Carrots are known for their vitamin C and antioxidants, numerous health benefits (like boosting the immune system), and the status of an ideal nutritious complement to a near-infinity of dishes. Growing this typically orange, tasty root crop can have its challenges, but it is so worth it!
A long-practiced technique for a plentiful, stress-free season is using specific plants to ensure your carrots shine and grow healthy and tasty. These will protect them against unwanted visitors and improve the overall growing conditions and symbiosis of your garden. Here's a list of сarrot companion plants to aid you in your cultivation.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Carrots
Companion planting was born out of hundreds of years of trial and error of which plants work together and which don't when it comes to their capability of protecting, complementing, and supporting one another when grouped. When it comes to carrots, here are the main benefits of companion planting:
- Repelling pests: choosing the right plants can help keep a variety of destructive insects and other pests at bay, including carrot flies, one of the most common for this crop.
- Faster growth: by aiding with regulating temperature, soil moisture, sun exposure and other environmental factors, some plants will make sure there is nothing for your orange roots to do but to grow stronger and without any setbacks.
- Improving soil's health: whether by increasing the availability of a specific nutrient or by loosening up the soil until it's fluffy and comfy for your carrots, some plants will benefit from the ground up, literally.
- Attracting beneficial insects: from pollinators to pest-eating predatory insects, plant the right greenies to keep your crop safe.
Space management: some companion plants are great because they ensure that not a single inch of your garden is wasted, while others make space for your veggies by suppressing weed growth and, subsequently, competition.
What Grows Well with Carrots
There isn't just one plant or specific group of plants that grows well with this veggie. A wide array of companions, including herbs, flowers, legumes, and other vegetables, each with its own set of benefits, can be planted next to your carrots.
Best Carrot Companion Plants
Here's a list of what you can plant to optimize your carrots' healthy growth.
Fruit
Fruiting plants that can be great companions for carrots include:
Tomatoes
These plants will provide some shade to help retain and regulate soil moisture and temperature. Their scent is also known to repel some carrot pests. It is recommended to plant a buffer between carrots and tomatoes, like kale or mustard greens.
Beans
Due to their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, they are great companions to a wide array of plants. Just be careful not to plant them too close so they don't compete over space.
Peas
Like beans, this legume increases soil health by fixing nitrogen. Like tomatoes, it can also provide some shade, but it needs to be planted at a slightly longer distance.
Cucumbers
The vining varieties are particularly great to plant near carrots to maximize garden space and provide some shade. 
Herbs
Herbs are a great addition for their complementary nature in the kitchen and their protective benefits in the garden.
Rosemary
This aromatic plant is great for pairing with carrots in recipes and in the soil. Rosemary will attract beneficial insects and deter several pests.
Sage
Similar to rosemary, sage is an aromatic plant that can deter pests and, once flowering, attract beneficial insects as well.
Thyme
With its strong scent and low growing habit, thyme can be added to your carrots' raised bed. It will not block out the much-needed sunlight and will deter pests.
Oregano
Much like thyme, oregano will grow bushy, compact plants that won't interfere with your carrot growth while masking the carrot smell to keep pests at bay.
Flowers
Zinnias and pansies are great ways to add beauty and color to your vegetable garden while attracting beneficial insects.
Veggies
Avoid the monocultures and pair your carrots with other veggies for a diverse and plentiful harvest.
Alliums
From onions and garlic to leeks and chives, this family makes one of the best companion pairings for carrots. Their strong scent deters an endless number of pests, including the carrot fly.
Brassicas
Since carrots are fond of slightly colder weather and can even resist a little frost, pairing them with other frost-resistant crops such as cabbage, kale, or broccoli is a great idea. Just be sure to allow for enough space for both crops to develop properly.
Lettuce
Being almost the opposite of carrots, they have the ideal growing habit, with shallow roots that don't compete and an above-ground growth that doesn't spread or overpower. They even work as a sort of living mulch, creating shade and retaining soil moisture.
Bad Companions–What Not to Plant With Carrots?
As with everything, there are things that we love and things that we just hope will stay as far away as possible. For carrot companion planting, there are a few of these unwelcome companions:
Dill
This herb will be your carrots' biggest nightmare. It can attract an array of pests, especially carrot flies, which will happily feast on your carrots. It is also though to stunt carrots growth.
Parsnips
We don't want to invite this family member to the party. Due to their kinship, parsnips increase the risk of pests and diseases specific to the family. They will also compete for space and nutrients.
Potatoes
This underground companion is not ideal. Similarly to parsnips, potato tubers will compete for space and nutrients, hindering your carrots from adequate development.
Celery
They have a high water and nutrient demand that will compete very heavily with your carrots, likely resulting in stunted growth or even poorly developed taproots.
What to Plant With Carrots to Prevent Carrot Flies?
There are a few pests that can cause damage to your carrots. We get it; they're tasty. But possibly one of the most common and destructive carrot pests is the carrot fly. To make sure carrots end up on your plate and not in their bellies, here are a few plants that will keep these pesky insects away:
- Alliums: leeks and onions especially, but all of them truly.
