Good and Bad Carrot Companion Plants

Selecting companion plants that thrive with carrots can help ward off pests and diseases and prevent other garden troubles.

Read on to learn what to plant with carrots.

Best Companion Plants for Carrots

Many plants grow well with carrots. These may improve the soil, repel pests, or even protect them.

Below are some plants that grow well beside carrots.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes improve the flavor of carrots, and the α-tomatine they contain repels certain insects [1]. They also provide shade to keep carrots cool.

See also: best companion plants for tomatoes.

Beans and Peas

Beans and peas add nitrogen to the soil, improving carrot growth. However, too much nitrogen can cause the roots to split and become hairy, so plant these companions sparingly.

Chives

Chives improve flavor, making carrots sweeter. Just don’t put them near beans. Chives will also deter certain pests, like aphids.

Onions

Onions are wonderful for repelling pests like carrot flies, flea beetles, and aphids.

Parsley

When parsley flowers, they draw in beneficial insects such as hoverflies. These insects eat pests and help with pollination.

Radishes

If planted at the same time as carrots, radishes can help loosen the soil. Moreover, they are harvested sooner, so you will get better soil for your carrots once they mature.

Lettuce

Lettuce grows well next to carrots. Leaf lettuce also helps shade out weeds and keeps the soil cool.

Mustard and Buckwheat

Brown mustard and buckwheat can help prevent wireworms if you plant them before your carrot crop is in.

Catnip and Mint

Both plants help prevent flea beetles. Flea beetle larvae are one of the many pests that love to feed on roots or root hairs.

Sage

Sage is another plant that helps repel carrot flies. It doesn’t require much water, leaving more moisture for your carrots.

What Not to Plant with Carrots?

Be mindful that some plants can harm carrots if grown nearby. Therefore, carefully plan your garden for the best outcome.

• Potatoes compete for both space and nutrients, stunting both plants.
• Parsnips are in a similar situation. They take up some nutrients that carrots need to grow and underground space. They are also vulnerable to similar pests and diseases, making it more difficult to control them.
• Carrots are in the Apiaceae family [2]. Other plants in this family include fennel, dill, coriander, and cumin. These plants may cross-pollinate, which can be a significant issue if you’re seed-saving.

Planting Carrots

Plant carrot seeds 1/2 inch deep. The plants also need at least 4-6 hours of sun daily. 

However, keep the tops of the roots covered until they’re ready for harvest. If the tops are exposed to the sun, they will turn green.

Carrot plants also require loose, loamy soil to reach maximum growth. However, before planting, till deeply to ensure there aren’t any rocks, hard soil clumps, or obstacles.

Moreover, if your soil is very hard or clay-based, you can make a raised bed at least 12 inches deep with proper organic soil for growing.

Also, avoid planting seeds too close to give the roots room to grow. If they are too close, thin the seedlings to about 1 inch apart after germination.

Care and Maintenance

After you plant your seeds, keep the soil damp to ensure the seeds germinate properly. However, they take around 14 to 21 days to sprout, so keeping the soil at the correct moisture level throughout may be difficult.

To make this easier, especially in hot climates, try these solutions: use mulch and water deeply before planting.

Pests and Diseases

As with all crops, there are plenty of plant diseases and pests to watch out for.

Aster Yellows is one of the most common carrot diseases [3]. It causes the leaves to turn yellow and renders the vegetable inedible.

The main way to escape it is to prevent the aster leafhopper insect, which carries the disease, from landing on your plants. One way to do so is to grow your crops under row covers.

Other garden pests and plant diseases that affect carrots include:

• Bacterial soft rot causes decay that consumes the core of the carrot.
• Alternaria Leaf blight. A fungus causes this disease. It causes yellow and sometimes dark brown spots on the leaves. You may also notice a shot-hole appearance.
• Parsley worms. These green caterpillars will eat through carrot leaves.
• Root-knot nematodes. These nematodes cause hairy, twisted, and malformed roots. Crop rotation can avoid them.
• Carrot rust fly maggots and carrot weevil larvae. Both pests will tunnel through the roots of your carrots.

To prevent or control these garden problems, prepare the soil well and choose the right plant companions to help repel pests.

Where to Buy Seeds?

You can buy seeds at your local farm or gardening store. Additionally, there are high-quality online sellers such as SeedsNow.com and Arbico-Organics.com.

Dedicated seed sites like these provide high-quality organic seeds. They are likely to offer many different varieties.

Takeaway

Now that you know what companions to grow with carrots, you’re all set for a better harvest. Just be sure to pick the ones that grow well with them and avoid planting near bad companion crops.