Best Pumpkin Companion Plants to Grow in Your Garden
Pumpkin companion plants to grow aren’t easy to find because the pumpkin itself is pretty hard to grow. Pumpkins are known as a plant that easily attracts insects aside from the fact that they require lots of room. But, here’s the list of companion plants that can make your pumpkins pest-free and grow better.
8 Best Pumpkin Companion Plants to Grow in Your Garden
Chamomile Chamomile can be considered as a flower and a herb that can be used in food because it’s generally safe. Chamomile is one of the most recommended pumpkin companion plants because when blooming they can attract beneficial insects only. By growing them, it’s a way to manage common pumpkin insect pests and save your pumpkins to grow well.
Marjoram Marjoram is known as a cold-sensitive perennial herb that is often considered similar to oregano even though they’re actually different. The fragrant Marjorams are one of the best companion plants for pumpkin because they offer protection from voracious insects. Let the marjorams bloom to make pollinators easily come to pumpkins.
Sunflower Another good companion for your pumpkins is sunflowers because the plant is beneficial. During summer, sunflowers provide partial sunlight to your pumpkin vines and these flowers are even known as a pollinators’ inviter. Make sure there’s enough space for both to grow on their own without competing with each other for soil nutrients.
Chives To make your pumpkins pest-free (including aphids, snails, and slugs), you need chive plants to grow with them. Just like the other types of companion plants that are good for pumpkins, chives can keep garden pests at bay. Chives are a good option because they’re a useful companion, especially with their ability to attract pollinators.
Oregano Pumpkin companion plants to grow ideas that you can also adopt is planting oregano. Oregano is a spicy herb that’s also known for its strong scent, so it’s right to pair them with pumpkins. This scent is attractive for hoverflies that will prevent pumpkins from damage caused by pests.
Marigold Aside from the fact that marigolds are edible plants you can grow easily, they’re inviter for bees and other pollinators. By planting them near pumpkins, they’re able to drive certain pests away, especially the Mexican marigolds. Choose to grow yellow, red, and orange ones in order to draw beneficial insects closer to your pumpkins.
Radishes Radishes are easy and quick to grow, even when you put them in containers or beds. No matter in what way you plant them, they’re a good companion and a protector for pumpkins. If you plant them properly with so much care, radishes will lure certain pests away that could harm pumpkins.
Corn Another recommended plant that will be a beneficial combination for pumpkins is corn. Plant both of them properly by feeding them organic fertilizer and add compost to the soil. Both should have enough space to grow on their own better so that they can benefit each other.
Pumpkin companion plants to grow come in many good options to go for. Consider having one or more of these companion plants ideas to support your pumpkin’s growth. The most important thing is you have to use the right spacing method to let both plants grow optimally.