10 BEST COMPANION PLANTS FOR ZUCCHINI
10 Best Companion plants for zucchini
Zucchini is one of the most popular vegetables to grow in the home garden, but they can fall prey to many different pests, including cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vin borers. Zucchini plants can also fail to produce fruit due to lack of pollination and other factors. The good news is that these problems can be easily solved with the help of friendly plants.
These popular vegetables, flowers and fruits make good companion plants for zucchini because they promote body control and provide other benefits.
1. Blue Hubbard Squash
Squash bugs and squash vin borers can destroy a zucchini crop and leave you with wilted plants or damaged fruit. One of the best ways to prevent these pesky insects is to keep them out of your zucchini garden by planting Hubbard squash nearby as cover crops. Squash borers and bugs in general prefer the taste of this winter squash, so they will move to these plants and leave your zucchini alone.
2. Dill
Dill flowers will attract pollinators to your garden, which can help pollinate your zucchini plants and increase your harvest. In addition, dill flowers can not defeat wasps that eat squash. Even after the summer heat, you can leave your plants in your garden to attract these beneficial insects and fight against pests.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums boast attractive orange and yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to your beds to help pollinate your zucchini. Nasturtium can also serve as a trap for slugs and snails, which often prefer these plants over many other vegetables. For a beautiful display that saves space, try planting nasturtiums that can use the same training method as your zucchini.
4. Marigolds:
Marigolds can help attract pollinators and beneficial insects like lacewings to your vegetable garden. If your zucchini suffered from aphids in previous years, adding marigolds to your garden can keep these pesky insects away. Marigolds are also easy to grow from seed and you can choose between dwarf varieties or full plants depending on the size of your garden.
5. Corn
If you’ve heard of the Three Sisters farming system, you’ll know that winter squash, corn and beans grow together. Zucchini can replace winter squash in this vegetable combination, as it is also a good companion for corn and beans. Zucchini vines can use corn as a natural support, eliminating the need for additional training.
6. Sunflowers
Like corn, sunflowers have tall, sturdy stems that can provide support for climbing zucchini vines. Sunflowers attract bees and other pollinators, who love the rich nectar and pollen of these flowers. Interplanting sunflower seeds with your zucchini can increase.
7. Borage
Borage is a useful plant to keep in a flower bed for many reasons. Pollinators love the bright blue flowers, and planting borage can also help increase beneficial insect activity around your zucchini plants. If you’re new to borage, the edible flowers make great salad and spice additions, while the leaves have a refreshing cucumber flavor that’s delicious in salads.
8. Beans and peas
Beans, peas and other legumes can improve the soil in your garden by providing nitrogen to neighboring plants. Mixing zucchini with corn can give your zucchini vine a nutritional boost. Best of all, zucchini, beans, and peas can be used on the same trellis system, saving you gardening time and space.
9. Radish
Cucumber beevils are tiny yellow and black insects that can use holes in your zucchini and transmit bacterial wilt to your plants. Planting radishes next to your zucchini can repel these destructive insects. Radishes are also small and grow quickly, so you can easily increase your garden space by planting them under your zucchini vine.
10. Garlic
Garlic and other members of the allium family, such as onions, chives and leeks, are well known for their ability to repel insects. These plants also attract pollinators and beneficial insects when allowed to flower. Planting garlic around your zucchini plants is a smart way to use garden space. Keep in mind that garlic is a fast-growing crop that is usually planted in the fall before harvest.