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Pea Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings
While the need for a trellis, cool weather, and frequent harvesting can make peas seem like a high-maintenance vegetable, they’re very beneficial for your garden’s overall health! They release nitrogen into the soil that benefits many other plants when planted at the same time and in succession. A few plants also help out peas in return.
Some of the best pea companion plants include corn, radishes, turnips, cilantro, and mint, but there are many great options depending on your gardening needs!
Full List of Pea Companion Plants
The following vegetables, herbs, and flowers can make excellent pea companion plants. They may deter pests, bring in beneficial insects, enjoy the same growing conditions, or benefit from the nitrogen peas fix.
Vegetable Companion Plants for Peas
• Arugula, Lettuce, and Spinach – These leafy greens all prefer cool weather, just like peas. The peas’ extra nitrogen can also help them grow. You can plant peas to the south and west of the greens to offer them extra shade as well.
• Beans – Fellow legumes beans and peas grow happily together since they have the same needs – just make sure they both have access to plenty of sunlight.
• Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, and Swiss Chard – These brassicas family members enjoy similar growing conditions and temperatures. They also benefit from the nitrogen peas fix.
• Beets, Carrots, and Parsnips – Peas, beets, carrots, and parsnips all enjoy cooler temperatures and similar growing conditions. Plant the peas on the north side of your patch to make sure the smaller root vegetables get enough sun. Space rows of each approximately a foot apart for optimal health.
• Celery – Celery enjoys similar growing conditions and benefits from the nitrogen the peas provide.
• Corn – Corn enjoys the nitrogen peas fix. In turn the peas can use the corn as a trellis if planted in full sun. Make sure the corn is already a few inches tall before you plant the peas.
• Cucumbers – Cucumbers and peas require similar growing conditions, and cucumbers in particular enjoy the nitrogen the peas fix.
• Eggplant, Peppers, Potatoes, and Tomatoes – These nightshade family members all enjoy extra nitrogen. Since they’re hot weather lovers, you can either plant them in succession (planting peas early in the season, then the nightshades later) or plant the nightshades on the south and west side of your peas to help keep the sun off the peas.
• Radishes and Turnips – Radishes and turnips enjoy the extra nitrogen from the peas, and in turn can deter some pea pests, like aphids.
Flowers to Plant with Peas
• Alyssum – Alyssum attracts beneficial insects that can help keep pests off peas. It also makes an excellent ground cover to keep weeds down.
• Calendula – Pretty calendula can attract helpful insects to keep bad bugs away from peas.
• Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums can be used as an aphid trap crop when planted a short distance away from peas.
Herbs to Grow with Peas
The following herbs can all make great pea companion plants, as they enjoy similar growing conditions and can help with pest prevention.
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Mints
• Parsley
What NOT to Plant Next to Peas
• Onions and Other Alliums – Don’t plant peas near any alliums, like garlic, chives, leeks, scallions, and onions, since they can stunt each other’s growth.
Happy Planting!
With this list, you should have plenty of options for pea companion plants. Try one or more and see what works best for your garden!
Learn about the best companion plants for beans as well.
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