Any Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission at no cost to you if you click and finalize an order. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Watermelon Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings
Watermelons are delicious, but can be tricky to grow. Planning your garden so they’ll have the resources they need and a few companion plants nearby can help. This is a full list of the best watermelon companion plants, along with some plants to avoid growing near watermelons.
When planning your garden, remember that watermelons will need space. Companion planting for watermelons is only beneficial when your watermelons are still given plenty of space and access to sunlight. Consult your seed packet or nursery tag to find out how much space and light your watermelon variety will need.
The best watermelon companion plants include alliums, lettuce, radishes, marigolds, borage, and many more vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Read on to see the full list.
Full List of Watermelon Companion Plants
The following vegetables, flowers, and herbs all help watermelons by either deterring pests, attracting pollinators, offering ground cover, or otherwise improving soil quality.
Vegetables to Plant with Watermelons
• Beans, Peas, and Other Legumes – These nitrogen fixers can improve soil quality for watermelons, but only if they’re planted in a way that won’t later shade the watermelons once they’ve grown.
• Garlic, Leeks, Onions, and Shallots – These allium family members have anti-fungal properties and may help repel common watermelon pests.
• Lettuce, Spinach, and Arugula – These leafy greens are small and unobtrusive – they won’t compete with watermelons for space or light and can provide great ground cover to keep weeds at bay.
• Radishes – Radishes maximize the space around your slow-growing watermelons since they grow quickly and can help suppress weeds.
Flowers to Plant Near Watermelons
Flowers make excellent watermelon companion plants, since watermelons require pollinators for production. Flowers and a few flowering herbs draw in plenty of bees, butterflies, and more to help with watermelons’ short blooming season.
• Cosmos – Cosmos draw in pollinators.
• Marigolds – Marigolds attract pollinators when planted near watermelons and may help keep aphids away.
• Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums can act as a trap crop for various pests when planted a short distance away. They also attract pollinators.
Herbs to Plant Near Watermelons
The following herbs may help repel pests and/or attract pollinators.
• Basil
• Borage
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Lavender
• Marjoram
• Mints
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Summer Savory
• Tansy
• Thyme
What NOT to Plant Next to Watermelons
Some plants should be planted far away from watermelons. Here’s the full list:
Plants to Avoid with Watermelons
• Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and Squashes – While it can be tempting to grow all your large plants together, don’t! They will compete for nutrients, light, and space, and even attract the same pests.
• Peppers, Potatoes, and Tomatoes – These nightshade family members compete for nutrients and sunlight when planted near watermelons. They may also attract pests and assist in spreading diseases to watermelons.
• Sunflowers – Sunflowers can shade watermelons too much and attract pests.
Happy Planting!
You should now have a good list of watermelon companion plants. Try them and see what works best!
Want more companion planting tips? Here’s a list of onion companion plants.
Leave a Reply