Do you happen to look for specific lettuce companion plants? My co-plant parent, you have found the right article! While your favorite salad bowl veggies are relatively fuss-free and easy to grow, they can do better, sharing the same space with other crops. The benefits–often tied to the crop's ability to confuse pests, attract beneficial insects, and soil-improving wonders–are so enticing that it will leave you questioning which one to choose! So, without further ado, stay on your browser as we show you this fantastic group of greenheads!
Benefits of Companion Planting Lettuce
Companion plants for lettuce offer enticing benefits not only with the main crop but also your entire garden's health! They are known to:
- Discourage leaf-eating insects
- Lures garden friends like bees, wasps, and pollinators
- Reduce soil erosion and nutrient leaching
- Increase the soil nutrients
- Increase beneficial microbes' activity
- Suppress weed emergence
- Conserve the soil moisture.
What Is Best to Plant Next to Lettuce?
The best plant next to lettuce would be something that possesses insect-thwarting characteristics and has similar growth requirements to prevent competition. It also depends on certain goals you want to achieve this cropping season. However, we would say that herbs, like onions, are the best companion plants for lettuce because they tick the list of characteristics above!
Best Companion Plants for Lettuce by Categories
Companion planting lettuce comprises a handful of crop species–from flowers to herbs or from fruits to vegetables. You have plenty of options to choose from! And that includes the following:
Flowers
If you seek landscape aesthetics and ecological functionality, flowers are your answer to what grows well with lettuce.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a garden treasure—admired for their stunning, long-lived flowers blooming throughout summer and for their practical advantage. They help your lettuce become "leafier" without changing its overall quality.
USDA Zones: 2-11
Benefits: Efficient land use, non-aggressive, pollinator's refuge.
Calendula
A sister of marigold, Calendula is your lettuce's darling during the growing season. Its bright flowers draw the attention of many pollinators, sparing your main crop's demise from voracious bugs.
USDA Zones: 2-11
Benefits: Comes yearly (perennial), minimal maintenance
Fruits
The following fruits, known by many as vegetables, are actually a fertilized ovule of the flower, technically placing them in this category. Whichever you classify them, your lettuce will gladly welcome them in your garden!
Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be quite invasive, but they are not bad companion plants for lettuce! Grown early in the season, lettuce can be harvested before cucumbers even develop long vines that can block sunlight and reduce its leafiness! Some gardeners tuck their elongated vines with stakes, keeping them neat, tidy, and non-encroaching.
USDA Zones: 3-11
Benefits: Space maximization, weed suppression, nurse plants
Beans
Bean there, done that–this would be the beans statement if it can speak about its pairing with lettuce. Why? Because it can literally pair any crop, including lettuce! Thanks to its limited canopy spread and good bacteria-friendly roots, its neighbor will have nothing to say but a sincere gratitude.
USDA Zones: 2-11
Benefits: Free nitrogen, better root defense against rot diseases, increased harvest
Vegetables
If you ask what to plant with lettuce, nothing should go wrong with vegetables. Feel free to pick one of the following!
Tomatoes
If you ask can you plant lettuce with tomatoes, the answer is not a definitive yes but is still recommended to do so. Brazilian scientists found evidence by measuring the stress enzymes released by crops. These enzymes may shoot up, affecting the physiological and agronomic yield of both plants when grown side-by-side. However, the benefits of maximizing space and gaining profit are still higher, meaning they are technically compatible!
USDA Zones: 8-11
Benefits: Maximize land use, weed suppression, increase harvest
Eggplants
As a member of the tomato family, eggplant’s effects on the physiology of lettuce are still unknown. However, based on some gardener’s accounts and agronomic studies, their compatibility is unquestionable, with a greater economic advantage compared to monocropping.
USDA Zones: 9-12
Benefits: Maximize land use, weed suppression
Herbs
What to plant with lettuce to keep bugs away? Herbs are the shortest answer! Armed with their smelly arsenal, enjoy their free bug-busting services.
Onion
In a bed of lettuce plants, onions can be inserted in exposed spaces without harming the main crop! This is because they have limited root spread and relatively linear leaves, which virtually eliminate the problem of sun and space competition.
USDA Zones: 4-11
Benefits: Better pest resistance, can be planted in tight spaces
Dill
Dill closes the deal if he's asked to join your lettuce patch! This aromatic, minty herb is up for the game as it is ready to face various caterpillar species that can munch on your greens. Plus, the leaves of dill make a divine combination not only in the garden but also in your salad bowl. Yum!
USDA Zones: 2-11
Benefits: Better pest resistance, weed and root disease suppression
Cover Crops, Grains
As the name implies, these groups of plants are cultivated during the following period, keeping the soil at rest while being protected from eroding elements. Choose what suits you best with the following:
Clover
Clover plants are often grown as a pasteur crop intended for animal feed but can be incorporated in your lettuce garden! As it hugs to the ground it also keeps the soil structure intact, reducing erosion and water loss. Just keep about 2-inch (5 cm) of weeded space around your lettuce plants to spare it from strangulation.
USDA Zones: 3-10
Benefits: Conserves soil and water, prevents weed growth, free nitrogen
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is a grain crop mainly grown in poor soils. If you are dealing with acidic soils, this cover crop can be a good soil conditioner. If planted next to lettuce, ensure that a substantial gap is left around the plot to prevent the buckwheat from trespassing.
