Cucumber companion plants play an important role in increasing growth, repelling pests, and maximizing your yield when done the right way.
If you’ve ever planted cucumbers, you know they’re like the divas of the vegetable garden. They demand the right conditions, the right company, and a whole lot of love.
But when you get it right? Man, those crisp, juicy cucumbers are totally worth the effort!
One of the best tricks I’ve learned over the years to get the most out of your cucumber crop is companion planting.
So, let’s dive into the world of cucumber companion plants and discover how to create the perfect veggie entourage for your cukes.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is about creating a community of plants that support each other’s growth. It’s a practice rooted in traditional gardening but is still highly relevant today, especially for those looking to garden organically.
By strategically placing plants together, you can reduce your reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, making your garden more environmentally friendly and productive.
Benefits of Companion Planting
The benefits of companion planting go beyond just pest control; it also improves soil health, encourages pollination, and maximizes space efficiency.
- Natural Pest Control: Certain plants repel harmful insects, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
- Enhanced Growth: Some plants release chemicals or nutrients that help their neighbors grow better.
- Improved Soil Health: Legumes, for example, fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for other plants.
- Increased Pollination: Flowers like marigolds attract pollinators, which helps increase fruit and vegetable yields.
- Space Efficiency: Companion planting allows you to grow more plants in less space by pairing plants with different growth habits.
By understanding the natural relationships between plants, you can create a more productive and sustainable garden.
Looking for a fresh idea on companion planting? This video guide by Simplistic Farms is a great way to get inspired about general companion planting techniques.
Below, we've tailored these principles specifically for cucumber companion planting in details.
Best Cucumber Companion Plants
Finding the best cucumber companion plants can feel like setting up your best friend on a date—you want to make sure they’re hanging out with the right crowd. When cucumbers grow near their best plant pals, they thrive like nobody’s business.
1. Corn
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Spread: 2-3 feet
- Flavor: Sweet and tender
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
Corn is a classic companion for cucumbers. Its tall stalks provide shade, helping to keep the soil cool and moist—conditions cucumbers thrive in. Plus, the large leaves of corn offer a natural trellis for cucumber vines to climb.
Why You’ll Love It: Cucumbers benefit from the shade and support that corn provides. The combination also maximizes garden space, allowing for vertical growth and better air circulation, reducing the risk of mildew.
2. Beans
- Height: 1-2 feet (bush beans), 6-10 feet (pole beans)
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: Mild and nutty
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Beans are nitrogen-fixers, meaning they enrich the soil with nitrogen, a nutrient cucumbers love. Whether you choose bush or pole beans, they grow quickly and can help improve the overall health of your soil.
Why You’ll Love It: The nitrogen that beans add to the soil enhances cucumber growth, leading to healthier plants and better yields. Plus, beans can help deter pests like cucumber beetles, making them an all-around excellent companion.
3. Radishes
- Height: 6-8 inches
- Spread: 4-6 inches
- Flavor: Peppery and crisp
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Radishes are quick-growing root vegetables that don’t compete with cucumbers for space or nutrients. They’re often used as “trap crops” to lure pests away from more vulnerable plants like cucumbers.
Why You’ll Love It: Radishes help break up the soil, improving aeration and drainage for cucumber roots. Their rapid growth also means they can be harvested early, making room for your cucumbers to spread out as the season progresses.
4. Peas
- Height: 2-3 feet (bush peas), 6-8 feet (climbing peas)
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: Sweet and tender
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Peas, like beans, are nitrogen-fixing plants that improve soil fertility. They grow quickly in cool weather, providing a natural trellis for cucumbers to climb once the peas have finished their season.
Why You’ll Love It: The early season growth of peas helps prepare the soil for cucumbers, enriching it with nitrogen. Plus, as peas die back, they leave behind a structure for cucumbers to climb, maximizing vertical space in your garden.
5. Lettuce
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Spread: 6-12 inches
- Flavor: Mild and crisp
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: High
Lettuce is a shallow-rooted, quick-growing crop that thrives in cool, shaded environments. It can grow well beneath taller plants like cucumbers, benefiting from the shade they provide.
Why You’ll Love It: Lettuce helps suppress weeds and keeps the soil cool and moist for cucumbers. As a bonus, it doesn’t compete for nutrients, making it an easygoing companion for cucumbers.
