential downsides to consider.
Best Plants to Keep Bugs Away From Spinach
Garlic
Why it works: The strong garlic scent repels common spinach pests like aphids, beetles, and slugs. Garlic also helps protect neighboring plants by releasing sulfur compounds into the soil, which can stop soil-borne diseases.
Cons:
- Slow-growing and occupies space for months (around 9 months).
- It competes for nutrients, so make sure to have proper spacing between plants.
- Its strong scent might interfere with nearby fragrant herbs
Leeks
Why it works: Like garlic, leeks have a sharp smell that repels pests like carrot rust flies, which can sometimes harm spinach. Their straight growth minimizes any competition with spinach.
Cons:
- Leeks are heavy feeders, so they compete for soil nutrients
- Their growing season can make interplanting timing tricky.
Chives:
Why it works: These have an onion-like scent that repels pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles. They also attract pollinators when blooming, which helps keep a healthy garden ecosystem.
Cons:
- Chives can spread aggressively if left unchecked.
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Harvesting spinach around chives may be challenging if they are planted too close to each other.
Marigolds
Why it works: These produce a distinct scent that scares off aphids, beetles, and nematodes. Their roots release a substance that repels nematodes, protecting spinach’s root system.
Cons:
- Marigolds need enough space between spinach (6-12 inches) to avoid competition for light and nutrients.
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Marigolds may not survive spinach’s entire growing season as they may not survive in colder climates.
Nasturtiums
Why it works: Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids and whiteflies, luring pests away from spinach. They also attract predatory insects like ladybugs and hoverflies.
Cons:
- Nasturtiums can grow aggressively, potentially overtaking spinach if not managed.
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Some gardeners report mixed results, with nasturtiums sometimes attracting pests to the entire garden.
Cilantro
Why it works: Cilantro attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which prey on spinach pests such as aphids and caterpillars.
Cons:
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Cilantro bolts fast in hot weather
Borage
Why it works: Borage’s flowers attract beneficial insects like bees and predatory wasps. Its scent repels cabbage loopers and other leaf-eating pests.
Cons:
- Borage grows large and may overshadow spinach.
- Its fuzzy leaves can irritate the skin during maintenance.
Pro Tips:
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Spacing: Proper spacing prevents overcrowding and competition for nutrients, making sure both spinach and companion plants grow well.
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Pest Solutions: No single plant repels all pests, so choose companion plants based on the specific pest issue in your garden.
- Timing: Some companion plants, like cilantro and marigolds, may need to be planted in succession to align with spinach’s growth cycle.
What Not to Plant with Spinach
While spinach pairs well with many plants, some are best avoided due to competition for nutrients, allelopathic (chemical interference), or vulnerability to similar pests and diseases.
Why some plants don’t work well with spinach:
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Nutrient Competition: Plants like potatoes and corn are heavy feeders, leaving spinach without essential nutrients.
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Shade: Tall plants such as corn and sunflowers can block sunlight, causing spinach to grow poorly or bolt prematurely.
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Chemical Interference: Plants like fennel and sunflowers release growth-inhibiting compounds into the soil.
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Invasiveness: Mint and similar aggressive plants take over garden space and crowd out spinach.
- Shared Pests: Plants with overlapping pest problems, like potatoes, can increase the likelihood of infestations
Here are some plants to avoid planting near spinach:
Plants to Avoid Planting with Spinach
Potatoes
- Heavy feeders that consume soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen, which spinach relies on for leaf growth.
- They also have large root systems that can disturb spinach roots.
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Potatoes and spinach share common pests, such as leaf miners, which can lead to infestations affecting both crops.
Fennel
- Fennel is an allelopathic plant, meaning it releases chemicals into the soil that can slow down the growth of many other plants, including spinach.
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Fennel is not a friendly plant in any garden and is best grown on its own.
Corn
- Corn grows tall and can overshadow spinach, reducing the sunlight that spinach needs. It also competes heavily for nutrients and water.
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Corn does not repel pests and may even attract certain leaf-eating insects that could spread to spinach.
Mint
- Mint spreads aggressively and can overtake the space needed for spinach. Its invasive growth makes it difficult to manage in the same bed.
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Its massive growth can block airflow, increasing the risk of fungal diseases in spinach.
Sunflowers
- Sunflowers are allelopathic and can inhibit the growth of nearby plants, including spinach. Additionally, their tall stature overshadows spinach, limiting its access to sunlight.
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Sunflowers are heavy feeders and can consume the nutrients from the soil.
Dill (When Mature)
- While young dill can be beneficial, mature dill grows large and may compete with spinach for light and space. Its strong scent can also scare off beneficial pollinators in the area.
