Do you have a pepper crop growing on your property? Or are you looking to start growing this plant soon? Next, you need to learn how to choose suitable companions.
Not only does companion planting help add to the biodiversity of your garden, but it can also give you fresher, more vibrant produce during harvest season. This method of mixing several plants and peppers can be used outdoors or in greenhouses.
Keep reading to find out how companion planting can benefit your peppers and how to get the most out of this planting method with the right combinations at home.
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Understanding Companion Planting for Peppers
Also known as intercropping, companion planting has been around for centuries as a way to prevent pests and increase the harvest. To be successful, you need to be careful with plant pairing, as it can end badly if they fight for nutrients or become overcrowded.
Think of it this way; in a natural ecosystem, plants grow together because they are compatible and attract the necessary pollinators. In the best-case scenario, the plants give each other shade, nutrients, and support to thrive.
When we try to emulate this harmonious relationship in our garden, it is called companion planting. A good example of this is corn, squash, and beans. The corn supports the beans and the squash acts as a mulch to keep the soil cool.
The most commonly grown type of pepper is the sweet pepper (Annual capsicum) which belongs to the nightshade (solanaceae) family. The ever-popular jalapeño peppers have extra heat and can be used in homemade dishes. Jalapeño peppers also have medicinal properties!
In addition to the specific plants you will use, you need to think about the climate. Depending on your growing method, you need to double-check that the companion plants can survive the same climate and location as the peppers.
Remember that even the best companion planting cannot make up for lack of care and neglect. So you need to be strict about watering schedules and provide the perfect climate for your peppers.
Vegetable Companion Plants for Bell Pepper
Let’s start with what vegetables to plant next to peppers for simplicity.
1. Beets
First on the list is beets. You can quickly grow this vegetable with peppers as long as there is enough space. Ideally, you can plant beets outdoors as this will help limit weed growth and keep the soil cool for your peppers.
2. Carrots
Carrots are another great plant companion for peppers. Since carrots grow deep in the ground, they are great for keeping weeds away and maintaining a healthy environment. Plus, because carrots grow low on the ground, they also serve as mulch for peppers.
3. Eggplant
Peppers and eggplants are both nightshades and they have similar growing requirements. Just be careful, they also share similar pests and diseases. Crop rotation is essential.
4. Leafy greens
You’ll be happy to know that you won’t have to skip your salads when growing peppers. These leafy greens are common in many gardens and pair well with peppers.
Due to their low growth, lettuce and spinach are fantastic when planted near peppers as they stay close to the ground and don’t block sunlight from reaching them. They will also be suitable for weed management and soil quality.
5.Allium
If you have limited space, onions and garlic are excellent choices for side planting with peppers. They take up little space and have a strong odor which works against pests like aphids and prevents them from destroying your crop.
And, when you harvest garlic and onion, you can use all the ingredients together to make delicious meals. It’s the perfect combination!
6. Cowpea
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) fix nitrogen in the soil, which is great for peppers.
7. Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be placed near peppers as they have similar growing requirements, although some gardeners are cautious about growing cucumbers and peppers together as they may compete for nutrients. Crop rotation can help avoid disasters.
Most of the time, you won’t have any problems with jalapeño peppers and cucumbers, but you should be careful not to notice any signs of mold. This fungal disease can spread quickly to your pepper plants, so it’s important to stay alert for signs of white powder or mold.
8. Buckwheat
Buckwheat attracts pollinators and you can incorporate it into the soil at the end of the growing season to use as a fertilizer.
Herbs and Peppers
A garden isn’t complete without some fresh herbs to fill the air with pleasant smells and colors. Like vegetables, herbs can be grown with peppers as long as you know which ones to choose.
1. Basil
One of the best choices for herb and pepper companions is basil. Basil can add a great source of nutrients to your peppers and has been proven to increase harvest. Research also shows that growing these plants together will attract more bees and pollinators.
The combination of basil and peppers are said to improve the taste of the vegetable and the quality of the seed.
2. Dill
Dill is also an appropriate choice for growing with peppers. It helps repel aphids that like to feed on peppers, as found in a study in Environmental Etymology.
3. Chives
Chives are part of the allium family along with garlic and onions, and like their larger cousins, they repel pests. They also attract pollinators, for a double whammy.
4. Cilantro
Remember that study using dill as a companion plant to repel pepper aphids? Cilantro was found to have the same effect in this trial.
5. Parsley
Parsley attracts the type of wasps that eat aphids. Definitely good to have around.
6. Chamomile
Those pretty chamomile flowers that are so delicious in tea also attract lots of good critters.
Flowers and Peppers
When you encourage pollinators to pollinate your plants, you can save seeds for future plantings, produce bigger and better flowers, and work in unison with the environment to create a larger harvest.
Flowers are a proven way to ensure that local wildlife will visit your garden. And they look beautiful when you have a space overflowing with colorful petals and different textures!
For a tiered garden, you should include flowers when planting peppers. Otherwise, you won’t be able to explore the unique combinations and companions that can be grown together at home.
1. Worries
Marigold flowers are a popular option when planting peppers. Many insects find the smell of marigold flowers unpleasant, so they will stay away from your crop. However, in some cases the flowers will attract insects like whiteflies.
Numerous studies show that they can be an effective pest repellent or trap crop, so it’s always helpful to have them around. Plus, you can eat them!
2. Petunias
Petunias are also used for pest control as they work as a repellent. They can prevent aphids and attract bees to your crops. They also have a bold color and come in different shades. It’s the best of both worlds.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are an effective trap crop against aphids.
4. Geraniums
Geraniums make an excellent companion plant because they repel certain pepper-loving pests, such as cabbage worms and Japanese beetles.
Never plant these crops with peppers
Now that we’ve covered the good options for companion plants, this section will cover the bad combinations and what to avoid in your polyculture garden.
1. Fennel
Although some people will have different opinions and experiences with companion plants and bell peppers, in most cases everyone agrees that fennel and bell pepper don’t get along.
Fennel gives off allelopathic chemicals that are toxic to surrounding plants. You don’t want to risk this plant negatively influencing the growth of your peppers.
2. Strawberries
Another crop to avoid is strawberries.
The mushroom Verticillium spp. likes to target strawberries and cause them to wilt and die. If the soil has been infected with this fungus, it will cause problems for your peppers.
Crop rotation can help prevent the spread of this disease, but planting strawberries in a different location also helps.
3. Apricots
Apricots are also not ideal to accompany peppers. These fruit trees are magnificent but susceptible to diseases that can harm pepper plants.
You should also avoid these plants as companions to peppers:
- Potatoes
- Zucchini
- pumpkins
- Celery
If you follow this guide, you can create a fantastic garden with colorful flowers, plants, and vegetables that will complement your pepper collection beautifully!
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