What Grows Well With Cucumber

Edward R. Forte January 26, 2022

Cucumbers

Strategic companion planting is especially important in small gardens or wherever careful space planning is needed.Bush cucumber varieties, however, don't require a trellis and may compete for sunlight and space with corn and sunflowers.Peas, corn, beans, and lentils are legumes—a type of plant that has a root system that increases nitrogen in the soil.The mechanism by which this happens is that roots have the ability to colonize the Rhizobium bacteria and absorb about 20 percent of the sugar produced by the plant—which is then turned into nitrogen.Marigold flowers will help repel beetles, and nasturtiums are distasteful to thrips and other insects that feed on cucumbers.Oregano is an herb with a well-established reputation for repelling insect pests and is another good companion for cucumbers, as is dill.Avoid mints as well, as they are overly aggressive in garden beds and can infringe on both the space for cucumbers, as well as its nutrients. .

Cucumber companion planting – the best plants to grow with

Whether you choose to grow yours in a greenhouse, or a warm, sheltered spot outdoors, companion planting cucumbers will help.Sow cucumber seeds indoors from April if you intend to grow them in an unheated greenhouse or outdoors, and at the same time plan what you will be companion planting them with.Rob Smith, Horti Expert at Dobies recommends companion planting as 'a great way to deter hungry insects from feasting on your crops, while being totally natural and organic.By planning and gardening smart you can grow a community of mutually beneficial plants so your crops can thrive and avoids the use of harmful pesticides,' Rob adds.CARROTS, PARSNIPS, RADISHES and ONIONS are good choice for cucumber companion planting as they do not encroach on each other's territory.'DILL acts by attracting predatory insects - such as wasps - which will help rid your plot of those unwanted pests,' says Rob Smith of Dobies.While this may seem counterintuitive, ‘they are often used as a sacrificial plant so aphids and and black fly attack them but stay away from your vegetables,' says Emma O’Neill of Garden Organic.The tall stalks of SUNFLOWERS both provide supports for the cucumber vines to grow up, and also help shade the plants in the hot summer sun.It is considered a good idea not to companion plant cucumbers next to PUMPKINS or SQUASH as the gourds attract similar insect enemies. .

11 Cucumber Companion Plants & 3 To Never Plant With Cucumbers

Chances are good that you found this article because you are thinking about planting cucumbers in your garden – and wish nothing but the best for their, and your, success.Whatever the case may be, know that companion planting rarely ever lets you down, and most times the rewards will be visible.Never let companion planting be a sole substitute for taking proper care of your garden (watering, weeding, fertilizing, mulching, etc.Also, keep in mind that companion planting doesn’t account much for the unpredictable weather.If it rains for weeks on end, it is not the fault of the plants, or their ability to thrive.Even if some veggies are misshapen and knobby, and even if it means that you get to eat some weeds in the meantime.When you invest your time and energy in planting a garden, it often comes to light that you are on a quest for wholesome, nutritious and delicious food.You need to think about seeds and the layout of your garden, how much sun and how much shade it receives daily.Most cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are ready to harvest in about 50-70 days, making them a popular choice to grow in the garden.Legumes such as peas and beans will help to fix essential nitrogen in the soil.By all means, go ahead and eat those highly nutritious beet greens!!However, it is one of those more neutral pairings that makes it easier to space out the many kinds of vegetables in your garden.Both the young, fresh green leaves, as well as the dill seeds, and dried flowers are perfect for pickling.Dill also attracts loads of fly-by and crawl-by beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps and other pollinators.If you are seeking a vegetable that is incredibly easy to grow, lettuce is your answer.Lettuce, as a companion plant is good next to strawberries, radishes, carrots, and you guessed it, cucumbers.These useful flowers help to repel all sorts of beetles and insects in the garden.When literally translated, “büdös” means “smelly”, and you will find them in just about every garden in the countryside.Perhaps without even knowing why, most villagers plant them, they are abundantly and quietly doing their job of helping to protect the entire garden with their “fragrance”.Not only are they edible, straight from the garden, they can be used in herbal infused vinegars, or as a natural antibiotic tincture.This by itself is not a high requirement for cucumbers, though it never hurts, since the N-P-K levels are slowly adjusting over time.It is useful to grow cucumbers to find out that they have one larger taproot, and several shallow roots that do not extend very far from the base.Remembering that most cucumbers have a tendency to climb, sunflowers, just like corn, make for a functional and natural trellis.A word of advice: choose pickling cucumbers for trellising on sunflowers that are lighter weight.With ideas in mind what to plant alongside your cucumbers, it is just as useful to know what they don’t like.Peppermint, and mints in general, can be tricky herbs to grow in the garden.While mint can be grown in a pot, in an effort to tame it, it does still prefer the comfort of space in the soil.Since your mint is a sprawling perennial, you will have to find a place further down the row for your cucumbers.It takes lots of fertilizers and pesticides to keep the insects and other diseases at bay.Melons can, however, be planted next to Brussels sprouts, broccoli, lettuce, okra, carrots, cauliflower and kale.As opposed to an actual 2,000-piece puzzle, the larger your garden, the easier it is to plant.You may also find that the no-dig method of gardening comes to your advantage in combination with companion planting.If you have cucumbers growing nearby, you may notice a difference in the quality and size of the harvestable fruit.With smaller gardens, creating distance between plants may be hard, if not impossibly difficult.Just be aware of potential problems and always keep an eye out for signs of disease, so that you can react as quickly as possible, should something go awry.The ever popular topic of companion plants for tomatoes, includes beans, squash, as well as cucumbers.But be sure to stay away from planting tomatoes with Brassicas, such as cabbage, broccoli and kohlrabi.Even if they taste wonderful together in a meal, they do not make the greatest of friends in the garden. .

