We ’re here to help!Wild Yards is a completely destitute website that is 100 % dedicated to helping you make a wildlife - well-disposed , sustainable thousand . translate more
WildYards is lector - put up . When you purchase a product through a link on our site , we may earn a comission . Every product is independently selected by our ( obsessive ) editor in chief and our reappraisal are unbiased and objective .
take missionor ourprivacy policy .
Get a Landscaping or Gardening Quote
inscribe your nothing code
If you love having fresh vegetable , but you do n’t enjoy garden , perennial plants like Asparagus officinales can help spare you some back - breaking labor . Asparagus plants are self - seeding , so they come back year after year . away from annual fertilizing to restore lost nutrients , that means less study for you overall . you could further meliorate your plant ’s performance by make the most of asparagus companion plant .
Asparagus companion plant like dill weed , basil , and cilantro , help deter harmful louse from feeding on your vegetables . Other companions , such as petunias , strawberries , and prickly-seeded spinach , help meliorate growing condition to give you the best asparagus craw possible .
Why should you consider companion planting with your asparagus?
Growing Asparagus officinales is n’t particularly laborious , but it does take patience and dedication . Asparagus is slow - grow . The germ can take up to three years to germinate , and , in the meantime , they postulate the grime surrounding them to stay moist and protect from the Lord’s Day ’s coarse rays . sure comrade plants play as a living mulch to keep the stain primed for growing Asparagus officinales plant .
to boot , because asparagus takes so long to sprout , it can be unmanageable to remember where you establish them . Companion planting help you delineate your garden space so you remember what ’s what when leaves bulge sprouting . Otherwise , you might accidentally root out your seedlings .
Like other veg , asparagus is vulnerable to certain dirt ball . Caterpillars , armyworms , reek bug , and asparagus beetles are just a few insects that like to pillage asparagus plants of their leaf . fellow traveler flora can help repulse these pests , keeping them out of your garden and away from your valuable crops .
What are the best asparagus companion plants to grow?
Asparagus develop well right in the ground but can do just as well in stir bed , as long as there ’s enough depth for their root arrangement to grow . For best solvent , await for fellow plant that enjoy sandy , well - debilitate soil and full sunshine . These are the same raise prerequisite that asparagus plant need to thrive .
You should also take care to keep your comrade plant far enough away from your edible asparagus seedlings . Asparagus can grow to impressive heights of five feet . They need plenty of way to grow . So allow for enough space between row to keep competition . Other companion plants can be grown as a covering fire crop to facilitate retain moisture and forestall soil erosion as your Asparagus officinales plants come forth .
Rhubarb
Another perennial , pieplant is a democratic Asparagus officinales fellow traveler plant life for low - sustentation gardens . Like asparagus , rhubarb plants do n’t wish to have their dirt disturbed too much . So aside from unconstipated top - bandaging and weeding , they do n’t postulate much work .
Rhubarb leaves arehigh in oxalic acid , making them unsafe for animal and human intake . These same acids prove toxic to many garden pests as well , including aphids , thrips , whiteflies , and caterpillars , making rhubarb an first-class natural pest control . flora rows of asparagus between rows of rhubarb to preclude them from competing for distance and nutrients .
Spinach
These dark leafy greens are tremendous asparagus companion works because their shallow roots never interfere with the edible asparagus plant ’s thick ones . to boot , because Spinacia oleracea originate so speedily , its food intake is limited . From the metre the seminal fluid sprout right up until harvest , they never phlebotomise enough minerals from the grime to do asparagus any damage .
Spinach plants grow broad leaves that cast a tincture on the smother ground , hold back it coolheaded and moist . Spinach acquire very well in between rows where it can even be produce as a sand trap crop to draw aphids , beetle , and caterpillars off from your edible asparagus plants .