- Dill can become weedy if not managed, spreading and competing with other crops.
Knowing what to plant and avoid will help you have a healthier and more productive vegetable garden.
Can You Plant Spinach with Tomatoes?
Yes! Spinach and tomatoes can be grown together with careful planning. When done correctly, this pairing can benefit both plants.
Benefits of Planting Spinach with Tomatoes
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Shade Protection:
Spinach is a cool-season crop that bolts fast in hot weather.
Tomato plants give enough shade where the sunlight won't harm the plant, but keep the spinach cool during its growing season.
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Efficient Use of Space:
Tomatoes grow tall, allowing spinach to grow as a low-lying crop beneath them.
This arrangement maximizes garden space while minimizing weed growth.
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Ground Cover:
Spinach acts as living mulch for tomatoes, it helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture around the tomato plants.
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Minimal Competition:
Both tomatoes and spinach have different root systems and nutrient needs.
For example, spinach has shallow roots and is a light feeder compared to tomatoes, which are deep-rooted and heavier feeders.
Challenges to Consider
- Timing Differences:
- Spinach is a fast-growing cool-season crop.
- Tomatoes can grow in warm weather.
- To make this pairing work, spinach needs to be planted early in the season and harvested before tomatoes mature.
- Nutrient Competition:
- Even though the two plants don’t compete directly for nutrition, tomatoes are considered heavy feeders that require regular fertilization.
- The soil must be rich in nutrients to support both crops.
- Sunlight Needs:
- Spinach grows great in partial to full sun, but it may struggle if tomatoes create too much shade.
- Proper spacing is important to make sure spinach gets enough sunlight.
Best Practices for Planting Spinach with Tomatoes
- Stagger Planting Times:
- Plant spinach early in the season and harvest it before the tomato plants grow too large.
- Alternatively, sow spinach seeds in late summer or early fall under mature tomato plants for a secondary crop.
- Spacing:
- To prevent overcrowding, leave at least 6-12 inches of space between the tomato plant’s bed and the spinach row.
- To prevent overcrowding, leave at least 6-12 inches of space between the tomato plant’s bed and the spinach row.
- Soil Preparation:
- To add nutrients to the soil, add compost or a balanced fertilizer before planting.
- Tomatoes require more nutrients, so fertilize the tomato plants during the growing season without over-fertilizing the spinach.
- Strengthening with Companion Planting
- Add other beneficial companion plants, such as marigolds (to repel pests) or basil (to stop aphids), to create a more resilient garden ecosystem.
Planting spinach with tomatoes can be a productive combination when done correctly. As mentioned before, tomatoes can provide partial shading and maximize garden space, while spinach can give ground cover and suppress weeds—making them a great duo when properly managed.
Spinach Companion Planting Chart
Below is a full list of the most common companion plants for spinach.
Building Your Spinach Companion Garden
Companion planting is a great way to support plant growth, but it’s more than just pest control or better yields. However, there’s more to it, such as:
- Mutual plant support: Some plants help each other grow by providing shade, structure, or protection.
- Trap Crops for Pests: Certain plants attract pests away from spinach, reducing damage.
- Nutrient Sharing: Some companion plants and legumes enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen.
- Microclimate Creation: Taller plants can shield heat-sensitive plants like spinach from harsh sunlight.
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Living Much: Low-growing plants help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener choosing plants suited for your climate or a beginner starting small, companion planting is an opportunity to enjoy the process and learn.
Here are some common mistakes when it comes to companion plants.
4 Common Mistakes in Companion Planting
Even with the best planning, companion planting still has its challenges. Here are some common mistakes to avoid.
- Overcrowing
- Not having enough space between plants can lead to nutrient competition, reduced airflow, and a possible increase in disease.
- Not having enough space between plants can lead to nutrient competition, reduced airflow, and a possible increase in disease.
- Ignoring Growth Habits
- Tall plants can overshadow smaller plants.
- Tall plants can overshadow smaller plants.
- Ignoring Soil Compatibility
- Some plants (like blueberries) prefer acidic soil, while others like spinach need neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
- Some plants (like blueberries) prefer acidic soil, while others like spinach need neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
- Incompatible Pest Resistance
- Some plants (spinach and potatoes) attract the same pests, which could create an infestation that will harm the entire garden.
- Some plants (spinach and potatoes) attract the same pests, which could create an infestation that will harm the entire garden.
Putting it All Together
While companion planting is a fantastic way to improve the health of your garden, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Success comes from observing, experimenting, and continuing learning. Every garden is unique, with different soil conditions and growing environments.
Stay open to learning from your garden, adjust your planting strategies as needed, and, most importantly, enjoy the process!
Happy gardening!