The Best and Worst Cucumber Companion Plants

Now that we’ve established a basic framework, let’s get a look at some specific companions that are most beneficial as you pursue that bumper crop:.All types of bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) “fix” nitrogen into the soil, which is appreciated by this heavy-feeding garden vegetable.I plan this pairing extra carefully, making sure the cucumber seedlings are at least a couple of inches tall before sowing the beans, so they don’t grow right over the top of them.If it matures ahead of your summer vegetables, you may also want to nosh on the leaves and stalks, which can be steamed as you would spinach or beet greens.This beautiful plant, which is considered a self-seeding annual herb, also adds nutrients to the soil and repels pests like hornworms.This annual flowering herb appeals to a number of beneficial and pest insects, which makes it a helpful neighbor for cucumbers.On the more appealing side of this circle of life, calendula flowers are pollinator magnets, which is much appreciated if you’re growing heirloom, open-pollinated vegetables.Except for a big taproot that makes them so resistant to transplanting, cucumbers don’t need much space below the soil to grow.So they’ll have plenty of time for their sloooowww germination before the soil warms and you add cucumbers to that same garden bed.For this pairing, consider planting heirloom ‘Little Finger’ carrots.They’ll mature in 57 days and grow just three inches long.Also take care not to expect the trellising benefit if you’re growing varieties with heavy yields of eight or 10-inch fruits.Corn is far more reliable as a support for vines that produce smaller cucumbers, like gherkin varieties or ‘Lemon.’.Also, short vine or bush cultivars can suppress weeds if you sow them at the base of corn plants.Dill attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs, which eat the aphids and spider mites that tend to plague cucumbers.In addition, they’re a draw for the beneficial insects including ladybugs, which eat cucumber beetles and whiteflies.If you’ve got a strong enough trellis, consider growing a climbing nasturtium alongside your vining cucumber to save space.If maximizing every inch of your garden is a priority for you, consider planting a few radishes (Raphanus sativus) near your cucumbers.The ag experts at Chemung County University of Cornell Extension Service recommend this pairing for a different reason, though.I would add, though, that if you’re growing a lot of brassicas like kale, broccoli, or mustard greens, you might want to skip this idea.Radishes are also brassicas, so if you plant even a few of them now, it’s not a good plan to grow other cole crops in that soil for a season or two.Brassica crops grown two years in a row in a particular location increase the risk of certain pests and diseases making an appearance.As important as companion planting can be, I would rank the value of crop rotation ahead of it, and skip the radishes.It takes 85 to 90 days to grow five to seven feet tall and bloom on a main stalk strong enough to support vines. .

