What can be planted next to potatoes? Potatoes are perennial plants belonging to the nightshade family that have been around for years. Potatoes are an excellent companion for many plants and are very easy to grow. If you’re a beginner, it’s important to know the right plants to plant next to your potatoes.
Potatoes are starchy tubers that make a great addition to any garden, and many plants benefit from having them as companions.
One of the benefits of planting a good companion with your plants is keeping harmful pests away from your garden and producing more crops. Companion planting can take many forms and when it comes to companion planting of potatoes, it is quite easy to mix and match.
You need to make sure plants that breed close to each other are compatible. There is no science to companion planting, all you need is a map to guide you.
Contents
15 Best Plants to Grow With Potatoes
Understanding companion planting can help you maximize efficiency and improve the health of your potato garden. While there are many plants that benefit from being planted near potatoes, there are also others that you should avoid. But first, here are some great potato buddies.
1. Corn
Image: Envato ElementsCorn is an interesting plant to grow near potatoes, it usually grows underground and needs a little top surface, making it the opposite of growing potatoes. Potatoes grow tall and have shallow roots, making them a great companion for corn because you can maximize space and take advantage of their different needs.
2. Horseradish
It is another excellent companion for potatoes. It is a perennial vegetable that is valued for its intense flavor and is also grown to help potatoes. It can be grown around potatoes to resist harmful pests such as potato beetles, potato beetles, white lilies, caterpillars and aphids.
3. Nasturtiums
These are really attractive flowers that you should be happy to plant in your garden, but they do attract pests like aphids and potatoes and, if they are within walking distance of your potatoes, they can keep pests away. pests of your potatoes when they land on the ground. ground. .flower concentrate.
4. peas
Peas grow well when planted near potatoes. It is a nitrogen-fixing crop, so it can be useful for potatoes as they have a high level of nitrogen fixation. Studies have shown that planting the two together can increase the yield of certain nearby plants.
5. lettuce
Image: Envato ElementsAnother vegetable that thrives when planted with potatoes is lettuce. They will also help potatoes thrive and also help increase yields in your garden. It’s a fast-growing crop with shallow roots, so don’t worry, you can harvest them before they start competing for space with your potatoes.
6. Cilantro
Cilantro, also known as cilantro, is considered one of the best companion plants to potatoes. It can help reduce pests like potato beetles and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies and parasitic wasps.
7. Worries
Marigolds are another great flower that your potatoes will happily plant nearby. Helps deter potato beetles and other large types of pests.
8. Chives
Chives don’t take up the same space as potatoes in a garden, which can help maximize space, and they’re shallow-rooted herbs that can help attract beneficial insects and keep apples land in safety. The two are also eaten together during a meal.
9. Thyme
Image: Envato ElementsThyme is not only a good companion for potatoes on the plate, but also in the garden. It helps attract beneficial insects like hoverflies, which helps reduce the number of aphids in the garden.
10. Beans
Beans also offer similar benefits to peas for potatoes. It is also a nitrogen fixer and shade provider. Both planted together can produce a full yield on the land.
11. Petunias
Petunias attract beneficial insects to your potato plants and also aid in natural pest control. They are also very attractive plants.
12. Spinach
Image: Envato ElementsIt is another leafy vegetable that works as a companion plant for potatoes. It can be planted around potatoes early in the season, it can help make the most of the available space. Lettuce can also help make a good ground cover.
13. Cabbage
Potatoes pair well with plants in the cabbage family, such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale, collard greens, and rutabaga. Most plants in the cabbage family have shallow roots, so they won’t compete with potatoes for nutrients or space.
14. chamomile
Chamomile is a herb that goes well with potatoes and other herbs. It can help attract many beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps and flyovers.
15. Alysse
Alyssum is not only a beautiful flower, but it can also help create excellent ground cover and retain moisture in the soil. Farmers also use them to attract predatory wasps that feed on insects that infest potatoes.
Plants that don’t grow near potatoes.
The proper planting mix is meant to help your plants thrive and is just as important as the plants to avoid planting together. While there are many plants that can be grown near potatoes, some plants just don’t fare well. So here are some of the plants you should keep away from your potatoes.
1. Eggplant
Image: Envato ElementsIt’s not a good idea that this plant grew near potatoes, as both belong to the nightshade family. Potatoes and eggplant have the same nutrient needs and are susceptible to the same diseases. If planted together, they will both compete for nutrients and become susceptible to fire blight.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes and potatoes also belong to the same nightshade family, and growing them together allows diseases and pests to spread quickly.
3. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are big eaters and feed on a lot of water, so planting them with potatoes will only compete for nutrients. The two can be planted together in your garden, but keep them separate.
4. Fennel
Fennel is a garden crop and does not grow well on many vegetable plants. It can inhibit the growth of your potyatos.
5. Raspberries
Raspberries become susceptible to fire blight if planted near potatoes.
6. Root vegetables
Keep potatoes away from root vegetables like turnips, parsnips and carrots, as they use the same underground space as potatoes in the garden. Growing them together can stunt their growth.
frequently asked Questions
How do you know when to harvest your potatoes?
You know it’s time to dig up the potatoes when the flowers start to wilt and the buds drop. Another sign to watch for is seeing unopened flower buds falling from the plant onto the ground. The leaves may turn pale and yellow, while some are still green.
How often should potatoes be watered?
Potatoes need a constant supply of 2 to 3 inches of water per week. These plants need deep watering, especially when they get hot and dry.
How many potatoes do you get from one plant?
If everything is in order and well maintained, you should harvest 5-10 potatoes per plant. Potatoes are easy to grow, but getting big yields depends on the care and variety of potatoes grown.
Should you apply fertilizer to potatoes?
Manure can be a great way to help the soil retain moisture while you grow potatoes. You must add it to the soil in your garden before planting your potatoes.
Can I plant carrots after potatoes?
After harvesting potatoes, carrots are a good choice to plant, but make sure your garden soil is fertile and the harvested potatoes are disease-free.
Can I plant a whole potato?
You can plant small whole potatoes, but large potatoes may need to be cut into wedges with a clean knife before planting.
Can we eat freshly harvested potatoes?
New potatoes should be eaten a few days after harvest to avoid spoilage. However, for mature potatoes, you need to wait 2-3 weeks after the foliage of the plant has died.
Should you pinch the flowers of potato plants?
Yes, you can pinch the flowers off the potato plants if you have the time. It doesn’t increase or decrease performance, so you have nothing to lose by removing it.
Can soil be reused after growing potatoes?
If your potatoes show signs of spoilage after harvest, do not reuse the soil. Potatoes are notorious for running out
final thoughts
Companion planting is a method of gardening that farmers have used to enrich and protect vulnerable crops, and although there is no science to back it up, farmers have been using it for years and studies show that it is quite effective.
However, it is important to have a companion plant guide for each crop. That’s why you’ll find a potato planting guide above to help you decide what to plant nearby.