USDA Zones: 3-10
Benefits: Prevents weed growth, reduces nutrient leaching
Other Plants
Do you fancy incorporating other crops, such as root-forming ones? Consider the following list of romaine lettuce companion plants (and other varieties in general)!
Radish
If you have a bed of radish or lettuce, consider incorporating both plants, as they are both feasible in terms of yield and maximum land use. Studies show radish rows can be simultaneously grown with lettuce without affecting the above-ground parts, as long as deep watering is followed.
USDA Zones: 2-11
Benefits: Bigger and chunkier roots, efficient water use
Turnip
Turnip is one of the root crops that won’t mind the earthly presence of lettuce! Many gardeners prefer to pair them because of their similarity in terms of light and watering–an essential factor to look at with plant marriage. Moreover, it is an excellent way to diversify your crop and prolong the season until fall.
USDA Zones: 2-9
Benefits: Early-maturing, efficient land use, controls weeds
Best and Good Companion Plants for Lettuce by Spaces
Can you plant lettuce and spinach together? Technically, yes! Learn more below as we tackle the topic of garden combinations regarding the growing space!
Planted in Containers
- Spinach
- Coriander
- Chives
- Basil
- Arugula
Planted in Raised Beds
- Strawberries
- Carrots
- Beets
- Asparagus
- Parsnip
Grow Outdoors
- Nasturtium
- Chamomile
- Sweet Peas
- Corn
- Sunflower
Bad Companion Plant with Lettuce
You might have some dilemmas during this season, such as what not to plant with lettuce, or are they reconcilable with a particular crop. To answer your question, see the less ideal ones for planting.
Broccoli
Broccoli, belonging to the family of Brassicaceae, is an excellent garden veggie to add this season. However, if you plan to plant it next to lettuce, consider other options. We don't want to risk some losses with a mismatch!
Reasons to avoid: Exudes root substances that prevent lettuce germination.
Celery
Celery is a fragrant herb that can be used in many soup recipes. It can also be grown with lettuce because it can thwart pests. However, caution should be observed since its exudates can be phytotoxic to lettuce.
Reasons to avoid: Produces allelopathic substances that may hinder lettuce growth
Cabbage
Like broccoli and other brassicas, cabbage might be the easiest leafy vegetable to plant in your garden but it may leave some unseen damage, especially with the growth. We would choose not to plant cabbage with lettuce because of this mismatch.
Reasons to avoid: Produces root exudates that reduce lettuce growth
What to Plant with Lettuce to Keep Bugs Away?
Almost all lettuce companion plants already have an indirect mechanism to keep the bugs away. However, with the following list, they possess some intriguing features to repulse pests:
- Parsley – Parsley is a sweet herb perfect for garnishing food and growing in your backyard! Deep within the cells, it produces volatile organic compounds that repel agricultural pests and mosquitoes.
- Garlic – This smelly herb also uses a smelly tactic–using allicins and sulfur compounds that make the insects go packing! Plus, you can take advantage of its vertical leaves that won’t pop the personal bubble of your lettuce.
- Rosemary – While rosemary is endeared with its sweet, lovely smell, it is otherwise hated by bugs, including disease-carrying mosquitoes! Since rosemaries are perennials, plant them in the borders or pots where you intend to grow them permanently.
- Leeks – Hailing from the onion family, leeks also inherently possess some fragrant but pest-aversing smells, especially to aphids. They are slightly bigger than garlic or onion chives, so be sure to space it out a bit.
What Not to Do When Growing Lettuce?
After learning about lettuce companions, it is crucial to learn some gardening mistakes when growing this leafy veggie with other crops. Here are the things to avoid:
- Planting too close unless you want to harvest baby lettuce salads.
- Not trimming or staking vine plants.
- Watering on top, which can encourage mildew to grow.
- Starting too early in the season, making the lettuce more susceptible to frost and leaving companion plants alone through the cropping cycle.
- Not adding soil amendments like compost to improve soil nutrition and texture.
What to Avoid in Your Companion Planting with Lettuce?
When other plants are being grown, it is important to observe some gardening practices that reduce the damage to the already growing ones, such as the following:
- Avoid sowing or planting lettuce too close to a fully grown crop such as tomato or cucumber. It can damage their roots or compete with nutrients!
- Never leave your plant unmonitored. While pest infestation is reduced with companion plants for lettuce and other crops in general, pest surveillance is still important to prevent significant losses.
- Do not apply pesticides if you only see a few caterpillars or aphids to not harm the beneficial ones. Instead, opt for more environment-friendly ones like picking and pruning.
FAQ
Can You Plant Lettuce with Tomatoes?
Yes, nothing won't stop you from planting your favorite salad veggies! These plants may have a negative effect at their physiological level, but it is not that significant in relation to the benefits that you will gain.
Can You Plant Lettuce and Spinach Together?
Yes, both crops can be planted together in the same bed! They have the same shallow root system and relatively similar canopy, which is a positive sign that they won't cross each other's spaces and affect their growth.
Can You Plant Lettuce Next to Peppers?
Yes, considering pepper as your lettuce companion is feasible. Like tomatoes belonging to the same family, there is still a significant benefit of maximum land use, especially if you have only a limited backyard space.
Are Basil and Lettuce Companion Plants?
Yes, basil and lettuce are one of the classic garden pairs. Basil offers free bug control using its insect-repulsive smell, while tomatoes may offer partial shade to the main crop during harsh sunny days.
