Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 16 Companion Plants You Should Grow Next to Cucumbers—and 7 You Shouldn't Plant cucumbers next to these companion plants for a healthy, thriving crop. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Published on May 10, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images Cucumbers are the perfect addition to your summer garden. This plant loves warm weather and can grow vigorously in the ground or in containers. To encourage healthy growth and increase yield, consider growing cucumbers alongside companion plants. Companion planting is the method of growing plants together that will benefit both species. The following companion plants will improve soil quality, attract pollinators, and repel unwanted bugs, like cucumber beetles. On the other hand, some plants don't grow well with cucumbers and can negatively impact yield. To make this gardening practice easier, we spoke to experts who shared the best cucumber companion plants—and what you should never plant alongside this fruit. Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University, where she specializes in various gardening topics, including herbaceous plants, vegetables and vegetable insects, landscape design, and rock gardening. Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app, an app that makes garden planning easier. How to Plant and Care for Cucumbers—and Ensure a Bountiful Harvest All Summer Long 01 of 16 Tomatoes bymuratdeniz / Getty Images Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are great companions to cucumbers because they have the same sun and water needs. "The tomato plants provide shade and retain moisture for the soil, while the cucumbers can inhibit weed growth as they spread among the base of the tomato plants," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. Zones: 3 to 10Size: 1 to 10 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; slightly acidic, well-draining soil 02 of 16 Beets Vaivirga / Getty Images Beets (Beta vulgaris) deter common garden pests, like aphids and nematodes, as well as beetles that are attracted to cucumbers. On the other hand, cucumbers provide shade for the beets, which is ideal since beets like cooler weather and some afternoon shade, says Langelo. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, rich, well-draining soil 03 of 16 Corn fotokostic / Getty Images The tall stalks of corn (Zea mays) can help provide support for cucumber vines, says Langelo. Additionally, cucumbers benefit from the shade that corn plants offer, which is ideal in climates with very hot summers, as too much heat can give cucumbers a bitter taste. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 5 to 8 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 04 of 16 Sunflowers Clearphotov / GETTY IMAGES Sunflowers (Helianthus) attract pollinators like bees, thus improving cucumber fruit set, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. Zone: 3 to 9Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 05 of 16 Dill Ekaterina savyolova / Getty Images Langelo recommends planting dill (Anethum graveolens) next to cucumbers, as the herb produces flowers that repel harmful bugs, like aphids, cabbage worms, and mites. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil 06 of 16 Lettuce Papatsorn Khunsaard / Getty Images Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) has short roots, so it doesn't interfere with the nutrients of the cucumbers or compete for space, says Langelo. What's more, lettuce can also suppress weeds by acting as a living mulch. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil 07 of 16 Nasturtium Amit KUMAR / Getty Images Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) protect cucumbers from unwanted bugs, like cucumber beetles, thrips, squash bugs, and aphids. "Hoverflies, also known as syrphids, pollinate nasturtiums because of the nectar they provide," says Langelo. "In turn, the syrphids eat aphids off cucumbers." Zones: 2 to 11Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide, depending on varietyCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 08 of 16 Radish Ralf Geithe / Getty Images Radish (Raphanus sativus) deters cucumber beetles, which can damage the foliage and fruit of your cucumbers. "Radishes have methyl mercaptan, a harmless, natural gas that is an organic sulfur compound that deters cucumber beetles and other pests," says Langelo. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide, depending on varietyCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil 09 of 16 Marigold Danil Bukharov / iStock / Getty Images Plus Marigolds (Tagetes) are a popular companion plant for their pest-repelling properties. "Marigolds contain pyrethrins that repel pests such as aphids, spider mites, and cucumber beetles," says Langelo. "They also attract beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies." Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 to 36 inches tall x 6 to 24 inches wide, depending on varietyCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 10 of 16 Carrots Wildroze / Getty Images Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) have deep roots that break up soil, improving its structure and aeration for cucumber roots, says Spoonemore. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 3 to 36 inches tall x 2 to 3 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil 11 of 16 Shallots ClarkandCompany / Getty Images Shallots (Allium cepa) have a strong scent that deters pests from entering your garden and disrupting your cucumber plants, says Langelo. On the other hand, cucumbers help shade the soil and retain moisture for the shallots. Zones: 5 to 10 Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 2 to 3 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil 12 of 16 Arugula Getty Images Arugula (Eruca sativa) is another leafy green that is a great companion plant to cucumbers. "Arugula attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on cucumber pests," says Spoonemore. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 8 to 36 inches tall x 8 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, rich, well-draining soil 13 of 16 Broccoli ZenShui/Laurence Mouton/Getty Images Grow broccoli (Brassica oleracea) alongside your cucumber plants, as this cruciferous vegetable produces natural repellents that deter common cucumber pests, including aphids and cabbage worms. Zones: 6 to 9Size: 10 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; alkaline, well-draining soil 14 of 16 Beans brytta / Getty Images Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) fix nitrogen in the soil, which enriches it for cucumbers, says Spoonemore. Additionally, beans have dense foliage that helps suppress weeds. Zones: 6 to 9Size: 2 to 15 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil 15 of 16 Zinnias Tharathip Onsri / EyeEm / Getty Images Zinnias, a member of the daisy family, attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on cucumber pests, says Spoonemore. Zone: 3 to 10Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 6 to 18 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil 16 of 16 Hot Peppers Getty Images Hot peppers (Capsicum annuum) contain spicy compounds that deter common pests that can damage your cucumber plants, including aphids and cucumber beetles. Zone: 4 to 11Size: 12 to 44 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil How to Store Cucumbers So They Stay Fresh and Crunchy What to Never Plant With Cucumbers While many plants can help your cucumber plants thrive, there are others you should never grow next to this fruit. Sage and mint: These herbs have a strong aromatic flavor that can affect the taste of cucumbers. Additionally, mint is very invasive and not a good neighbor, says Langelo.Basil: When planted together, basil and cucumbers can compete for similar nutrients and inhibit each other's growth, says Spoonemore.Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus trees can release allelopathic compounds that hinder the growth of neighboring plants, says Spoonemore.Fennel: Fennel has allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of cucumbers. "These chemicals inhibit germination and the ability of a neighboring plant to uptake nutrients from the soil, thus stunting its growth," says Langelo.Potatoes: Cucumbers and potatoes are susceptible to some of the same pests and diseases, increasing the risk of infestation and spread, says Spoonemore.Watermelon: Watermelon and cucumbers are both heavy feeders and may compete for nutrients and space, reducing yields for both crops, says Spoonemore.Cantaloupe: Cantaloupe and cucumbers are both heavy feeders and may compete for nutrients and space, says Spoonemore. Use Our Companion Planting Chart to Grow a Thriving Vegetable Garden Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit