If you have decided to grow arugula this growing season, here is everything you need to know about companion planting for arugula. We will help you surround your arugula crop with the best garden mates for it. There are many great options for plants that can coexist well with arugula. Amazingly, some of these plants will even help control pests or boost soil quality.
Table of Contents
Good Companion Planting for Arugula
Arugula is a leafy green crop that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This makes it a relative of plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and mustard. Arugula originates from the Mediterranean and loves cool, acidic, well-draining soil. It will thrive under many conditions and grows very quickly. This makes Arugula a great garden mate for many different plants. Its biggest challenges are scorching sun and being eaten by pests such as cabbage worms or flea beetles. Choosing plants that help it with these challenges can greatly increase your success growing arugula.
Root Crops Grow Great Near Arugula
Most root crops are great for companion planting with arugula. They are cool weather crops that enjoy similar growing conditions. Additionally, they grow in a different level in the soil than the roots of arugula, optimizing the space in your garden. Their tall leafy foliage also offers some much-appreciated shade for your arugula crop. Take a look at these root crops and why they will thrive alongside arugula.
Carrots
Carrots and arugula get along great in a garden bed together. Arugula helps reduce weeds in the area for carrots, while carrots offer shade in return. In Addition, carrots attract predatory insects that will help fight pests that may bother arugula.
Parsnips
Parsnips, which are carrots spicier cousin, are great to plant with arugula for the same reasons. They will shade arugula and benefit from its weed reduction. Additionally, just like carrots, they will coexist well in the space under the soil.
Beets
Beets coexist with arugula for the basic reasons most root crops do. They occupy a different level in the soil and give shade to arugula. Therefore, by planting these to pals together you can best optimize your garden space.
Radishes
Radishes offer many benefits when companion planting for arugula. Their primary benefit is that they act as a trap crop for flea beetles. Encouraging them to bother it rather than your arugula crop. Just like other root crops, they occupy different levels of the soil and coexist great with arugula.
Onions
Onions offer a unique benefit to arugula that not all root crops do. This benefit is that their pungent fragrance dissuades pests such as cabbage worms and flea beetles from making the area their home. Planting this crop with arugula is a great way to control pests while still maximizing your garden space.
Garlic
Garlic, like onions, also deters the pests that bother arugula. Therefore, just like onions, they are a great neighbor for arugula. Plant these crops together and get the benefit of pest control and the perfect use of soil space.
Shading Plants that Help Your Arugula
Arugula is a cool weather crop and does its best growing in cool soil. Therefore, it loves to be neighbors will tall leafy plants that will shade the surrounding soil and keep it cool. Some pairings will offer additional benefits to each other such as soil improving the soil quality. Others pairings may just coexist well and love the same growing conditions as arugula. These shading plants should be considered when companion planting for arugula.
Bush and Pole Beans
Bush and pole beans can make good companions for arugula. This is because they fix nitrogen in the soil which will help your arugula. This is in addition to the shade this bushy bean will provide for arugula. Careful though, alliums such as onions, garlic and chives do not get along with bush and pole beans and will hurt your crop. So, make sure to you don’t choose both to grow near your arugula plants.
Peas
Peas, like bush and pole beans, fix nitrogen to the soil and offer arugula shade. This also makes them a good option when considering garden mates for arugula. However, the same warning for bush and pole beans near alliums applies to peas near alliums. Alliums will hurt your pea crop so don’t choose both to be neighbors with your arugula.
Asparagus
Asparagus and arugula both enjoy cooler temperatures. This makes them great garden buddies. Of course, your arugula will love the shade this tall plant provides.
Corn
Corn crops grow tall and offer plenty of shade to nearby plants. Consider planting some arugula near the border of your corn plants as they will love the shade the corn provides. Your arugula crop will also be ready to harvest before your corn crop, allowing you some clear space to harvest your corn.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers, when grown vertically on a trellis, can also make a great neighbor for arugula. The shade from the leafy trellis will cool the soil for arugula allowing it to thrive. Additionally, since the cucumbers are growing vertically, you will be further optimizing the space in your garden.
Leafy Greens Make Great Companions
Leafy greens that you will find in your salads also make great partners for arugula. They both love the same cool weather and growing conditions and can even be grown in the same growing space. It can be a great use of garden space when companion planting for arugula to plant your leafy greens together.
Spinach
Spinach thrives in the same space as arugula. Both also coexist in the kitchen as well making great salad ingredients. Make good use of your space be planting them together.
Lettuce
Lettuce, like spinach and arugula, enjoy cool soil and shade. As you also know, lettuce is a primary salad green and pairs well with both. Therefore, all three make great neighbors and are a textbook example of companion planting.
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard, the fourth leafy salad green, also loves the same growing conditions as the other three. These plants can all make one big happy family in your garden and in your salad. They make excellent companions and it would be wise to take advantage of this.
Aromatic Herbs are Great Pest Control
Most aromatic garden herbs make great companion plants and can offer tons of benefits to the plants that they are near. Arugula is no exception to this rule. You can use these herbs when companion planting for arugula to deter pests and create harmony in your garden. Not to mention, who doesn’t love the smell of fresh garden herbs when working in their garden.
