Parsley Companion Plants: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Companion plants for parsley
When it comes to companion planting, parsley is a bit of a wildcard. There are some plants that it pairs well with, and others that you should avoid planting near it. In this blog post, we will take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of companion plants for parsley. We'll also give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your parsley garden!
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What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of planting certain crops together in order to maximize their growth and yield.
Companion plants can provide support, shade, or nutrients to each other, and can also help to deter pests and diseases.
What are the Benefits of Companion Planting?
Companion planting has a number of advantages, including:
Improves Plants' Development and Health
Companion Planting is an age-old practice that has been used for centuries by gardeners to help maximize the growth and health of their plants.
When you grow your favorite fruits or vegetables side by side with other complimentary favorites in one spot, they can share resources like nutrients from the soil without competing against each other.
Organic Pest Control
The beauty of companion planting is that it can help control pests naturally.
When different plants are grown together, they create a natural barrier against pesky insects and diseases!
Attracts Beneficial Insects
The idea of companion planting is to create an environment where beneficial insects can thrive.
These small creatures will help control pests naturally, making your garden more relaxing and pest-free!
Improves Soil Quality and Fertility
By planting different plants together, you can improve the quality of your soil.
The added organic matter and nutrients will help make it more fertile for growing food!
Improves Flavor of Vegetables
What's better than a delicious vegetable? How about one that has been enhanced by the addition of other plants?
When different crops grow together, it creates harmony in flavor and color.
Serve As Markers
Some plants grow faster than others, so if you plant a fast-growing variety next to a slow one, you can better keep track of the progress of each plant in your garden.
If you're growing a garden with many different plants or want to grow many types of the same plant, this is a good setup.
Provide Necessary Shade
In the summer, it's important to provide some relief from the hot sun. Taller plants can do this by shading shorter ones so they don't overheat and burn in their strong rays!
Now that we've talked about the benefits of companion planting, let's take a look at the best and worst plants to grow near the biennial herb parsley.
Looking for an easy reference guide? Then check out this dedicated sheet outlining the MOST beneficial companion plants on Etsy.
Parsley Companion Plants
Here are some companion plants for parsley that will help it to grow and thrive:
Asparagus
Asparagus and parsley are good companion plants.
As any gardener knows, having the right plants in your garden can make all the difference. Not only do different plants provide different benefits, but they can also help each other to grow. This is certainly the case with asparagus and parsley.
When planted together, asparagus and parsley encourage each other's growth.
Parsley also repels the asparagus beetle, which is a major garden pest of asparagus plants. As a result, planting these two vegetables together can be a great way to improve your crop yield.
As asparagus plants take a large majority of the year off from producing, growing parsley in-between rows of asparagus is an efficient way to use the space.
So if you're looking for a winning combination, be sure to try asparagus and parsley. You'll be glad you did!
Tomatoes
Tomatoes and parsley are a classic combination, both in the kitchen and in the garden. Not only do they make a beautiful pairing, but they also offer some big benefits to each other.
Parsley not only attracts hoverflies, which go after aphids that might attack your tomato plants - they also entice aphids away from your tomatoes. Check out some other natural ways to get rid of aphids on tomatoes!
The only caveat to this is that not every tomato variety does well when companion planted with parsley.
So, if you're looking to try this combination, be sure to do your research first to see if it will work with the type of tomato plant you're growing.
Peppers
Parsley and peppers are great companions in the garden! Parsley helps to deter pests from attacking pepper plants, and also improves the flavor of peppers when used as a companion plant.
Aphids and beetles are the two main pests that parsley helps to keep away from pepper plants.
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Corn
Corn is a popular crop, but it is vulnerable to attack by various types of worms, including corn earworms, cutworms, and armyworms. These pests can cause serious damage to the crop, leading to reduced yields.
One way to help protect corn from these pests is to plant parsley alongside it.
Parsley is an excellent companion plant for corn, as it attracts parasitic wasps and tachinid flies, which hunt the worms that prey on corn.
In addition, parsley helps to repel other insects that might damage the crop.
As a result, parsley is an excellent plant to grow alongside corn, providing protection from various damaging pests.
Chives
Any gardener worth their salt knows that parsley is a valuable addition to any herb garden. Not only does it have a range of culinary uses, but it also provides a pop of color and freshness.
However, parsley is also a member of the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, celery, and fennel. As a result, parsley is susceptible to damage from carrot root flies.
One way to help protect your parsley plants is to grow them in companion with chives. The strong aroma of chives will help disguise parsley, making it less attractive to root flies.
Basil
Basil is another great parsley plant companion. They both have similar requirements for sun and water. Parsley and basil both need consistent moisture in order to thrive.
Parsley also helps to improve the flavor of basil.
Parsley can also help to deter some pests, such as asparagus beetles and nematodes. Read more to find out about the best basil companion plants.
Beans
Beans and parsley are two great companion plants that work well together.
