Companion Planting: Potatoes and Their Best Friends – The Ultimate UK Guide
Introduction
Potatoes are a staple crop in UK gardens and allotments, prized for their versatility, hardiness, and yield. But did you know that what you grow next to your potatoes can significantly impact their health, productivity, and resistance to pests?
Through companion planting, you can team up your potatoes with beneficial neighbours that repel pests, enrich the soil, or improve airflow. In this complete UK-focused guide, we’ll explore what to grow with potatoes, which plants to avoid, and how to maximise your harvest through smart, natural planting strategies.
What is Companion Planting for Potatoes?
Companion planting is a gardening technique where certain plants are grown together to:
- Deter common pests (like aphids, beetles, and nematodes)
- Attract beneficial insects for pollination and pest control
- Improve soil structure and nutrient availability
- Enhance flavour and growth
- Make better use of growing space
With potatoes, choosing the right companions can help reduce disease, improve yields, and support a healthier garden ecosystem.
Top 10 Best Companion Plants for Potatoes
🥕 1. Carrots
Why they help:
- Grow deeper than potatoes, improving soil structure
- Don’t compete heavily for nutrients
- Help aerate the soil
Planting tip:
- Grow in adjacent rows or raised beds, not mixed in the same trench
🌿 2. Horseradish
Why it helps:
- Strong scent deters pests like the Colorado potato beetle
- Acts as a natural disease fighter in the soil
Where to plant:
- One horseradish plant at the corner of a potato bed works well
- Avoid planting directly in the same row
🌼 3. Marigolds (Tagetes)
Why they help:
- Repel aphids, whiteflies, and root-knot nematodes
- Attract pollinators and hoverflies
- Help mask potato scent from pests
Planting tip:
- Grow around the edges of your potato patch or between rows
🧄 4. Garlic and Alliums (onions, leeks, shallots)
Why they help:
- Help deter aphids, slugs, and red spider mites
- Improve garden biodiversity
- Garlic may help resist fungal infections
Best practice:
- Plant nearby but not too close, as alliums can compete for water and nutrients
🥦 5. Brassicas (Cabbage Family)
Why they help:
- Share pest enemies and can be planted in nearby beds
- Potatoes help repel the cabbage white butterfly
Compatible examples:
- Kale, cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
Caution:
- Both crops are heavy feeders, so enrich the soil well before planting
🌿 6. Chamomile
Why it helps:
- Attracts beneficial insects
- May improve the flavour of nearby crops
- Adds fragrance and pollinator appeal to the garden
Tip:
- Best grown in borders near potato plots
🥬 7. Lettuce
Why it helps:
- Shallow roots don’t compete with potatoes
- Can provide living mulch to retain soil moisture
- Quick to grow and harvest before potato plants mature
Tip:
- Plant in between young potato plants before they shade out the ground
🪴 8. Beans (especially bush beans)
Why they help:
- Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for heavy feeders like potatoes
- Help break up the soil with their roots
- Support soil health in crop rotation systems
Caution:
- Avoid pole beans, which can compete too much for light and space
🌱 9. Spinach
Why it helps:
- Grows quickly and can be harvested before potatoes take over the space
- Doesn’t compete with potato roots
- Helps shade soil and suppress weeds early in the season
🌸 10. Alyssum and Nasturtiums
Why they help:
- Attract hoverflies and predatory insects
- Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids and flea beetles
- Alyssum adds ground cover and prevents soil erosion
Plants to Avoid Growing Near Potatoes
Not all plants make good companions. Avoid these near potatoes:
| Plant | Why to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Same family (nightshade); share diseases like blight |
| Peppers & Aubergines | Same family; attract similar pests (e.g. flea beetles) |
| Cucumbers | Compete for space and moisture; attract aphids |
| Pumpkins & Squash | Take up too much space and shade potatoes |
| Sunflowers | Produce compounds that inhibit potato growth |
| Asparagus | Competes for nutrients and water |
Key tip: Avoid growing other nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines) near potatoes to reduce the risk of blight and pest infestations.