Rosemary
While you may find rosemary’s spruce scent delightful, cabbage moths do not. The smell of rosemary will keep these pests from harassing your arugula crop if grown nearby. Not to mention, the gorgeous flowers you can take in while tending your garden.
Thyme
Thyme is a favorite herb among chefs. This herb smells wonderful and can be used in so many recipes at home. This wonderful smell also deters cabbage worms and flea beetles. This will keep your arugula crop safe from harm.
Checkout: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Thyme Indoors
Mint
Did someone say Mojitos? This popular cocktail herb, that is also used to spice up certain recipes, makes a great garden mate for arugula. This is because, just like thyme, it too keeps both cabbage worms and flea beetles away with its aroma. Spice up your garden, your kitchen, and your parties by planting this herb with your arugula crop.
Dill
Dill is yet another herb that makes a great neighbor for arugula. This is because dill helps keep your crop safe from cabbage worms. Additionally, dill is great for many recipes, especially seafood recipes. It is yet another amazing choice when companion planting for arugula.
Chives
Chives are an allium like onions and garlic. It will also deter the same pests and makes for a good neighbor with arugula. This spicy herb makes for a tasty garnish and flavorful recipe ingredient. Chives also grow delightful pink flowers for your eyes to enjoy.
Parsley
Parsley is another flavorful salad companion to arugula. It just so happens to make an excellent garden companion as well. Parsley’s abundant foliage offers plenty of shade while its scent repels flea beetles. Both these traits are things your arugula will love.
Cilantro
Cilantro is another herb that repels both cabbage worms and flea beetles. Like parsley, its bushy foliage will shade the soil for arugula as well. Additionally, both the foliage and seeds of this delicious herb are used in many recipes. It will make a great addition to your garden and to your kitchen.
Sage
Sage’s soothing earthy scent makes it a nice addition to your garden on its own. What makes it even better is that it makes an excellent neighbor for arugula. Sage keeps flea beetles and cabbage moth’s away, making it another pest control option. Like most garden herbs, it also has many uses in the kitchen as well.
Basil
Need another pest control option for arugula that you can also use in the kitchen? Look no further than basil. It repels both cabbage worms and flea beetles and gets along great with your arugula crop. Yet another herb to consider when companion planting for arugula.
Oregano
Oregano is another tasty spice that repels flea beetles and cabbage moths. In addition to repelling these pests for arugula, its leafy foliage can keep the soil cool. With its benefits to arugula and its many culinary uses there are plenty of reasons to grow this herb.
Lavender
Lavender is a sweet scented flowering herb known for its calming effects. While we enjoy this aroma, pests that bother arugula do not. Therefore, pairing this with your arugula is a great idea.
Borage
Borage is another lesser known herb that can keep cabbage beetles away. This herb also has wonderful blue flowers and with a delightful earthy scent. It makes a great companion for arugula and will add some beauty to your garden.
Certain Flowers to Companion Plant with Arugula
Flowers make beautiful additions to any garden or yard. However, there are certain flowers that bring more to the table when companion planting for arugula. Some flowers deter pests to keep them away from crops, while others will attract the pests to them instead of your arugula. Check out these flowers and how they can help your arugula thrive.
Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the best companion flowers to consider. They are easy to grow, drought resistant and deter many pests. Plant some around your garden and arugula crop to keep it safe. Not to mention the gorgeous flowers it will produce for you to take in.
Checkout: The Surprising Benefits of Marigolds in the Garden
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are an excellent trap plant for flea beetles and cabbage worms. Plant these wonderful flowers a short distance away from your arugula to draw these threats away from your crop. This can work great in tandem with planting a pest repelling crop closer to your arugula.
Petunias
Petunias are another trap crop that cabbage worms love. Planting some petunias nearby your garden will keep them more focused on your petunias than your precious arugula. Its vibrant blooms will also make your garden beautiful and attract lots of pollinators.
Chamomile
Chamomile attracts a lot of helpful insects to your garden and your arugula will benefit greatly from that. Its strong fragrant scent will also help hide the scent of your arugula from harmful insects. These two plants make excellent garden mates.
Bad Companion Planting for Arugula
While arugula has a lot of plants it loves to grow near, there are a handful it likes to be separate from. These crops can hinder or even destroy your crop and you should consider them when planning your arugula’s neighbors.
Other Brassica Can Lead to Harm
Close relatives to arugula in the Brassica family such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard and kale don’t make good garden mates. This is because they both are at risk from the same pests and diseases. Plant too many of these in an area and pests are sure to find this treasure trove and cause an infestation. It is also recommend you don’t plant arugula where another Brassica plant was located in the previous season. Fungus and diseases from the previous season may still be in the soil and put your crop at risk.
Strawberries May Smother Your Crop
Strawberries are known for their rapid growth and ability to spread quickly. This means if you plant your arugula close to strawberries you run the risk of the strawberries overgrowing your crop. This will impede your arugula growth and it’s best to keep this delicious fruit away.
Nightshades and Brassica Like Different Things
Nightshades, such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes aren’t good companions for arugula. These plants love soil that is a little acidic which can stunt the growth of your arugula. Plant these crops too close together and you will find it difficult to make both happy. Give them their space and you will find it easier to give each crop what it needs to thrive.
More Information on Arugula:
