Radishes are easy-to-grow crops that are popular among gardeners. Aside from being versatile cooking ingredients containing vitamins and antioxidants, they also make good companion plants.
Let’s explore this list of ideal companion plants for radishes.
1. Spinach
Spinach and radish are excellent companion plants, although spinach receives most of the benefits. This leafy green can get damaged by leaf miners. To manage these pests, remove and destroy affected leaves and plants as soon as you see signs of larvae feeding on them.
Radish serves as a trap crop for these leaf miners so that they will leave your spinach alone. Even though leaf miners can attack radish leaves, these pests won’t get to the root crops before they are ready for harvest.
2. Cucumber
Vining cucumbers require a trellis to keep the fruit off the ground and prevent infections so that radishes can benefit from their shade. Radish contributes to the relationship by keeping cucumber pests away. Because both plants thrive in the same growing conditions, they make excellent companion plants for each other.
3. Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuce is another fast-growing plant that pairs well with radishes and, like radishes, can be ready for harvest in about a month. Depending on the variety of crops you sow, both plants can be planted on the same patch. Leaf lettuce has shallow roots, while radishes grow deep into the soil. Interplanting the two crops will maximize the growing space.
4. Pole Beans
Radishes require a lot of soil nutrients, so a companion plant that replenishes some of those nutrients is recommended. Pole beans can also act as a living mulch, providing shade to your radish and preventing bolting due to intense heat.
Pole beans will provide a steady supply of nitrogen to radish by fixing it in the soil. Any nitrogen the legume doesn’t need is released into the surrounding soil, making it available to other companion plants.
5. Nasturtiums
Aphids are attracted to seedling and mature radishes, causing misshaped, curled, or yellow leaves. Despite the seeming contradiction, many gardeners grow nasturtiums next to their vegetable garden to attract aphids.
Aphids are drawn to the beautiful Nasturtium flowers. As a result, the aphids will feed on the flower instead of on food crops. Another benefit of planting nasturtium is that it successfully repels other pests that visit your radish.
6. Marigold
Marigold is one of the most popular plant companions for vegetable gardens. Its insect repellent properties can help your crops flourish, providing you with more bountiful harvests. The most notable characteristic of this flower is its ability to inhibit the growth and development of nematodes, which are root-damaging pests.
Marigold also requires little upkeep and will not need to be monitored regularly. This flower is also a great companion plant that attracts pollinators.
7. Herbs
Aromatic herbs protect radishes and surrounding plants from pests. The pungent aroma of oregano deters pests like cabbage moths. Mint plants like hyssop and sage have scents and textures discouraging grazing animals like deer.
Other herbs also serve as good companion plants for radish. Borage is a flower that attracts beneficial insects while also preventing pest worms from invading your crops. On the other hand, dill attracts parasitic wasps and pollinators that pollinate radishes and reduce the pest population.
