Companion planting can help you grow healthy plants naturally without using pesticides. Here are the best companion plants for cucumbers.
Sometimes companion planting can be confusing and that is why many gardeners decide against it. In this post I am going to simplify it for you.
While some companion planting advice really is just an old wives tale there are a few plants that I have personally seen benefit from companion planting.
Cucumbers can have trouble with cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and many other pests. After I started planting these companion plants, my pest pressure went way down.
Why Companion Planting
Companion planting looks at plants that benefit each other. These plants should be planted right next to each other for the most benefits.
Some companion plants will lead to faster growth, less pests, or better flavor. Companion planting is essential if you want to grow a natural and organic garden.
Grow a biodiverse garden if you want the best plants without the nasty chemicals. Here are some of my favorite cucumber companion plants.
My Favorite Cucumber Companion Plants
Here are some companion plants that have really helped me grow cucumbers naturally.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a flowering plant that is in the same family as broccoli and cabbage. The flowers and leaves of nasturtiums are actually edible!
This plant can deter cucumber beetles and other pests that would eat your cucumber plants. If you grow your cucumbers on a trellis the nasturtiums may also travel up the trellis.
Nasturtiums can both repel pests and beautify your garden making it a dual purpose garden plant.
How To Plant Them
Nasturtiums should be planted so that the leaves are touching your cucumber plants. Companion plants need to be planted super close to get the full benefit.
I plant one nasturtium plant between every third cucumber that I plant. These can be direct seeded when you plant your cucumbers in the garden. This nasturtium variety has done well in my garden.
Radishes
Radishes can act as both a repelling plant and a trap crop. Trap crops are planted next to plants that you want to protect from pests.
These trap crops will attract the pests away from the other plants so that they don't get destroyed. Grow radishes right along with your cucumbers to protect them from pests.
How To Plant Them
I plant radishes in between my plants and I leave them even when they flower. These radishes will reseed themselves, so you don't have to replant them.
I grew these purple radishes once and now they continue to pop up in my garden every spring.
Bush Beans
While bush beans won't repel pests, they can help you grow healthy cucumber plants. Beans are legumes and all legumes "fix" nitrogen in the soil.
This means that the plants pull nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil. This nitrogen can then be used by the cucumbers.
How To Plant Them
You can plant these bush beans in rows alongside your cucumbers. If the roots grow in the same area they will be able to take advantage of the extra nitrogen.
I don't recommend growing pole beans alongside your cucumbers as they may compete for sunlight. Bush beans are more compact and will not compete for sunlight.
Dill
Dill and cucumbers are great together as pickles - and as plants. It's no coincidence that cucumbers and dill are often used together in food.
Our ancestors knew to plant cucumbers and dill together and it shows in our foods. Dill can help repel pests and attract beneficial insects to your garden.
These beneficial insects will prey on the bad pests. This is a natural way to deal with things like cucumber beetles.
How To Plant Them
Dill can be direct seeded along with your cucumbers. If you plant them at the same time, they should have blossoms while at the same time you get your first cucumbers.
The dill can be left growing alongside the cucumber plants until it withers and dies.
Flowers
When I started gardening I really didn't think that flowers were useful. I only thought that they were grown for their beauty.
I then realized that flowers attract so many pollinators to the garden. This means more pollinators pollinating your cucumbers (and other vegetables).
More pollination will lead to more cucumbers. Here are some of my favorite flowers that are edible!
Does companion planting work
Companion planting is by no means going to solve all your garden problems. However, I do believe that growing a diverse range of plants can benefit your garden.
In nature there is a variety of plants that lead to a balance of pests and beneficial insects. You can mimic this in the garden by planting many different plants.
Attracting beneficial insects can take time, but companion planting can help speed up the process. I rarely have pest issues in my garden and I believe companion planting has caused that.
I have found that companion planting can help your plants have fewer pests and grow bigger. This year plant some companion plants with your cucumbers.
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