- Parsley: a terrific fly deterrent.
- Mint: just be careful not to let it grow out of proportion; these greenies tend to spread and overtake spaces pretty quickly. You can opt to have it in a pot nearby.
- Rosemary: one of the finest carrot fly repellents.
- Sage: it not only repels the bad pests but invites the good ones, too.
- Marigolds: one of the companion planting champions, these versatile little flowers will help with many pests, carrot flies included.
Nasturtiums: these flowers are not only a cute addition to your garden but also an effective fly deterrent.
Rules of Companion Planting for Carrots
There aren't many rules when it comes to companion planting carrots or companion planting in general, only taking into account each plant's singular nature. These small root crops especially are quite undemanding and will grow happily if you ensure your companion planting is done with just a couple of things in mind, such as:
- Space: planting space is extremely important for harmonious companionship. Carrots do not spread or take over the garden but need enough space to expand freely in the soil.
- Sunlight: although they enjoy cooler temperatures, they still need quite a bit of sun exposure to ensure underground development. Shade can be a great way to retain soil moisture, but it should never be overpowering or blocking access to much-needed light.
- Timing: crops develop at different rates, and the best way to ensure everyone is happy and healthy is to time their planting and harvest times to complement one another. For example, it is ideal to select crops that will be ready for harvest during the germination period of carrots. Additionally, it's beneficial to choose complementary plants that will grow mostly above ground while you wait for your carrots to mature. This approach helps to avoid competition and other unnecessary complications among the plants.
Mistakes to Avoid in Your Carrot Together-Planting
Again, there are very few things you can do wrong, apart from choosing the wrong companions. As long as you follow the rules and give the right care to your greenies, there are only a couple of things you need to avoid:
- Focusing only on one companion–the magic of companion planting is to naturally create an environment as balanced and self-sufficient as possible. For this, the more you mix different companion plants and even different methods overall, the better the results you'll get.
- Space–you can do everything else right, but if you don't give plants proper spacing to develop freely, you'll get little to no results. A big mistake is to try to have as many plants as possible with little regard to their growing needs, and ending up with stunted veggies.
- Planting radishes–technically, radishes should make great carrot companion plants, and many people swear by them; they are great pest deterrents and will develop faster, leaving the soil fluffy and ready by the time the carrot roots need to expand. However, many people report that their leafy top creates way too much shade, hindering the carrot development, so we advise you to be careful and not make the mistake of planting them without taking these important considerations in mind.
- Research growing habits–as we mentioned about the radishes, this can go for any plant for that matter. It's important to truly understand each plant's need to make sure they will work together from a space, water, sunlight, and nutrient perspective. Not doing so can end up turning into a garden nightmare or, worse, a season of little to no yields.
How to Increase Yields of Carrots?
Now you know what to plant next to your little orange fellas, but we still have a few more tips and tricks to make sure you get the best carrot harvest of your life. Here's how to maximize carrot yields:
- Crop rotation–don't plant carrots in the same pot or soil year after year. The same goes for other family members, such as parsnips. This will inevitably lead to an increased risk of pests and diseases.
- Space–besides paying attention not to plant any other companions too close, make sure you also leave enough space between carrots. Space is one of the most important aspects of growing underground crops.
- Soil–fluffy and loose soil, preferably sandy, is ideal. Besides this, make sure there are no stones, debris, or any other obstacles that can damage or stunt their growth. This is why raised beds are usually preferable.
- Watering–after establishing, deep, infrequent watering is the way to go. Watering frequently and shallowly will not stimulate long and robust taproots.
- Weeds–removing weeds on a regular basis is a must to reduce competition and allow for both enough space and nutrients.
Nutrients–when it comes to feeding these veggies, avoid high concentrations of nitrogen, as this will promote above-ground leafy growth instead of root development. Aim for higher concentrations of phosphorus and potassium.
FAQ
What Is Considered the Best Companion Plant for Carrots?
Despite many amazing options, the Allium family plants are usually regarded as the best companion plants for carrots. From onions and garlic to chives and leeks, all of these are great pest repellents that don't compete with carrots. So, the answer to the question of whether you can plant onions and carrots together seems pretty clear.
Where Is the Best Place to Plant Carrots?
These root cops will develop better in garden beds or raised beds. They prefer a cool spot that provides around 6 hours of daily sunlight.
How Many Carrots to Plant Together?
As many as you please, as long as you space them accordingly. When you sow them directly onto the soil (the best method), you can put at least two seeds in each space, although you'll have to thin them out a bit later after the germination to allow for proper development.
Can I Grow Carrots from Carrot Tops?
If you replant a carrot top, it won't grow a new carrot. But the leaves and roots can keep growing to make a new carrot plant. You can use this to get seeds for the next year.
Can You Replant a Carrot After Pulling It?
Unfortunately, no. After the taproot is formed, your carrot can't be moved around. Even sowing is advised to be done in their permanent location, as these greenies don't react well to being moved at all.