6. Carrots
- Height: 12-18 inches
- Spread: 2-3 inches
- Flavor: Sweet and earthy
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Carrots are root vegetables that grow deep in the soil, so they don’t compete with cucumbers for above-ground space. They’re also known for their pest-repelling properties, making them great companions in a mixed garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Carrots improve soil aeration, allowing cucumber roots to grow more freely. Their deep roots also help to break up hard soil, creating a more hospitable environment for cucumbers.
7. Sunflowers
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: N/A (grown for seeds and ornamental use)
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Sunflowers are tall, sturdy plants that can provide shade and act as a natural trellis for cucumber vines. Their bright, cheerful blooms also attract pollinators to your garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Cucumbers love to climb, and sunflowers offer a strong structure for their vines. The shade from sunflower leaves also helps keep the soil cool, creating the perfect microenvironment for cucumbers.
8. Nasturtiums
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: Peppery and spicy (edible flowers and leaves)
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Nasturtiums are vibrant, flowering plants that repel pests like aphids and cucumber beetles. Their trailing habit makes them a great ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
Why You’ll Love It: Nasturtiums act as a living mulch, keeping the soil around your cucumbers cool and moist. They also attract beneficial insects that prey on common cucumber pests, making them invaluable in the garden.
9. Marigolds
- Height: 6-24 inches
- Spread: 6-12 inches
- Flavor: N/A (grown for ornamental use)
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
Marigolds are known for their pest-repelling abilities, particularly against nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies. Their bright orange and yellow flowers also add a splash of color to your garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Marigolds protect cucumbers from a variety of pests, acting as a natural pesticide. Plus, their shallow roots won’t compete with cucumbers, allowing both plants to thrive together.
10. Spinach
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Mild and slightly bitter
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: High
Spinach is a cool-season green that grows well in the shade of taller plants like cucumbers. It matures quickly, making it an excellent early-season companion.
Why You’ll Love It: Spinach helps keep the soil cool and moist, creating an ideal environment for cucumbers. As a bonus, it doesn’t compete for nutrients and can be harvested early, giving cucumbers more room to spread out.
11. Dill
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Sweet and grassy, with a hint of anise
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
Dill is a fragrant herb that attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory wasps, which help control cucumber pests. It’s also a great companion for cucumbers in the kitchen, as dill pickles are a classic favorite!
Why You’ll Love It: Dill’s ability to attract beneficial insects makes it a natural ally for cucumbers. The combination of these two plants also creates a garden that’s both productive and flavorful.
12. Oregano
Source: Photo by Anne McCormack
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Spread: 18-24 inches
- Flavor: Pungent and slightly bitter
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Oregano is a low-growing herb that spreads out to create a dense ground cover. It’s known for its pest-repelling properties, particularly against aphids and spider mites.
Why You’ll Love It: Oregano acts as a living mulch, helping to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Its strong scent also keeps pests at bay, making it a protective companion for cucumbers.
13. Beets
- Height: 12-18 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Sweet and earthy
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Beets are root vegetables that grow below the soil, leaving plenty of room above ground for cucumbers to spread. They don’t compete for the same nutrients, making them ideal companions.
Why You’ll Love It: Beets help improve soil structure, making it easier for cucumber roots to expand. Their fast growth also means they can be harvested early, leaving more space for cucumbers to thrive.
14. Borage
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: Cucumber-like, slightly sweet (edible flowers)
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Borage is a flowering herb that attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden. Its leaves and flowers are edible and have a mild, cucumber-like flavor, making them a perfect culinary companion for cucumbers. Borage also has deep roots that help improve soil structure and bring up nutrients from deep in the soil.
Why You’ll Love It: Borage not only attracts bees and other pollinators, which can improve cucumber yields, but it also helps deter pests like tomato hornworms. Its ability to improve soil health makes it a beneficial neighbor for cucumbers.
15. Cilantro (Coriander)
- Height: 12-24 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Citrusy and slightly spicy
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Cilantro is a fast-growing herb that attracts beneficial insects, including pollinators and predators of common garden pests. Its strong scent can also help mask the smell of cucumbers, making them less attractive to pests.
Why You’ll Love It: Cucumbers benefit from cilantro’s ability to attract beneficial insects, which help keep pest populations in check. Additionally, cilantro’s quick growth means it won’t crowd out cucumbers, allowing both plants to flourish.