Nasturtiums
Speaking of trap crops , nasturtiums are often utilized as fellow traveler plants for that very reasonableness . Nasturtiums draw all manner of thirsty vegetable - eating bug . Aphids , wanderer mites , leafhopper , and cabbage moth will pick nasturtium over other plant . Many gardener grow nasturtiums in between row to keep these bothersome plague off their more valuable plants .
These unfolding yearbook support your garden ’s ecosystem . Nasturtium ’s pretty blossom draw pollinators , especially hummingbirds and butterfly . And their great , cascade down leaves cover the earth around them to help oneself the soil retain wet . Keep them near your Asparagus officinales industrial plant to improve soil conditions and repel pests .
Dill
This herb ’s ticklish , frond - like leaves raise fair close to the ground , protecting it from moisture red . This is why Anethum graveolens do work well as a companion industrial plant for many vegetables , include asparagus . Plus , because its roots are so shallow , it does n’t compete with neighboring plants for nutrition .
Dill attracts ladybugs , hoverflies , parasitic wasp , and other worm that prey on vegetable - eating bug . This plant is often used as a spicery in canning , especially to make cucumber fix . But you may also let in it in pickled asparagus recipes to give them a sour yet savory tone .
Grapes
Grapes love the same sandy , nutrient - deficient grunge that asparagus plant call for to grow . Consequently , grapes have been used as asparagus associate plants for decades . But because they both require a circumstances of way , it take some cleverness to keep them in the same garden .
As vining industrial plant , grape must be trained to grow up a trellis so they do n’t interfere with other flora . They ’re considerably grown on the sunniest border of your garden with Asparagus officinales planted in a course on the opposite side . This room , the grapeshot can keep the edible asparagus plants in the nuance during gay afternoon .
Basil
This potent - smelling flowering herb is one of the best flora for push back asparagus beetles . Basil is tight - growing and does n’t require much maintenance , aside from even watering and weeding . Because it ’s such an easy custodian , it makes a great asparagus fellow traveller plant even before asparagus seeds evolve , as sweet basil can help you call up where you embed your asparagus seeds .
Basil produce pocket-sized ashen flower that bee , beetles , and other insects love to chitchat . Once in your garden , they ’ll facilitate cross-pollinate your vegetable crop and keep pest populations down . In a little while , this improves the health of your entire garden , asparagus included .
Strawberries
Perhaps the best Asparagus officinales companion plant out there , strawberry bushes fill up in the space around Asparagus officinales stalks to keep moisture in the soil andprevent erosion . Like asparagus , strawberry flora come back every year , so once these plants get start , they ’re well-off to maintain .
It ’s worth observe that strawberries have fairly bass root organisation . establish your asparagus seed six to eight inch rich in the soil so they have wad of space beneath the neighboring strawberry bushes to spring up their roots . This will prevent the two plant from competing for nutrients while still allowing them to profit from a symbiotic kinship .
Marigolds
Not many people run through marigolds ( although it is perfectly secure to do so ) , but because they ’re so good at repelling bad bug and pull in good ones , they ’re a popular companion industrial plant . Marigolds produce a strong odor that ’s … well , less than pleasant . Worms , whitefly , and nematodes in particular avoid marigolds . grow them by your edible asparagus can serve save them from hungry insects .
Marigolds are also unpopular with deerand rabbits . Because these flower are so ruffled and because the foliage is so pie-eyed , scrounge mammals prefer not to eat them . Keeping them around your asparagus plants will avail persuade these beast to appear elsewhere for a meal .
Tomatoes
Tomato plants are a hit with initiate nurseryman and seasoned planter likewise . These veggies wish to grow in acidic , sandlike , well - enfeeble soil , just like asparagus . And their relatively shallow roots mean these clayey alimentary users never compete with edible asparagus for minerals .
A major benefit to using tomatoes as an asparagus companion plant is that these nightshades produce saponins , whichact as a raw repellent for many insects , including edible asparagus beetle . For best result , alternate row of edible asparagus with rows of tomato plants , or originate them together in the same row — just be sure to space them far enough apart so they each have enough room .
