
In addition, basil can help enhance the flavor of tomatoes, making them taste sweeter and more delicious. Tomatoes and basil: The pungent aroma of basil can help repel harmful insects, such as tomato hornworms and whiteflies, which are known to attack tomato plants. Here are some popular companion planting pairs: 12 Examples of Companion Plants Combinations Companion planting combines beauty and purpose to create an enjoyable, healthy environment. Not only can companion planting helps your plants to grow better, but it also makes the vegetable garden more attractive thanks to the addition of colorful flowers that help or hinder nearby vegetables. Similarly, planting plants with different root structures together can aerate the soil and allow plants to pull nutrients from different parts of the soil. Some crops help fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and reduce fertilizer needs. Similarly, chamomile has an aromatic scent that is believed to improve the growth and flavor of cabbages, cucumbers, and onions when grown beside them. Most herbs have been found to enhance the flavor of fruits and vegetables grown nearby, and Basil grown beside tomatoes is an excellent example. Some plants can subtly enhance the flavor of other plants. Interplanting different crops greatly maximizes space and improves productivity in small gardens. Corn provides tall stalks for the beans to climb so that they are not out-competed by sprawling squash vines. The example of planting corn, beans, and squash together applies here again. Some companion plants can physically support each other, reducing the need for staking. By carefully selecting the right ground cover, you can help prevent soil erosion. Rain can also cause severe damage by beating down young seedlings. Strong winds can damage gardens by removing mulch, topsoil, and eroding beds and hillsides. Some plants can provide windbreaks and prevent soil erosion.

The tall corn provides shade for the lower squash but also stops the squash vine borer beetle. Practiced by Native Americans thousands of years ago, this garden includes corn, beans, and squash.

A good example is The Three Sisters Garden. This results in better products and can also potentially provide pest control. Tall sun-loving plants offer shade to smaller shade-loving plants. Beneficial insects feed on common garden pests, like aphids and caterpillars. Some plants help attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, bees, and butterflies, that pollinate and help control harmful bugs. They make insects less likely to land on your garden vegetables. Some plants can emit scents that either repel insects, attract them, or confuse insects or disease organisms in search of their favorite host plants.

In essence, companion planting helps bring a balanced ecosystem to your landscape, allowing nature to do its job. Companion planting is an organic method of preventing or protecting plants from pests and diseases, attracting the right types of insects for pollination, enhancing nutrient uptake, and increasing crop production simply by growing specific plants near each other.
