Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Marigolds - long seen as the pepper-growers secret weapon, marigolds act in two
ways as a companion plant. Firstly, they act to attract helpful insects such as bees. Se-
condly, they produce a chemical (alpha-terthienyl) from their roots which has been shown
to reduce root-knot nematodes and eel worms in the soil.
Geraniums - another great companion is the geranium. These are easy-to-grow and
are effective in deterring beetles amongst other pests.
Tomatoes - these when grown alongside peppers add the humidity which peppers
love. Additionally they can provide some shade to the maturing peppers, however care
must be taken not to overcrowd the peppers with tomato plants and so adversely affect the
amount of sunlight they receive.
Okra - provides shelter from the wind; particularly useful when your pepper plants
are young with weak stems and more susceptible to wind damage.
Herbs: Basil, Marjoram, Oregano - these herbs all provide excellent dense ground
coverage, and help increase humidity. Basil and Marjoram may however impart a slight
flavor upon your peppers, so something to watch out for (or to aim for!)
Eggplant - acts as an effective trapping plant for aphids and other bugs. Also has
been shown to reduce viral infections in pepper plants.
Onions, garlic, chives - these all act by masking the natural scent of the pepper
plant and repelling bugs (beetles, aphids, snails etc.). Chile peppers can emit a scent that
attracts aphids, so companion planting with these crops can mask this attractant smell.
Other successful companion plants include: petunia, carrot, cucumber, Swiss chard,
squash.
While there are many excellent companion plants that can improve the health of
your pepper plant and increase yield, there are similarly several crops that should not be
grown alongside peppers as these can have a deleterious effect on the peppers or the neigh-
boring crop. These include:
Apricot trees - peppers are prone to certain fungi which if it infects the peppers can
cause severe damage to neighboring apricot trees.
Beans, kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts all make for poor companion plants with
a noticeable adverse effect on the pepper plants and yields seen.
Raised beds
