Glossary
LayoutCompanion Planting
Simple meaning
Companion planting means placing crops near each other because the pairing may help with shade, pollinators, harvest access, pest confusion, or space.
Remember this
A good pairing can still become a cramped mess by July.
Quick sketch
Useful companions still need room
A good pairing on paper can still be a cramped mess in July.
Use this term in a guide
Say what you want the pairing to do.
Read How PlotSmarter plans a gardenAlso check:
When this term matters
Companion planting usually starts as the question, "Can these two things go next to each other?"
Sometimes, yes. But a clever pairing still fails if the plants crowd each other, shade each other, or make harvest annoying.
How to use this idea
A companion pairing still has to fit the actual bed. Basil near tomatoes can be handy, but not if the tomato leaves bury it by July.
Airflow
Crowded companions can trap humidity right where leaves need air.
Harvest access
A handy herb is less handy if a tomato cage blocks it.
Pollinators
Flowers help more when insects can actually find them.
Common mistake
Companion planting is not magic. A popular pairing can still fail if the plants crowd each other, stay damp, or block the harvest.
Real-bed example
Basil near tomatoes can make harvests convenient, and flowers near bed edges can help pollinators find the garden without crowding the main crops.
Raised bed note: Raised beds concentrate crops into tight layouts. Companion choices should respect mature plant size and airflow so combinations do not create crowding.
Related terms
Common question
Does companion planting replace crop rotation?
No. Basil next to tomatoes does not erase the fact that the bed grew nightshades again.