Avoid Companion Planting These Varieties with Potatoes for Optimal Growth:
Potatoes: A Grower's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls
Digging into the world of gardening, potatoes are a beloved vegetable, easy to cultivate, and versatile in the kitchen. However, they don't play nicely with every fellow garden dweller. Here's a lowdown on the plants to steer clear of when planting potatoes, based on insights from gardening experts.
- Sara Rubens, an ardent gardener and founder of Seed to Sanctuary
- Veronica Yurchak, a vegetable production specialist from the University of Maryland Extension
- Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension
What Not to Grow with Potatoes
Tomatoes
These juicy red gems may be irresistible, but they're a no-go when it comes to sharing space with potatoes. Ken Johnson, a horticulture whiz, explains, "They're both solanaceous crops, meaning they share the same pesky critters and illnesses, like blight." Not to mention, the " shadow they cast can hinder potato growth," Johnson adds.
Peppers
Like tomatoes, peppers are also from the same family as potatoes, which can make them a double trouble when planted near them. As Sara Rubens warns, "They can compete for nutrients and invite shared pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle."
The Perfect Partners: Companion Planting for Peppers
Eggplant
Eggplant is yet another solanaceous cousin, and when it comes to sharing a patch, it could lead to a rapid spread of pests and diseases. Veronica Yurchak of the University of Maryland Extension advises, "It's best to keep them apart."
Cucumbers
Potatoes require ample room and nutrients to thrive, and cucumbers can cause trouble in this department. Rubens, the green-thumbed enthusiast, recommends, "Growing cucumbers in separate pots or containers maintains the space needed for potatoes."
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are popular come autumn, but their size can be detrimental to potatoes. With large leaves that can overshadow potato plants, Rubens warns, "This reduces sunlight exposure, stunting potato growth."
Asparagus
Asparagus, with its long roots, isn't the best match for potatoes. According to Rubens, "The roots can get disrupted during the potato harvesting process." However, Johnson disputes this, suggesting that ample distance between the two will do the trick.
A Lifelong Companion: An Expert's Guide to Growing Asparagus
Raspberry
Raspberries, like potatoes, are susceptible to fungal diseases, making them an unsafe neighbor for potatoes. Planting them near each other can cause problems not just for these fruits but for your entire garden.
In short, to keep your potatoes healthy and thriving, avoid growing them alongside other solanaceous crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants), cucumbers, pumpkins, asparagus, and raspberries. Introduce beneficial companions like beans, marigolds, basil, spinach, and cilantro to deter pests and foster potato growth.
- For a healthy vegetable garden, it's recommended to avoid growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins, asparagus, and raspberries near potatoes, as they can compete for nutrients, share pests, and hinder growth.
- Sara Rubens, an avid gardener, advises growing cucumbers in separate pots or containers from potatoes to maintain the needed space for them to thrive.
- Marigolds, basil, spinach, and cilantro can serve as beneficial companions for potatoes in a garden, helping to deter pests and foster growth.
