Best and Worst Companion Plants for Peppers

Peppers are used in a wide range of culinary dishes and can be consumed fresh, cooked, or dried. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals and have health benefits such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

What are Peppers?

• Peppers are a member of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes.
• They are native to southern North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America and are cultivated for their fruit, which can be sweet or spicy, depending on the variety. They have been cultivated for over 6,000 years and were used by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs in Central and South America.
• Peppers come in a wide range of colors, including green, yellow, orange, red, and purple, and can change color as they mature. Some peppers, such as the bell pepper, are mild and sweet, while others, such as the habanero, are extremely hot and can cause a burning sensation in the mouth.
• Peppers are rich in vitamins C and A, as well as potassium, magnesium, and iron.
• Peppers are a versatile ingredient in many types of cuisine and can be used fresh, dried, or ground into a powder, such as paprika.
• In addition to their culinary uses, peppers have medicinal properties and are used in traditional medicine to treat a range of ailments.

What Is Companion Planting?

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. In essence, companion planting helps bring a balanced ecosystem to your landscape, allowing nature to do its job.

Benefits of Companion Planting

1. Organic Pest control
Some plants can emit scents that either repel insects, attract them, or confuse insects or disease organisms in search of their favorite host plants. They make insects less likely to land on your garden vegetables.

2. Attracts beneficial insects
Some plants help attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, bees, and butterflies, that pollinate and help control harmful bugs. Beneficial insects feed on common garden pests, like aphids and caterpillars.

3. Provides necessary shade
Tall sun-loving plants offer shade to smaller shade-loving plants. This results in better products and can also potentially provide pest control. A good example is The Three Sisters Garden. Practiced by Native Americans thousands of years ago, this garden includes corn, beans, and squash. The tall corn provides shade for the lower squash but also stops the squash vine borer beetle.

4. Shelters plants
Some plants can provide windbreaks and prevent soil erosion. Strong winds can damage gardens by removing mulch, topsoil, and eroding beds and hillsides. Rain can also cause severe damage by beating down young seedlings. By carefully selecting the right ground cover, you can help prevent soil erosion.

5. Provides natural supports
Some companion plants can physically support each other, reducing the need for staking. The example of planting corn, beans, and squash together applies here again. Corn provides tall stalks for the beans to climb so that they are not out-competed by sprawling squash vines.

6. Saves space
Interplanting different crops greatly maximizes space and improves productivity in small gardens.

7. Enhances flavors
Some plants can subtly enhance the flavor of other plants. Most herbs have been found to enhance the flavor of fruits and vegetables grown nearby, and Basil grown beside tomatoes is an excellent example. Similarly, chamomile has an aromatic scent that is believed to improve the growth and flavor of cabbages, cucumbers, and onions when grown beside them.

8. Better soil quality and fertility
Some crops help fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and reduce fertilizer needs. Similarly, planting plants with different root structures together can aerate the soil and allow plants to pull nutrients from different parts of the soil.

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. Companion planting combines beauty and purpose to create an enjoyable, healthy environment.

Best Companion Plants for Peppers

• Tomatoes: Peppers and tomatoes are both members of the nightshade family, and they complement each other well.
• Basil: Basil is a fragrant herb that can repel pests such as aphids, flies, and spider mites. It also attracts pollinators such as bees, which can help improve the yield of pepper plants.
• Borage: Borage is known to repel certain pests, such as tomato hornworms, which can also affect pepper plants. Borage is also a great pollinator plant, attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden. Borage has beautiful blue flowers that can add visual interest to your garden and attract pollinators. The flowers are also edible and can be used in salads and other dishes.
• Carrots: Carrots have a long and slender root system that grows well alongside the shallow root system of pepper plants. This can help to improve the overall productivity of your garden by maximizing the use of available space.
• Chives: Chives have natural insect-repelling properties that can help to deter pests that may damage pepper plants. Planting chives near your peppers can help to repel aphids, thrips, and other pests. Chives have beautiful purple flowers that can add visual interest to your garden and attract pollinators.
• Fava Beans: Beans are legumes that can help fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit pepper plants. They also help improve soil structure and can be planted as a living mulch around pepper plants.
• Garlic: Garlic has natural insecticidal properties that can help to deter pests that may damage pepper plants. Planting garlic near your peppers can help to repel aphids, slugs, and other pests.
• Herbs: Herbs, especially oregano, cilantro, chives, and marjoram, are good companion plants because they grow close to the ground and do not compete with peppers for space. They help repel harmful insects such as spider mites, Japanese beetles, and aphids. They also attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which can help control pests.
• Marigolds: Marigolds are known for their ability to repel harmful nematodes and other pests. They also add color to the garden and attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and hoverflies.
• Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are colorful, edible flowers that can help repel aphids, whiteflies, and other pests. They also attract beneficial insects such as predatory insects and bees.
• Onions: Onions can help repel pests such as aphids, Colorado potato beetles or rabbits. They also help improve soil fertility and structure and can be planted as a border around pepper plants.
• Spinach: Spinach crowds out weeds without competing for sunlight or water.