Nasturtium Companion Plants: What to Grow With Nasturtiums for Healthier Crops

Nasturtiums are one of the best companion plants you can grow in a vegetable or ornamental garden. Valued for their bright flowers and edible leaves, they are also highly effective at attracting beneficial insects and acting as a trap plant for pests. When planted alongside the right crops, nasturtiums can help improve plant health, reduce pest pressure, and increase overall garden productivity.

⭐ Recommended Products — 🌿 Nasturtiums & Growing Essentials

Nasturtiums are cheerful, edible flowers with bright colours and peppery taste — easy to grow in beds, containers, and hanging baskets.

• Nasturtium Seed Collection (Mixed Colours)
A mix of vibrant nasturtium seeds — perfect for sowing directly outdoors or under cover early in the season.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Nasturtium Plug Plants / Young Seedlings
Healthy young nasturtium plants ready to transplant into borders or containers for instant summer colour.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Well-Draining Flower & Annual Compost
Light, nutrient-balanced compost ideal for nurturing nasturtium roots and encouraging healthy growth.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Grow Lights for Early Sowing
Bright LED grow lights that help keep indoors-sown nasturtiums strong and stocky before planting outside.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Decorative Pots & Planters for Nasturtiums
Attractive containers that show off nasturtium blooms on patios, balconies, or windowsills.
👉 Click here to see top options

This guide explains the best companion plants for nasturtiums, how they help other plants, and which combinations to avoid.

Why Nasturtiums Are Good Companion Plants

Nasturtiums offer several benefits in companion planting:

Attract aphids away from crops (trap plant)
Draw in pollinators such as bees and hoverflies
Improve biodiversity
Provide ground cover that suppresses weeds
Add edible leaves and flowers to the garden

Because they thrive in poor soil and need little care, they fit easily among vegetables and flowers.

Best Companion Plants for Nasturtiums

Tomatoes

Nasturtiums are excellent companions for tomatoes.

Attract aphids away from tomato plants
Draw in pollinators to improve flowering
Help reduce whitefly presence

Plant nasturtiums around the base or edges of tomato beds.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers benefit from nasturtiums in several ways.

Deter cucumber beetles
Attract beneficial insects
Provide living ground cover

Trailing nasturtiums work particularly well nearby.

Squash, Courgettes, and Pumpkins

Nasturtiums pair well with squash-family crops.

Help distract pests
Improve pollination
Cover bare soil and reduce weed growth

Their spreading habit complements large-leaved plants.

Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli)

Nasturtiums are often planted near brassicas.

Attract aphids and cabbage white butterflies away from crops
Reduce pest pressure naturally
Support beneficial insects

They are commonly used in organic gardens for this reason.

Beans and Peas

Legumes grow well alongside nasturtiums.

No competition for nutrients
Improved insect diversity
Attractive mixed planting

Both plants thrive without rich soil.

⭐ Recommended Products — Garden & Allotment Essentials for March

March is when the growing season truly begins. Seeds are being sown daily, beds are prepared and late frosts are still possible — these essentials help produce strong plants and a successful start.

Seed Trays, Modules & Propagation Kits — perfect for tomatoes, brassicas, lettuce, onions and flowers. 👉 Click here to see top options

Heated Propagators, Heat Mats & Grow Lights — improves germination and prevents leggy seedlings during cold nights. 👉 Click here to see top options

Seed & Cutting Compost — essential for healthy seedlings and strong root growth. 👉 Click here to see top options

Garden Fleece & Plant Protection Covers — protects seedlings, potatoes and early plantings from late frost. 👉 Click here to see top options

Spring Vegetable Seeds — carrots, beetroot, peas, spinach and salads can all be started now. 👉 Click here to see top options

Garden Kneeler & Seat — makes long sowing and planting sessions far more comfortable. 👉 Click here to see top options

Pressure Washer (Greenhouse & Patio Cleaning) — clean patios, paths and greenhouses before planting. 👉 Click here to see top options

Solar Garden Lights — perfect for enjoying the garden during brighter spring evenings. 👉 Click here to see top options

Fruit Trees and Soft Fruit

Nasturtiums can be grown under fruit trees or near soft fruit bushes.

Attract pollinators
Act as sacrificial plants for aphids
Add colour and ground cover

They are especially useful in wildlife-friendly gardens.

Companion Flowers That Grow Well With Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums also pair nicely with other flowers.

Good companions include:

Calendula
Marigolds
Borage
Cosmos

These combinations increase pollinator activity and create healthy, diverse planting areas.

Plants to Avoid Growing With Nasturtiums

While nasturtiums are generally friendly plants, there are a few considerations:

Avoid overcrowding small plants, as nasturtiums can spread
Do not plant too close to slow-growing seedlings
Avoid pairing with plants that require very rich soil

Good spacing prevents competition and shading.

How to Use Nasturtiums in Companion Planting

For best results:

Plant nasturtiums around the edges of beds
Use trailing types between crops
Grow dwarf varieties near smaller plants
Allow some aphids to remain to keep pests away from crops

They work best as part of a balanced garden ecosystem.

Are Nasturtiums Good for Organic Gardening?

Yes. Nasturtiums are widely used in organic and no-dig gardens.

They:

Reduce reliance on chemical pest control
Support beneficial insects
Encourage natural pest management

This makes them ideal for allotments and eco-friendly gardens.

Final Thoughts on Nasturtium Companion Plants

Nasturtiums are one of the most useful companion plants you can grow. Easy, colourful, and edible, they protect crops, attract pollinators, and improve overall garden health. Whether planted among vegetables, fruit, or flowers, they play a valuable role in creating a productive and balanced garden.

If you’re looking for a simple way to boost plant health naturally, nasturtiums are an excellent choice.

Join our new daily newsletter for tips, advice. recipes, videos plus lots more. Join for free!

📘 Learn How to Grow Your Own Fruit & Vegetables

Growing your own veg is one of the most rewarding things you can do on an allotment or in the garden — saving money, eating better, and enjoying the process from seed to harvest.

Allotment Month By Month: Grow your Own Fruit and Vegetables, know exactly what to do and when, with clear month-by-month guidance that makes growing easier and more successful.

👉 Take a look at this book on Amazon