What plants can be grown near carrots? Carrot is a common root vegetable and if you are looking for a suitable companion for it then this article is for you.
Carrots are not just common in many gardens but they are versatile as well, you can have it eaten raw, steamed roasted, boiled, or simply have it included as an ingredient in soups or stews.
Companion planting will not only provide you with edible crops but also keep your garden plants safe from harmful pests. For a successful carrot harvest this year, you should try companion planting.
Companion planting is an organic method that has been used by gardeners for years to aid pollination, keep the number of pests down and maintain a natural balance in your garden. So, read on for the best companion plants for carrots.
Table of Contents
The Best Companion Plants For Carrot
It is important to learn how to pair carrots with beneficial companion plants, it helps you harvest healthy and flavorful carrots. Carrot is an easy to grow plant and it also has a reputation of protecting certain plants from pests and stimulates their growth. Here is a companion planting guide to help you pair your carrots.
1. Radishes
Not many crops are recommended to be planted near radishes but carrots are great for radishes. You can have radishes planted around the same time you plant your carrot seeds as this will enable radishes to loosen up the soil when they sprout by the time carrots start to grow and it enables carrots to grow faster.
2. Onions
Onions and carrots really do make great friends because onions will help repel the carrot fly. Onions can also help deter many carrot pests and even the most notable carrot rust flies.
3. Mints
Carrots are another common companion plant to grow together. The strong-scented leaves of mints confuse pests that disturb and feed on carrots. However, mints are best planted in pots to prevent them from smothering your crops.
4. Leeks
Leeks are also great companions to carrots. They help deter carrot flies and in turn carrots help repel leek moth. Planting leeks and carrots together can help both plants benefit from each other and get rid of harmful pests.
5. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are attractive flowers that make a great companion plant to carrots. Gardeners have them planted in close proximity to help repel cucumber beetles, aphids, and other pests. This flower also attracts pollinators.
6. Lavender
To confuse pests, plant your carrot with lavender. It helps attract a large number of pollinators which includes bees, butterflies, and hoverflies.
7. Legume
Legumes and carrots tend to benefit from each other when planted together. Legumes can help in enriching the soil around carrots with their nitrogen-fixing properties and legumes like pole beans and bush beans also ensure that the carrots have healthy soil to grow on.
8. Chive
Chive is another member of the onion family that is a great companion plant to carrots. It can help deter carrot flies just like onions and it is also believed to help improve carrot flavor. Cives and carrots don’t compete with each for space underground either as chives have shallow root.
9. Lettuce
Another companion plant that won’t compete with carrots for space is lettuce. It has small roots and can be planted in any vegetable garden. Lettuce leaves help keep carrots protected and shaded against some weeds.
10. Rosemary
Rosemary and other herbs like sage have strong-scented leaves which will deter the carrot rust fly and mask the smell of carrots.
11. Tomatoes
Carrots and tomatoes tend to do well planted together. You should have your carrots planted under your tomatoes to provide them shade and also keep them cool. Be sure to leave a gap between these two plants though.
What Not To Plant With Carrots
To make companion planting with carrots, you should go for strong-smelling leaves like leeks and onions. Herbs like mint are also great companions with carrots. However, some plants can hinder the growth of your carrots or attract some dangerous pests to them. So, here are plants to keep away from carrots.
1. Fennel
Fennel is a plant that doesn’t pair well with many crops and carrots happen to be one of them. Fennels attract a wide variety of pests so it’s best planted far away to draw pests away from your vulnerable plants.
2. Potatoes
Avoid planting potatoes near carrots. Planting potatoes and carrots together will lead to weaker yield and competition.
3. Dill
Dill is another plant that needs to be kept far away from carrot. It is a plant that can cross-pollinate with any member of the Umbelliferae family.
4. Parsnips
Carrots and parsnips are not ideal companion plants. Carrots are vulnerable to pests such as carrot flies and parsnips can also get infected thereby rendering your parsnips ineffective and this can lead to harmful pest infestation.
FAQs
What do you cover carrots with?
To protect carrots from carrot flies, cover with fleece tunnels or you can simply put up barriers around them.
How do you get rid of carrot flies naturally?
Carrot flies are the main pest that attacks carrots and they can easily hinder a healthy harvest. So, to get rid of carrot flies, gardeners use methods like companion planting, crop rotation, vertical fences or spray with bug killer for easy and quick control.
Why are my carrot seedlings dying?
If carrot seedlings are dying then it’s probably because fungi in the soil become active when the condition is favorable.
Do carrots need netting?
Carrot netting is believed to help throw carrots of the scent. Carrots need netting but at an early stage.
What happens if you plant carrots too close together?
It is important you plant carrots with space between them. Carrots planted too close won’t have space to grow to maturity.
How do you get rid of carrot maggots?
To prevent carrot maggots, you can use the same method used in getting rid of pests such as companion planting, vertical fences, avoid thining and make fly barriers.
What diseases can carrots get?
Carrots are root vegetables that are prone to diseases like Leaf blight, white mold, cavity spot, common scab, black root, and aster yellows.
Do carrots grow well with herbs?
Yes! various herbs definitely grow well with carrots. Sage and rosemary are the best options as they both help repel carrot flies.
Do carrots need lots of water?
Carrots do need lots of water just like most root vegetables. It needs a minimum of 1 inch of water every week and when you water it, ensure to have the soil soaked completely.
Conclusion
Companion planting is surely one of the best ways you can maintain a healthy garden and naturally maximize your crop yield.
Carrots are one of those plants that thrive with the right companion planting. However, you shouldn’t rely on this method of efficiently clear your garden of pests, you still need to create a physical barrier to get rid of harmful insects and bugs.