Companion Planting Guide

Here are the 10 most popular vegetables grown in the United States and their friends (and foes) in the garden.This herb helps tomatoes produce greater yields and it repels both flies and mosquitoes.Other friends to tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach.Other companions include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other members of the cabbage family along with cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.Friends: Plant marigolds and nasturtiums among your cucumbers to repel aphids and beetles,.Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants.Beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, radishes, and marigolds also work as good companion plants.Foes: Parsley, because it tends to grow into a small yet bushy plant and can crowd your lettuce.Squash also does well planted alongside beans, peas, radishes, dill, and marigolds.Friends: Carrots are heat sensitive, which is why they go well with tomato plants that can provide them a bit of shade.Tomatoes are also known to produce solanine, which is a natural insecticide that targets pests affecting carrot plants.Onions, beets, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, and squash are also good friends for radishes.Friends: Corn loves veggies that fix nitrogen in the soil—like green beans.Cornstalks also make a great trellis for vining or trailing plants including beans, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, and melons.Follow these companion planting guidelines to boost yields, minimize pest or disease problems and make garden management easier! .

Companion Planting

These factors include sun exposure, weather, ecology, pollinators, insect population, soil structure and chemistry, and water supply.West Coast Seeds has conducted significant research into these companion planting guidelines and has defined the best possible results and reasons for each of our recommendations.Minimizing Risk: Companion planting increases odds of higher yields even if one crop fails or is affected by natural hardships like weather, pests, or disease.Trap Cropping: Companion planting is the ultimate organic pest management system.Ammi - This beautiful flower attracts lacewings, ladybird beetles, and parasitic wasps.Basil helps repel aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, flies, mosquitoes, and tomato horn worm.Plant with Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries.Plant with bush beans, Brassicas, corn, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, and mint.Brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnip) – All benefit from chamomile, dill, mint, rosemary, and sage.Buckwheat – Fixes calcium in the soil, and makes an exceptionally good green manure plant.Calendula – Repels a number of unwanted soil nematodes and asparagus beetles, but may attract slugs.Celery – Good partner for beans, Brassicas, cucumber, garlic, leek, lettuce, onion, and tomatoes.Amaranth makes a great mulch between rows by competing with weeds and conserving ground moisture.Cosmos can be direct sown from early March to the end of June in our region so that it blooms continuously throughout the summer.Cucumber – Plant beside asparagus, beans, Brassicas, celery, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, and tomatoes.Dill attracts ladybird beetles, parasitoid wasps, hoverflies, bees, and garden spiders, making it one of the most useful companion planting candidates.Echinacea - These perennial coneflowers attract hoverflies and parasitoid wasps, so they're useful for pest control in companion plantings.Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme.Fennel attracts hoverflies, ladybird beetles, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies, so it's a kind of beneficial insect magnet.Gaillardia - This flower blooms over a very long period in summer, providing a rich source of nectar for a host of pollinators.Because of its sulfur compounds, it may also help repel whiteflies, Japanese beetles, root maggots, carrot rust fly, and other pests.Garlic, made into a tea, or spray, will act as a systemic pesticide, drawing up into the cells of the plants.It’s a good companion for beets, Brassicas, celery, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes.Iberis - This early flowering plant provides nectar for pollinators before many others, and it attracts hoverflies and ground beetles.Lettuce – Good companions for beets, Brassicas, carrot, celery, chervil, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, and strawberries.Melon – Great companions for corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, pumpkin, radish, squash, and sunflowers.Onions also work well alongside beets, Brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes.Peas – Superb companions for beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, peppers.Phacelia — An essential element in any organic gardener's toolkit, this multi-purpose annual flower is fast to mature, and amazingly attractive to a host of pollinators and beneficial insects.Notably, it attracts bees and predatory hoverflies to improve pollination and combat pest insects.Plant Phacelia around any crop showing poor pollination, particularly squash (including zucchini and pumpkin), melons, and cucumbers.Avoid planting potatoes near asparagus, Brassicas, carrots, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower, and turnips.Rosemary repels cabbage moths, Mexican bean beetles, and carrot rust flies.Spinach – A good companion for Brassicas, eggplants, leeks, lettuce, peas, radish, and strawberries, particularly.Couple them with beans, borage, garlic, lettuce, onions, peas, spinach, and thyme.Sunflowers are attractive to a host of wild and domestic bees, and also ladybird beetles, which prey on aphids.Tithonia - Plant this so-called Mexican Torch to attract parasitoid wasps, parasitic flies, and soldier bugs to your garden.Tomatoes – Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers.Yarrow – Its scent repels aphids, but attracts hoverflies, lady beetles, and wasps that prey on garden grubs.The leaves and stems of yarrow contain enzymes that break down rapidly, so it can be added to the compost raw or as a tea to accelerate the heap.Damp, acidic soil can host club root (for example), which can be a real problem for broccoli and Brussels sprouts.Please feel free to contact us for clarification at [email protected] westcoastseeds.com, and we will do our best to bring better depth to our guides so that all of our customers can benefit. .

