Asparagus plants can grow quite large, and their harvest season is relatively short. That can make garden beds planted with only asparagus somewhat limited in productivity. However, choosing the right asparagus companion plants can boost the capacity of your growing space and maintain an impressive harvest of veggies and herbs all season long. The best companion plants can also keep pests away and encourage a more prolific harvest of asparagus spears.
Some of these asparagus companion plants excel at pest prevention, while others can keep down weeds. When you choose these companion plants to grow near your asparagus, it will help simplify your gardening chores and boost your harvest. Below, you’ll find some top asparagus companions and a few simple companion planting tips to get you started.
Basil
Basil provides food and shelter to various beneficial insects, including predatory wasps. As an asparagus companion plant, basil will help reduce pest populations. And basil's small size ensures it won't compete with your asparagus for sunlight or soil space. Basil plants will benefit from being grown near taller asparagus because the added shade will protect basil's delicate leaves from too much bright sun.
Cilantro
With a shallow root system and a low growth habit, cilantro won't compete as an asparagus companion plant for growing space. The flowers of this herb are also a hit with beneficial insects, which naturally help keep garden pests in check. Plus, as the unharvested asparagus stems unfurl and reach full size, they'll help shield cilantro from the most intense sun rays.
Comfrey
Comfrey is a lovely plant that produces bell-shaped, pink and purple flowers that pollinators love. In addition to boosting pollinator activity in the garden, comfrey can enrich the soil around your asparagus. When mixed into home compost, it can become a source of organic nitrogen. That said, comfrey is a vigorous grower and can be invasive in some locations, so it’s important to keep these plants in check by pruning them frequently or growing them in containers.
Dill
When it comes to asparagus companion plants, dill is one of the most useful and versatile plants you can grow. Dill flowers are highly attractive to beneficial insects that will prey on asparagus pests. Dill also thrives in cooler conditions, so it often grows better when kept in the shade of taller plants.
Grapes
Mature asparagus plants can get quite tall, which can make them a challenge to keep in garden beds since they may overshadow shorter plants. Grapes, however, grow vertically up trellising systems, so they won’t compete with your asparagus for growing space. Additionally, because both of these plants are perennial crops, they can be planted together in more permanent beds where they will grow productively for many years.
Nasturtium
Like other members of the aster family, nasturtiums are wonderful for pest protection. They serve as an efficient trap crop, luring pests away from your asparagus and other vegetables. Nasturtium is also a fast-growing plant that can make an excellent groundcover for weed suppression. When planted near your asparagus, nasturtium can keep weeds down and add a bit of color to your garden beds, too.
Nightshades
Plants in the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, form a symbiotic relationship as asparagus companion plants that benefits both. Nightshades emit solanine, which repels one of the most destructive asparagus pests: the asparagus beetle. In turn, asparagus helps protect nightshade plants by releasing a chemical into the soil that keeps nematodes away.
Parsley
Parsley is a strongly scented herb that provides a food source for beneficial insects throughout their lifecycles. It can also be harvested throughout the growing season, keeping your garden beds productive even after you’ve harvested your asparagus. However, parsley is a biennial herb that should be replanted at least every two years for an ongoing harvest.
Petunias
Petunias are members of the nightshade family and, like other nightshades, when added as asparagus companion plants, they may help repel asparagus beetles. Petunias are also smaller annual plants that are easy to grow from seed among your asparagus or potted up in small containers near your veggie beds. Easy-going and resilient, petunias offer a splash of color with their prolific flowers.
Strawberries
Strawberries and asparagus may seem like an odd plant pairing, but it works. Both plants are harvested early in the season and, since they are both perennials, a bed planted with asparagus and strawberries will come back year after year with minimal fuss. What’s more, asparagus and strawberries have different root zones, which keeps their root systems from competing with each other in the soil.
Companion plants benefit many vegetables and fruits and should be used whenever possible to organically reduce the possibility of pests and other problems. If you're growing broccoli, chamomile and rosemary are two fragrant herbs to plant as companion plants. Keep thyme and dill in your tomato garden, then use them to flavor your tomatoes in recipes. Plant garlic around your fruit trees to keep hungry bugs away from your apples, peaches, and other edibles. The right combination of plants will keep your garden healthy and productive.