16. Chives
- Height: 12-18 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Mild onion-like
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Chives are hardy perennials with a mild onion flavor. They are known for repelling a variety of pests, including aphids and Japanese beetles. Their purple flowers also attract pollinators, which can benefit cucumber plants.
Why You’ll Love It: Chives help deter pests that commonly attack cucumbers, making them a protective companion. Plus, their compact growth habit means they won’t compete with cucumbers for space or nutrients.
17. Calendula (Pot Marigold)
Source: Photo by YubKooka
- Height: 12-24 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Mildly spicy and tangy (edible petals)
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Calendula is a flowering plant that’s not only beautiful but also beneficial for your garden. It attracts a variety of pollinators and predatory insects while repelling pests like aphids and nematodes.
Why You’ll Love It: Calendula’s pest-repelling abilities and attractiveness to beneficial insects make it a great companion for cucumbers. Additionally, its bright flowers can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden.
18. Tansy
Source: Photo by Wikimedia
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Spread: 2-3 feet
- Flavor: Bitter and slightly spicy
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Tansy is a hardy perennial that repels a wide range of pests, including cucumber beetles, ants, and flies. Its yellow button-like flowers also attract pollinators, making it a dual-purpose plant in the garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Tansy’s pest-repelling properties provide cucumbers with natural protection against common garden invaders. Its ability to attract pollinators can also help improve cucumber yields.
19. Basil
- Height: 12-24 inches
- Spread: 12-18 inches
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly peppery
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Basil is a fragrant herb that not only pairs well with cucumbers in the kitchen but also in the garden. It helps repel pests like aphids, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworms, while its strong scent can mask the scent of cucumbers.
Why You’ll Love It: Basil’s pest-repelling abilities make it a protective companion for cucumbers. Its compact growth habit means it won’t overshadow cucumbers, and its aromatic leaves can enhance the flavor of your cucumber dishes.
20. Lovage
Source: Photo by nz_willowherb
- Height: 4-6 feet
- Spread: 2-3 feet
- Flavor: Strong, celery-like
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Lovage is a tall, herbaceous perennial that resembles celery in flavor and appearance. It attracts a variety of beneficial insects, including hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which help control pests in the garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Lovage’s height and structure can provide a natural trellis for cucumbers to climb. Its ability to attract beneficial insects makes it a valuable companion in maintaining a healthy garden ecosystem.
21. Yarrow
Source: Photo by Steve Guttman NYC
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Flavor: Bitter and slightly spicy
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Yarrow is a hardy perennial known for its ability to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory wasps. It also has deep roots that help improve soil structure and draw up nutrients.
Why You’ll Love It: Yarrow’s deep roots and ability to attract beneficial insects make it an excellent companion for cucumbers. Its presence in the garden can lead to healthier plants and increased cucumber yields.
22. Mint
- Height: 12-24 inches
- Spread: 18-24 inches
- Flavor: Fresh and minty
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs: Moderate
Mint is a vigorous herb known for its ability to repel pests like aphids, ants, and cabbage moths. Its strong scent can help mask the smell of cucumbers, making them less attractive to pests.
Why You’ll Love It: Mint’s pest-repelling properties and fast growth make it a valuable ally for cucumbers. However, because mint can be invasive, it’s best grown in containers to prevent it from overtaking your garden.
23. Lavender
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Spread: 2-4 feet
- Flavor: Sweet and floral (used in culinary and medicinal applications)
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
Lavender is a fragrant herb that repels pests such as moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Its beautiful purple flowers attract pollinators, which can benefit the overall health and productivity of your garden.
Why You’ll Love It: Lavender’s ability to repel pests and attract pollinators makes it an excellent companion for cucumbers. Its low water needs and drought tolerance mean it won’t compete with cucumbers for resources.
Click through to discover how to grow cucumbers
Here’s a chart summarizing the key cucumber companion plants along with their benefits:
Companion Planting Strategy
Classifying cucumber companion plants by size is a smart strategy to maximize the benefits of companion planting. Tall plants can act as natural trellises or windbreaks, medium-sized plants can provide shade and reduce soil temperature, and small plants can act as ground cover, conserving moisture and suppressing weeds. Here's how the plants break down:
Large Companion Plants
These tall plants offer structure and support in the garden. They can serve as natural trellises for cucumber vines, helping them climb and saving space in your garden.
