Cucumbers are a garden favorite—crisp, refreshing, and relatively easy to grow. But just like any plant, cucumbers have specific companions they love to grow alongside, as well as others that can spell trouble for their growth. Planting incompatible species near your cucumbers can lead to reduced yields, increased susceptibility to pests, and stunted growth. To keep your cucumbers thriving, it’s essential to know which plants you should keep far, far away from them.
Why Companion Planting Matters
Companion planting involves growing plants that benefit each other when planted close together. However, some plants are antagonistic toward others, competing for nutrients, attracting harmful pests, or even stunting each other’s growth. Cucumbers are no exception—they have a few “plant enemies” that can harm their health.
Plants to Avoid Planting Near Cucumbers
- Potatoes Potatoes are among the worst plants to grow near cucumbers. Both are heavy feeders, meaning they require a lot of nutrients to thrive. When planted near each other, potatoes and cucumbers will compete for water and nutrients, leaving both plants weaker. Additionally, potatoes attract similar pests to cucumbers, such as cucumber beetles, which can quickly decimate your crop.
- Sage Sage, a common herb, can have a negative effect on cucumbers. This aromatic plant releases chemicals through its roots and leaves that may inhibit the growth of cucumbers. As a result, sage can stunt the growth of your cucumber plants, leading to poor harvests. Keep cucumbers and sage at opposite ends of your garden to avoid any issues.
- Melons While melons and cucumbers belong to the same plant family (Cucurbitaceae), they should not be planted near each other. Since they share similar nutrient requirements, planting them together can cause them to compete for resources. This can result in smaller, less flavorful fruit for both crops. Additionally, growing cucumbers and melons together increases the risk of spreading diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew between plants.
- Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower) Brassicas, which include cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, can stunt cucumber growth. These plants release specific chemicals from their roots that can interfere with the development of cucumbers. Brassicas also have different nutrient needs and attract pests like cabbage worms, which can harm your cucumber plants.
- Fennel Fennel is notorious for being a poor companion to most garden vegetables, including cucumbers. Fennel secretes a substance through its roots that inhibits the growth of other plants. This can cause your cucumbers to grow slowly, become stunted, or even fail to produce fruit. Always plant fennel far away from your cucumbers to avoid these issues.
- Tomatoes While tomatoes and cucumbers are both popular summer vegetables, they aren’t the best companions. Both plants attract similar pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, which can spread rapidly between them if planted too close. Moreover, tomatoes and cucumbers both require a lot of nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Growing them together can lead to competition for these nutrients, reducing the health of both plants and diminishing yields.
- Zucchini and Other Squash Like cucumbers, zucchini and other squash belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. While it might seem logical to plant them together, doing so can lead to problems. Squash and cucumbers share similar pests and diseases, meaning that an outbreak of cucumber beetles, squash bugs, or powdery mildew could quickly spread between the two crops. Additionally, both plants require ample space, so they may end up competing for sunlight and nutrients.
What to Plant Near Cucumbers Instead
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