How to Arrange Potato Companion Plants in the Garden
✅ Around Potato Beds:
- Marigolds, alyssum, or nasturtiums planted as borders
- Garlic or onions in adjacent rows
- Beans on the opposite side of the plot to balance nutrients
✅ In Between Rows:
- Lettuce or spinach early in the season
- Herbs like chamomile or parsley
✅ In Containers:
- Potatoes in grow bags with chives, lettuce, or marigolds planted in nearby pots
- Beans or nasturtiums grown in hanging baskets above
Companion Planting for Potatoes in Containers and Grow Bags
Even in limited spaces, companion planting can work beautifully.
| Container Companion | Planting Tip |
|---|---|
| Chives or parsley | Grow in side pots or around edges of grow bag |
| Lettuce or spinach | Plant around the base early in the season |
| Marigolds | Add to pots to deter pests |
| Bush beans | Use large troughs to plant nearby |
Caution: Don’t crowd the grow bag—allow room for tubers to expand.
Natural Pest Control with Companion Planting
Common Potato Pests and Their Companion Solutions:
| Pest | Companion Solution |
|---|---|
| Aphids | Marigolds, nasturtiums, chives |
| Slugs and snails | Garlic, chives, and trap crops like lettuce |
| Flea beetles | Nasturtiums as trap crop |
| Potato beetles (rare in UK) | Horseradish, borage |
| Wireworms | Rotate crops with beans and brassicas |
Using Herbs Around Potato Beds
Best Herbs to Plant Near Potatoes:
- Coriander – Attracts beneficial insects
- Mint – Repels pests but must be kept in pots (can be invasive)
- Parsley – Attracts hoverflies and lacewings
- Thyme – Ground cover and beneficial insect attractor
Avoid rosemary and sage too close to potatoes—they prefer drier soil and can compete for nutrients.
Soil and Rotation Considerations
Potatoes are heavy feeders that prefer slightly acidic, fertile soil. Companion planting helps maintain soil health, but for best results:
- Rotate potatoes every 2–4 years
- Avoid planting in the same bed as other nightshades
- Follow potatoes with legumes or nitrogen-fixing crops
Conclusion
Smart companion planting with potatoes can lead to healthier plants, higher yields, and fewer pests, all while reducing the need for chemical sprays. By choosing the right “friends” like marigolds, garlic, beans, and leafy greens—and avoiding poor companions like tomatoes or sunflowers—you’ll create a more balanced and productive garden environment.
Whether you grow in beds, raised borders, or grow bags, companion planting is a natural, effective way to give your potatoes a helping hand.
Top 10 Questions and Answers About Companion Planting with Potatoes
1. Can I grow potatoes and tomatoes together?
No—both are from the nightshade family and share diseases like blight.
2. What is the best plant to grow with potatoes?
Marigolds and garlic are top choices for deterring pests and improving plant health.
3. Do potatoes benefit from companion planting?
Yes—companion planting helps reduce pests, support pollination, and improve soil health.
4. Can I plant lettuce between potatoes?
Yes—lettuce is a shallow-rooted, fast-growing crop that won’t compete with potatoes.
5. Are beans good companions for potatoes?
Yes—bush beans are beneficial; avoid pole beans which can overshadow potatoes.
6. Is horseradish good for potatoes?
Yes—it deters pests like the Colorado potato beetle and supports soil health.
7. Can I grow chives or onions near potatoes?
Yes—onions, garlic, and chives are great companions that repel pests.
8. What should I not plant next to potatoes?
Avoid tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers, cucumbers, and asparagus.
9. Will companion planting prevent blight?
Not entirely, but good airflow and pest deterrence from companions like marigolds help reduce disease risk.
10. Can I use companion planting in grow bags?
Yes—add small herbs or leafy greens in or around the bags to maximise your space.