Carrot Companion Planting Guide: 7 Plants to Pair With Carrots

Companion planting is a time-tested gardening method that enriches and protects vulnerable crops. Farmers and gardeners plant specific crops near each other in order to deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and stimulate growth. For instance, brassicas (like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, and Swiss chard) thrive when planted near chamomile, dill, and sage. Carrots have a wide variety of companion plants that aid their growth and development.

Carrots have many companion plants that can protect them from pests and stimulate their growth. Plants that are particularly good companion plants for carrots include:

1. 1. Chives: When grown near carrot plants, chives improve the taste and texture of their carrot neighbors. Chives also deter aphids and other pests.
2. 2. Leeks: Leeks make great companion plants for carrots because they deter carrot flies, and carrots repel leek moths. Planting leeks and carrots together can help both plants grow without being damaged by pests.
3. 3. Legumes: Legumes can enrich the soil around carrots through the nitrogen-fixing process. Planting pole beans or bush beans near your carrot plants will ensure that the carrots have rich and healthy soil in which to grow.
4. 4. Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums make a good companion plant for carrots and a wide variety of other plants because they repel aphids, cucumber beetles, and other pests. Nasturtiums also attract pollinators.
5. 5. Onions: Onions likewise deter many carrot pests, most notably carrot rust flies.
6. 6. Radishes: Radishes loosen up soil when they sprout and allow carrot roots to grow more easily. Radishes germinate faster than carrots so you can plant radish seeds around the same time that you plant carrot seeds; they’ll have loosened the soil by the time the carrots start to grow.
7. 7. Rosemary: Rosemary (and some other herbs, like sage) can deter the carrot rust fly.

Other plants like borage, oregano, cilantro, and marigolds make good universal companion plants to have in your vegetable garden, as they deter pests like cabbage moths and nematodes.

Some plants can hinder each other’s growth or attract dangerous pests. Specific plants that should be kept apart from carrots include:

1. 1. Dill: Dill produces compounds that are harmful to carrots and can stunt their growth and development.
2. 2. Fennel: Fennel is harmful to many plants. It attracts a wide variety of pests, so planting fennel far from your garden can draw pests away from your vulnerable vegetables.
3. 3. Parsnips: Though parsnips don’t harm carrots directly, they are susceptible to the same diseases and pests as carrots. Growing carrots and parsnips apart from each other can help contain a potentially harmful infestation.

Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.