Utilizing zucchini companion plants is an excellent way to maximize the productivity and health of your zucchini plant. Not only that, but picking the right plants could help deter pests like the awful squash vine borer! There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with that pest. Argh!
Alternatively, there are certain plants that aren’t friends with zucchini and should be left on the other side of the garden. Not all garden plants are friends, believe it or not! They butt heads with each other sometimes, just like humans do.
In this article, we’re going to tackle the 5 BEST and the 3 WORST companion plants to plant alongside your zucchini plant so that you have a stress-free harvest this season. Let’s jump in!
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products (including Amazon). I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you! Regardless, I only link to products that I personally use on our homestead or believe in.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing specific plants together to support each other’s growth. This concept relies on the idea that some plants enhance the health and development of their neighbors through various natural interactions. So what are those interactions?
Benefits of companion planting
- Create a more diverse and resilient ecosystem
- Repelling pests
- Providing beneficial nutrients
- Improving soil quality
- Attracting beneficial insects
- Attracting pollinators
An added benefit of companion planting is that it allows you to place your plants a little closer than you otherwise would, which is great if you have a small garden or raised bed!
The 5 Best Zucchini Companion Plants
Zucchini is pretty easy going, but here are its top 5 friends that will step in to help protect it from pests, without inhibiting its growth:
- Radish
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Thyme
- Tansy
#1: Radish
As a zone 4A gardener with a short growing season, I absolutely love using radishes for companion planting. Radishes have a very short growing period of only 3-5 weeks. This allows you to grow them in the empty space around a baby zucchini plant and harvest the radishes just before the zucchini plant matures and starts to take over.
The second reason that I love using radishes as a companion plant for zucchini is that they repel squash vine borers. Wahoo! There’s no bigger enemy to summer squash than the dreaded squash vine borer. Definitely add a protective circle of radishes around your zucchini plant this year!
#2: Marigolds
Marigolds are excellent at repelling pests such as nematodes, aphids, squash bugs, and whiteflies. They work so well that I often have 15-20 of them interspersed in my garden, near my high-risk plants.
Additionally, marigolds are known for their ability to improve soil health by releasing organic compounds such as thiophenes, terpenes, and flavonoids to suppress harmful soil-borne pathogens and promote beneficial microorganisms.
Lastly, the bright and colorful flowers of marigolds can add aesthetic appeal to the garden and attract pollinators. When strategically planted, marigolds can serve as an amazing companion plant for zucchini, promoting plant health and pest management in the garden. An excellent choice!
#3: Nasturtiums
The beautiful nasturtiums are one of the best companion plants out there as they benefit most any plant! Plus, they are edible and provide a fun splash of color in spring salads. Here’s what nasturtiums can do for your zucchini plant:
- Attracts pollinators
- Attracts beneficial predatory insects
- Acts as a trap crop for things like squash bugs, squash beetles, flea beetles, and striped cucumber beetles
- Provides a living mulch to reduce weed pressure and moisture loss
#4: Thyme
Definitely consider adding some thyme around your zucchini, and other plants as well! Thyme (when flowering) is very effective at attracting beneficial predatory insects such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps while deterring destructive ones such as aphids and whiteflies. Lastly, thyme can improve the flavor of plants that are grown nearby.
The other thing that I love about growing thyme as a companion plant is that it stays small and has low nutrient needs, so it won’t overpower the plants that it is planted next to.
#5: Tansy
Tansy is a new companion plant for me to use, and now I’m wishing that I had discovered it earlier! Not only is it a super cute addition to the garden with its small, yellow flowers, but it deters all sorts of pests! It’ll effectively repel things like the cucumber beetle, squash bugs, cutworms, and even those pesky mosquitoes!
3 Plants to AVOID Planting With Zucchini
Zucchini doesn’t have a lot of enemies in the plant world, but there are a few to pay attention to! Here are the top 3 veggies that I would avoid planting next to your zucchini at all costs:
- Potatoes
- Fennel
- Winter squash
#1: Potato
First of all, zucchini and potatoes are both heavy feeders and require a lot of the same nutrients, so they will compete with one another and ultimately inhibit each other’s growth if planted near each other. They need their own space! Secondly, zucchini can increase the spread of potato blight disease, which can seriously damage your overall yield.
#2: Fennel
Fennel is a foe to most plants in the garden because it secretes allopathic compounds that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants. These compounds may affect the germination, growth, and development of eggplant, leading to reduced yields.
Lastly, Fennel emits a strong flavor and aroma that can potentially impact the taste of nearby crops, including zucchini. Consider planting fennel in its own area to reduce the risk of any off-flavors or an undesirable taste in your other produce.
#3: Winter squash
If you’ve ever grown winter squash (pumpkins, butternut squash, etc.) before, then you’ll probably agree that its growth can get unruly in no time. I’m constantly trying to maintain order with the vines sprawling all over the place. The vines can quickly take over your zucchini plant, blocking precious sunlight. Plus, zucchini needs to be harvested daily, and having vines in the way will make it challenging to do so.
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*Information in this article was referenced from personal experience and/or from my favorite gardening book: The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, unless otherwise noted.
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