Petunias
Easy - acquire petunias can serve your garden in several ways . First , they appeal of import pollinators . Petunia ’s vibrant , nectar - rich flower are popular withhummingbirds , butterfly , andbees , who will visit your flowering vegetable works once they ’ve fill up on these ornamentals .
Next , petunias repel aphids , caterpillars , and beetles , keeping them off of the asparagus plants that you ’ve been waiting years to see sprout . Lastly , these lovely flowers bring on long , cascading offshoot that robe out over the ground around them to lock in wet and keep soil temperature down . Your asparagus will love being planted with petunias , and so will the other plant life in your garden .
Cilantro
This herb produces a hard , distinctive scentthat most insects detest . mature cilantro near your asparagus industrial plant help oneself keep those pests off so you do n’t have to spend clock time plucking them off one by one . Their acrid taste perception also hold hungry coney and deer from piece on your vegetable plant .
Cilantro has a shallow root organisation that helps the soil contain onto wet without stealing valuable nutrients aside from asparagus plants . Their delicate leaves rise in bunch up to two feet tall . Because cilantro industrial plant are so small relative to Asparagus officinales , they can safely grow around the base of edible asparagus plant life without compete with them or inhibiting increase .
Zinnias
With their bluff colors and gravid heyday head , zinnias attract all manner of beneficial insects to your garden . If your asparagus plants on a regular basis fall prey to beetles , insect , and caterpillars , keep old maid flower near them can help .
Zinnias produce enough nectar to feed a variety of pollinators and bug - eat insects . Once they get a mouthful , they ’ll keep come back for more . Zinnias attract ladybird , praying mantid , hoverflies , and parasitic wasps who will prey on the hint , aphids , and other germ that are put down your Asparagus officinales flora .
What are the worst plants to grow with asparagus?
Certain plants may compete with your edible asparagus for nutrients . This can severely touch on operation and crop take . Other plants may attract asparagus beetles and like asparagus - eat insects . For these reasons , it ’s best to avoid using the following as asparagus familiar plants .
Onions
While it ’s true that onions are excellent for repelling louse , deer , and rabbits thanks to their strong odor , these root vegetable require a lot of nutrients to grow . plant them near your asparagus will restrict both plant . Growing onions as asparagus familiar plants will result in small green goods — that is , if they do n’t gag each other out tout ensemble .
Garlic
Another stinky vegetable , garlic can help guard off negative garden insect , including aphid , mites , and caterpillars . But because these plant life grow fairly deep in the grunge , they ’re a threat to the asparagus plant ’s nutritious levels .
Of course , if hemipteron are eating your asparagus plant , garlic can still facilitate . Mix one part acetum with one part water , and add five to ten drops of garlic oil . Spray this solution onto your asparagus plants to monish dirt ball from feast on them .
Potatoes
alas , potatoes also make poor edible asparagus companion plants because they require so much nutrition . These root vegetable take all of the mineral from the soil so your asparagus industrial plant wo n’t stand a hazard . If you want to produce potatoes and asparagus , farm them in disjoined beds .
Carrots
As tenacious root vegetables , carrots reach deep into the soil , where they plume up all of the mineral they can . Because they ’re such heavy nutrient users , they can quick slip away the minerals your edible asparagus plants need to grow . Additionally , carrots can draw in carrot flies that will feed asparagus plants if give the luck .
Leeks
These stiff - smelling plants may help guard off worm , but because they use up a pile of nutriment , they do n’t make corking asparagus fellow traveller plant . If you ’re careful to repair your grunge appropriately , growing leek as a border around the perimeter of your garden can help keep pests away from your vegetables . But take care not to put them too near your edible asparagus plant , which will suffer from mineral loss if scallion are too close .
Is companion planting for asparagus worth it?
By maintain the right plant near them , and by keep the wrong plants far away from them , you could help your edible asparagus get a head start . When you arm these vegetable with everything they take to thrive , you may assure you ’ll be serving delicious homegrown edible asparagus at your dinner party table for years to come .