Companion Plant | Height | Spread | Flavor/Usage | Benefits for Cucumber |
Corn | 6-10 ft | 2-3 ft | Sweet and starchy | Provides natural trellis, shades soil, conserves moisture |
Sunflowers | 6-12 ft | 2-3 ft | Nutty seeds (edible) | Provides natural trellis, attracts pollinators |
Lovage | 4-6 ft | 2-3 ft | Strong, celery-like | Attracts beneficial insects, natural trellis for cucumbers |
Tansy | 2-4 ft | 2-3 ft | Bitter, slightly spicy | Repels cucumber beetles, ants, flies, attracts pollinators |
Medium Companion Plants
These medium-sized plants provide shade and help maintain a cooler soil environment, which is beneficial for cucumber growth.
Companion Plant | Height | Spread | Flavor/Usage | Benefits for Cucumber |
Dill | 3-4 ft | 1-2 ft | Sweet, slightly tangy | Attracts beneficial insects, enhances cucumber flavor |
Marigolds | 6-36 inch | 6-24 inch | Bitter, floral (repellent) | Repels nematodes, aphids, whiteflies, improves cucumber growth |
Oregano | 8-24 inch | 12-18 inch | Strong, earthy | Repels pests like aphids, squash beetles, and cucumber beetles |
Borage | 2-3 ft | 2-3 ft | Cucumber-like, edible flowers | Attracts pollinators, repels tomato hornworms, improves soil structure |
Small Companion Plants
Small plants are perfect for ground cover, which helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure.
Companion Plant | Height | Spread | Flavor/Usage | Benefits for Cucumber |
Lettuce | 6-12 inch | 6-12 inch | Mild, crisp | Shades soil, conserves moisture, shallow roots |
Radishes | 6-12 inch | 6-9 inch | Crisp, peppery | Deterrents for cucumber beetles, improves soil aeration |
Carrots | 12-18 inch | 1-2 ft | Sweet, earthy | Improves soil aeration, does not compete for nutrients |
Mint | 12-24 inch | 18-24 inch | Fresh, minty | Repels aphids, ants, cabbage moths, best grown in containers |
This classification helps in organizing your garden more effectively, ensuring that each plant not only thrives but also contributes to the health and productivity of your cucumbers.
Plants to Avoid Growing with Cucumbers
Potatoes: Potatoes and cucumbers should be kept apart because they share many of the same pests and diseases, including blight and certain beetles. Planting them together can increase the risk of these problems, leading to a lower yield for both crops.
- Sage: While sage is a great herb for many gardens, it’s not a good companion for cucumbers. The strong aromatic oils in sage can inhibit cucumber growth, stunting the plants and reducing their productivity.
- Melons: Melons and cucumbers belong to the same plant family (Cucurbitaceae) and therefore compete for the same nutrients. Planting them together can lead to nutrient deficiencies and reduced yields for both crops.
- Pumpkins: Similar to melons, pumpkins are heavy feeders and can compete with cucumbers for nutrients, water, and space. This competition can stunt the growth of cucumbers and lead to smaller fruit.
- Fennel: Fennel is notorious for being a poor companion plant for most vegetables, including cucumbers. It secretes a substance that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants, including cucumbers.
- Aromatic Herbs (e.g., Rosemary and Thyme): Strongly aromatic herbs like rosemary and thyme can interfere with cucumber growth. Their scents can confuse pollinators and may also inhibit the growth of cucumber plants.
Companion Plants for Cucumbers in Containers
Growing cucumbers in containers is a great way to maximize space, especially in small gardens or urban settings. However, it’s essential to choose the right companion plants that will thrive in the limited space of a container while benefiting the cucumbers.
Lettuce and radishes are ideal for container planting with cucumbers because they have shallow roots and won’t compete for nutrients. Dill and basil are also excellent choices as they repel pests and don’t take up much space.
Additionally, marigolds can be planted around the edges of containers to deter pests and attract pollinators, making them perfect companions for container-grown cucumbers.
Cucumber Companion Plants: Bonus Tips
Cucumber Companion Plants: Peppers
Peppers and cucumbers are like best buds in the garden. They both love the sun and the warmth, so they get along pretty well. Peppers don’t hog nutrients, so they won’t compete with cucumbers, making them ideal companions. Plus, growing them together can save space and help create a microclimate that keeps the soil moist and cool for both.
