Companion planting is a great gardening method. With companion planting, plants care for one another by enhancing soil content or acting as a natural pest repellant for others. In doing so, both plants benefit and can thrive.
Pea plants contribute to the health and growth of other plants because they engage in nitrogen fixation, which means they pull nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots. This, in turn, enriches the soil with nutrients all surrounding plants can enjoy.
Let’s explore 7 of the best companion plants for pea plants.
1. Cucumbers
Cucumbers and peas make good companion plants. Cucumbers thrive in the same environment as pea plants and have the same watering and nutritional needs.
Cucumbers won’t have to compete with pea plants for nitrogen because of the pea plant’s ability to practice nitrogen fixation. In turn, cucumbers help pea plants by helping to ward off harmful fungi that can infect them.
2. Corn
Corn is another great companion to pea plants. Their stalks tower over pea plants and provide helpful shade on hot afternoons.
Pea plants can help corn regardless of whether it’s alive or dead. These plants add nutritional nitrogen to the soil when they’re alive and continue to nourish the ground long after the pea plant has shriveled up and blown away.
3. Spinach
Spinach thrives in cooler temperatures. It’s known for its high iron content and its versatility in recipes.
Spinach is virtually low-maintenance and can be harvested quickly. Even better, spinach is not as susceptible to pests or infections as other vegetables.
Growing spinach near pea plants means nitrogen-rich soil and shade in warmer temperatures. Spinach is also useful as a ground cover for pea plants since it keeps the soil moist and acts as a weed blocker.
4. Mint
Fragrant mint plants need very little care to grow. It thrives in full sun and is a must-have in herb gardens.
Pea plants grow nicely near fragrant herbs like mint. Aphids and thrips, pests that feast on pea plants, don’t like mint’s aroma and stay away.
In addition, mint can help deter rats, which also enjoy eating pea plants.
5. Radishes
Radishes and turnips make good companion plants for pea plants, too. They protect pea plants from aphids while benefiting from the nitrogen-rich soil created by pea plants.
Radish roots develop quickly while pea plants’ roots grow slowly, which means neither plant has to compete for soil space.
6. Tomatoes
Tomatoes and peas grow well together. Tomatoes have a pungent odor that drives away pests from other plants, pea plants included. Tomatoes also enjoy the nitrogen pea plants deposit in the soil because they are heavy feeders.
7. Carrots
Not only do carrots and pea plants complement one another in food, but they also make excellent companion plants when grown together in gardens.
They both reach maturity within 70 – 80 days and they both thrive in damp, chilly environments.
Carrots are biennials that are treated as annuals. Their soil should be loose, well-drained, and somewhat acidic. Carrots come in varying shapes and sizes and the whole plant is edible.
