14 Vegetables That Thrive Side by Side in Raised Beds

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Some vegetables grow better when planted next to the right neighbors. The right combinations can help you save space, keep pests in check, and grow a more plentiful harvest. Here are 14 vegetable pairings that work well together in raised garden beds.

Tomatoes & Basil

Tomatoes and basil are the classic vegetable pairing for a raised bed garden. Aphids find the pungent aroma of basil highly repellent and will give your tomato plants a wide berth. In turn, basil benefits from the shade provided by tomatoes, resulting in lush, leafy growth.

Plus, it is thought that basil improves the flavor of tomatoes – well, they certainly go well together in a salad anyway!

Carrots & Onions

Carrots and onions are great partners as each can repel pests that target the other. The strong scent of onions confuses pests like carrot root flies, while carrots help repel aphids and other airborne pests. These plants don’t compete for space and can be sown close together, making them ideal for raised beds.

Cucumbers & Radishes

Radishes love the shade created by leafy cucumber plants and, in turn, will act as a natural repellent for cucumber beetles. Radishes also break up compacted soil, improving drainage and allowing cucumber roots to access water and nutrients.

And, as radishes are ready to harvest in as little as 30 days, multiple crops can be sown throughout the summer growing season.

Lettuce & Spinach

Alternating rows of lettuce and spinach can be grown in raised beds in cooler months, providing a steady harvest of salads and leafy greens. The plants shade each other, helping conserve moisture and prevent premature flowering in warmer weather.

Beans & Corn

Beans and corn are part of the trio of vegetables known as the ‘three sisters’, but these two crops also work well when grown in raised beds.

Tall corn stalks act as natural supports for climbing bean plants, and the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which boosts the growth of corn plants.

Peas & Carrots

In warmer weather, carrots benefit from the shade cast by taller pea plants, helping prevent them from drying out or bolting. In return, carrots break up the soil, allowing peas to root more deeply.

Cabbage & Dill

Dill is a vastly underutilized herb in the vegetable garden, and when grown with cabbage, it can yield some impressive results. Dill attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitoid wasps, helping control cabbage pests such as aphids and caterpillars.

Leafy cabbage leaves shade the roots of dill plants, keeping the soil cool and moist and promoting strong, healthy growth.

Zucchini & Nasturtiums

Not many plants can withstand the vigorous growth habit of zucchini vines, but nasturtiums are certainly up to the job! Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for pests like aphids and squash bugs, drawing them away from zucchini plants.

This combination works well where space is limited, especially if the plants can trail down the sides of raised beds.

Squash & Corn

Another pairing from the three sisters trio, squash and corn are the perfect companions for a raised bed. Low-growing leafy squash plants provide ground cover, suppressing weeds and helping retain moisture in the soil.

In turn, thick corn stems support vining squash tendrils, creating a healthy growing environment that benefits both plants. 

Beets & Garlic

The strong scent of garlic is famous for repelling pests like aphids and beetles, helping to keep your beets safe from harm. With their deep roots, beets draw up nutrients and break up compacted soil, resulting in bigger, tastier garlic bulbs.

These two crops can be grown close together, helping to use the space in raised beds more efficiently.

Broccoli & Celery

The celery aroma helps repel aphids and other pests that affect broccoli. In return, broccoli offers shade to the celery, which will thrive in slightly cooler temperatures.

This plant combination is especially beneficial in the early stages of growing when both crops are sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Spinach & Strawberries

Spinach provides ground cover that helps keep the soil cool and moist, while strawberries’ spreading habit helps suppress weeds around spinach. This highly compatible duo works well in raised beds, maximizing the use of space.

Leeks & Carrots

Leeks and carrots are excellent companions because their root structures don’t compete for space. Strongly-scented leeks help deter carrot root flies, while carrots break up the soil, improving soil aeration and drainage.

Both plants will benefit from the shade the other provides and can be densely planted in raised beds to boost overall yields.

Brussels Sprouts & Sage

Aromatic sage is well known for deterring pests like cabbage moths and aphids, which often target Brussels sprouts and other brassicas. Pair these together in raised beds to create a healthy, low-maintenance planting system.

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