Parsley is a flowering Mediterranean herb that can help to attract the tachinid fly, which is a predator of cutworms and other pests.
Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, which means they fix nitrogen from the air into the soil. This helps to enrich the soil and provide nutrients for other plants.
By growing beans and parsley together, you can take advantage of the benefits that both plants offer.
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Brassicas
The Brassicas are a family of plants that includes broccoli, cabbage, and kale.
These plants are all susceptible to attack by the cabbage worm. The cabbage worm is a caterpillar that feeds on the leaves of brassica plants. This can cause serious damage to the plant, and reduce its yield.
One way to help protect your plants from this pest is to grow parsley alongside them. Parsley helps to attract predators of the cabbage worm.
RELATED: Broccoli Companion Plants
Roses
Did you ever think you'd see roses and parsley together on a list? These two plants actually make great companions!
Parsley is a member of the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, celery, and fennel. This family of plants produces chemicals that help to deter pests.
When planted alongside roses, parsley can help to protect them from aphids and other pests.
In addition, parsley helps to improve the fragrance of roses. This is because the chemicals produced by parsley help to release the essential oils in roses.
As a result, if you're looking for a good companion plant for your roses, parsley is an excellent choice!
Apples
Apples are a popular fruit, but they are susceptible to attack by various pests, including codling moths and gypsy moths. These pests can cause serious damage to the fruit, leading to reduced yields.
One way to help protect apples from these pests is to plant parsley alongside them. Parsley helps to attract braconid wasps which are predators of the codling moth and gypsy moths.
In addition, parsley helps to repel other insects that might damage the crop.
As a result, parsley is an excellent plant to grow alongside apples, providing protection from various garden pests.
Pears
Pears are another popular fruit that is susceptible to attack by codling moths and gypsy moths. As with apples, these pests can cause serious damage to the fruit, leading to reduced yields.
One way to help protect pears from these pests is to plant parsley alongside them.
Parsley Companion Planting Chart
Plants to Avoid Growing With Parsley
Just as there are good companion plants for parsley, there are also some plants that you should avoid growing alongside it.
These plants can actually have a negative impact on parsley and can cause it to become diseased or stunted. Some of the plants to avoid include:
Mint
Mint is not a good companion to parsley as it can be rather invasive. If left unchecked, mint can quickly take over the garden bed, crowding out other plants.
Additionally, since mint is powerfully aromatic, parsley plants might have a mint flavor. So it is best to avoid growing mint and parsley together.
Carrots
Carrots and parsley don't make good companions because they are from the same family which means they will attract the same pests (the carrot fly) and compete for the same nutrients.
Carrots and parsley are notorious for cross-pollinating, which can cause problems if you save seeds. For these reasons, it is best to avoid growing carrots and parsley together.
Lettuce
Not all plants make good companions. In fact, parsley and lettuce are two plants that should never be planted together.
The main reason for this is that parsley causes lettuce to bolt, which means that it will go to seed much sooner than it would otherwise. This can ruin a crop of lettuce, so it's best to avoid planting these two plants side by side.
There are many other plants that make better companions for parsley, so be sure to do your research before you start planting your garden.
Allium
Allium is a genus of flowering plants that includes onion, garlic, and shallots. While these plants are all edible, they can be quite pungent, making them unpopular companion plants for parsley.
In addition to their strong odor, Allium plants can also stunt the growth of parsley, competing for nutrients and water. For these reasons, it is best to avoid planting Allium and parsley together.
Instead, consider some of parsley's more compatible companions. With a little planning, you can create a flavorful and fragrant herb garden that everyone can enjoy.
FAQS About Parsley Companion Plants
Is parsley easy to grow?
Parsley is a relatively easy plant to grow and does well in most gardens with a little care. Here’s a detailed guide on growing parsley indoors.
How much sun does parsley need?
Parsley needs at least six hours of sunlight per day, but it can tolerate partial shade.
How often should I water parsley?
Water parsley when the soil is dry to the touch, being careful not to overwater. Too much water can cause root rot and other problems.
What are some common pests and diseases of parsley?
Common pests include aphids, cutworms, whiteflies, and carrot root flies. Common diseases include root rot, leaf spot, and blight.
What insects are attracted to parsley?
Parsley is known to attract the hoverfly and the parasitic wasp. These insects help to control pests in the garden and are not harmful to humans.
How far apart should parsley be planted?
Parsley plants should be planted about 6-8 inches apart to allow for proper growth.
Where are the best places to buy parsley seeds online?
There are a number of places to buy parsley seeds online, but some of the best include Botanical Interests.
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Summing Up Parsley Companion Plants
Companion planting with parsley can be a great way to keep pests at bay and make the most of this versatile herb. By avoiding some of the plants that are known to have negative effects on parsley, you can help your plants grow healthy and strong. With a little planning, you can create an attractive and fragrant herb garden that everyone will enjoy.