Cucumber Companion Plants: Vegetables
When it comes to pairing cucumbers with other vegetables, think of veggies that aren’t too demanding. Corn is a fantastic choice because it provides shade and helps keep the soil cool, which cucumbers appreciate. Beets are another excellent option since they don’t take up much room and can grow happily alongside your cucumbers without competing for space.
Related:
Cucumber Companion Plants: Garlic
Garlic is a powerhouse companion plant for cucumbers. Not only does it deter pests like aphids, but it also doesn’t compete much for resources. The strong scent of garlic is like a natural pesticide, keeping unwanted insects at bay while your cucumbers soak up the benefits.
Cucumber Companion Plants for Pests
Dealing with pests is like throwing a party and having unwanted guests crash it. Luckily, some companion plants are the perfect bouncers to keep pests away from your cucumbers.
Cucumber Companion Plants: Beans
Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, which means they enrich the soil with nitrogen—a nutrient cucumbers love. Beyond that, beans can also help repel the pesky cucumber beetles that love to munch on your plants. Plus, the combination of beans and cucumbers in your garden can maximize space and yield, making them a dynamic duo.
Cucumber Companion Plants: Herbs
Herbs like dill and oregano aren’t just for spicing up your dishes; they’re also fantastic cucumber companions. Dill attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs that prey on cucumber pests, while oregano helps repel cucumber beetles and aphids. These herbs are like the garden's natural defense system, keeping your cucumbers safe and sound.
Cucumber Companion Plants: Onion
Onions are another great addition to your cucumber garden. They repel a variety of pests, including aphids and spider mites. Growing onions near your cucumbers can also help improve the overall health of your garden by adding diversity to your planting beds.
FAQs
What Should You Not Plant Next to Cucumbers?
Cucumbers don’t get along well with certain plants, and knowing which ones to avoid can save you from a lot of gardening headaches.
For instance, potatoes should be kept away from cucumbers because they can attract similar pests and diseases, increasing the risk of infestation.
Sage and other aromatic herbs like rosemary can stunt cucumber growth due to their strong scents. Additionally, melons and pumpkins are not great companions either, as they belong to the same family and will compete for nutrients, space, and water, which can reduce yields for both.
Can I Plant Cucumbers and Tomatoes Together?
Cucumbers and tomatoes can technically be planted together, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Both plants have similar growing conditions—they love full sun, warm weather, and need regular watering.
However, they can both be susceptible to the same diseases, such as downy mildew and bacterial wilt, which can spread between them. If you do choose to plant them together, ensure they have plenty of space for air circulation, and consider crop rotation to minimize disease risks.
Can You Plant Cucumbers and Peppers Together?
Yes, cucumbers and peppers make good companions. They have similar growing requirements and won’t compete for nutrients. Peppers also benefit from the shade that cucumber vines can provide, which helps keep the soil cool and moist.
Additionally, cucumbers can help improve the humidity around pepper plants, which can be beneficial in hot, dry climates. This pairing works well both in garden beds and in containers.
Can Lettuce and Cucumbers Be Planted Together?
Absolutely! Lettuce and cucumbers are fantastic companions. Lettuce grows quickly and prefers cooler temperatures, so planting it around cucumbers can help keep the soil cooler and prevent it from drying out too quickly.
The lettuce will thrive in the partial shade provided by the cucumber vines, and because lettuce has shallow roots, it won’t compete with cucumbers for nutrients. This duo is a win-win in any garden.
Final Thoughts
Companion planting is like matchmaking in the garden, and when done right, it can lead to healthier plants, bigger harvests, and fewer pest problems. Whether you're planting corn for natural trellising, dill for pest control, or lettuce for ground cover, each companion plant brings its own set of benefits to the table.
Just remember, not all plants get along, so avoid pairing cucumbers with plants like potatoes or aromatic herbs that might cause more harm than good.
As you plan your garden, think of it as a community where each plant has a role to play. With a little knowledge and some thoughtful planning, your cucumbers can thrive alongside their best companions, making your garden more productive and enjoyable. So go ahead, experiment with different combinations, and watch your garden flourish!
If you’ve got your own favorite cucumber companion plants or have any tips to share, drop them in the comments!
For more inspiration on cucumber companion plants, check out this external resources:
Happy planting! 