What “companion” actually means here
Evidence-backed benefits tend to be: trap crops, pollinator support, living mulches, architectural shade, and not planting two prima donnas in the same wet corner. Magical pest force-fields are mostly marketing.
| Crop | Plays well with | Keep distant / rethink |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Basil, parsley, carrots (borders), marigold as generalist habitat | Crowding that kills airflow; potatoes (shared disease issues) |
| Spinach | Tall peas/trellis shade in late spring; alliums nearby | Heat-reflective stone deserts that bolt it faster |
| Carrots | Green onions, rosemary edges (habitat), lettuce | Heavy root competitors in compacted lanes |
| Lavender / rosemary / thyme / sage | Each other in gravelly “herb Mediterranean strip” | Thirsty veggies that force constant irrigation |
| Parsley | Tomatoes, asparagus edges, roses (habitat lore + real flowers for beneficials) | Deep shade under greedy trees |
| Apples / pears | Understory alliums, clover understory (managed) | Walnut allelopathy; lawn-volcano weed-eaters at trunks |
| Hops | Nothing that needs that trellis real estate | Anything you wanted light for on the north side of the tower |
North Bend-specific pairing
Put drought-tolerant herbs on the best-drained, sunniest mound. Put spinach where afternoon shade and irrigation overlap. Do not force them into a polyculture cuddle puddle.
Failure mode
If companion planting is your only pest strategy, the slugs have already unionized. See the pests page.