How to Grow and Plant Cucumbers

Growing cucumbers is for warmer weather: Plants are so frost-tender that they shouldn't be set into the garden until soil temperatures are reliably in the 70-degree range (no less than 2 weeks after the last frost date).You can increase the season's yield of bush varieties by planting several crops in succession 2 weeks apart.Lemon cucumber offers smaller fruits perfect for a single serving, while Boston Pickling boasts classic heirloom taste.Whichever cucumber variety you choose, you can rest assured that you'll get a strong start with Bonnie Plants, a company that has been around for over 100 years.Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.When soil is warm, add a layer of straw mulch to keep fruit clean and help keep slugs and beetles away.In areas where spring is long and cool, you can warm the soil 3 to 4 degrees by covering the hill or row with black plastic.If you do not plant in black plastic, then mulch with pine straw, wheat straw, chopped leaves, or your favorite organic mulch shortly after planting.Mulch is especially important to keep the fruit clean for bush types and vines not growing on a trellis.Straw mulch is also thought to be uncomfortable for slugs and creates an uneasy footing for cucumber beetles, helping to keep them at bay.Just keep the soil consistently moist with an inch of water per week (more if temperatures sizzle and rain is scarce).For best results, high quality plant food is just as important as starting with great soil.Vines are also bothered by cucumber beetles, which chew holes in leaves and flowers and scar stems and fruits, but worse than that, they spread a disease that causes the plants to wilt and die.Yellowing at the bottom (blossom end) of a cucumber signals overripeness; remove the fruit immediately.If you don't eat a slicing cucumber all at once, cover the unused portion in plastic wrap to prevent dehydration in the refrigerator.In fact, it's a good idea to wrap your whole cucumbers in plastic or store them in a zipper bag in the fridge to keep them crisp.Set cucumber transplants at the base of your trellis, and mulch after planting unless the soil could use a little more warming. .

Cucumber Companion Plants: Pickle Pals

Even today, gardeners across the world are continually learning better ways to grow cucumbers.Cucumber companion plants include flowers like nasturtiums or petunias.They would sow corn, squash, and green beans together to improve the biodiversity of their vegetable garden.Low-lying plants are great as ground covers to reduce weeds and to keep the soil moist.There are plenty of good companion plants to choose from to place next to your cucumbers in the garden.If your goal is to attract beneficial insects, use flowers such as nasturtiums, cosmos, and borage.Nasturtiums repel cucumber beetles and thrips because they taste awful to these insects.However, nasturtiums will improve the flavor of the cucumbers and will enjoy the shade provided by the vines.Flowers like cosmos are a great option near cucumbers to attract parasitic wasps.Examples of root vegetables that grow well near cucumbers are carrots, onions, rutabaga, beets, radishes, turnips, and parsnips.You can plant leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce because they will thrive in the shade provided by the cucumbers.It’s best to place these crops away from one another to prevent insect infestation and to allow plenty of room for them to grow.It is not a good idea to place one particular member of the nightshade family near your cucumbers: potatoes.Planting it nearby can draw in beneficial insects, but avoid sharing the soil with your cucumber vines!Brussels sprouts are heavy feeders and like high amounts of water, so they will compete for nutrients, thus affecting the growth of your cucumbers.On the other end of the spectrum, don’t plant anything that doesn’t prefer a lot of water, since cucumbers love moist garden soil.Strawberry plants multiply with runners, so they need plenty of room to spread out in the garden.Providing ideal growing conditions will ensure a good cucumber crop throughout the summer months. .