How to Plan Your Garden Beds for Spring with Companion Planting!

Spring is one of the most exciting times for gardeners! A well-planned garden leads to a more productive and beautiful space, ensuring that every plant has the best conditions to thrive. Here’s how I like to plan my garden beds for spring.

(FREE DOWNLOAD CHEAT SHEET HERE!)

Step 1: Make a List of What You Want to Grow

Before you start digging, take a moment to list all the vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want to grow. Think about:

• What your family loves to eat

• What grows well in your climate

• Companion planting (more on this later!)

• Succession planting for extended harvests

Step 2: Draw a Plot of Your Garden Beds

I like to sketch out my raised beds on paper. This helps me visualize spacing and layout before I start planting. (Free download below). Things to consider:

• Taller plants should go on the north side to prevent shading smaller crops

• Consider plant spacing to avoid overcrowding

• Think about Companion Plants

Step 3: Print and Finalize Your Garden Plan

Once I have my layout finalized, I print it and keep it in my garden journal. This makes planting day a breeze! A solid plan helps you stay organized, ensures you buy (or grow) the right plants, prevents wasted space, and ensures the best growing conditions for all your plants.

A well-planned garden is the first step toward a successful growing season. But to make it even better, consider companion planting!

Companion Planting: The Perfect Pairings for a Thriving Garden

Companion planting goes hand in hand with garden planning. By strategically placing plants together, you can enhance growth, deter pests, and improve yields. Here are my top five plants for companion planting and their best/worst partners (WITH FREE DOWNLOAD CHEAT SHEET BELOW).

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes thrive when paired with basil, marigolds, and carrots. Basil helps repel pests like aphids and improves tomato flavor, while marigolds deter nematodes.

❌ Avoid Planting Near:

• Cabbage family (competes for nutrients)

• Corn (both attract similar pests)

2. Peppers

Peppers do well with onions, basil, and spinach. Onions help deter aphids, while basil enhances flavor and repels pests like thrips.

❌ Avoid Planting Near:

• Beans (can stunt pepper growth)

3. Zucchini

Plant zucchini near nasturtiums, beans, and radishes. Nasturtiums repel squash bugs, beans provide nitrogen, and radishes deter pests like cucumber beetles.

❌ Avoid Planting Near:

• Potatoes (competes for nutrients)

4. Lettuce & Greens

Lettuce grows well alongside carrots, radishes, and chives. These companions help maximize space and deter common pests like aphids.

❌ Avoid Planting Near:

• Broccoli (competes for nutrients and space)

5. Cucumbers

Cucumbers pair well with dill, beans, and sunflowers. Dill attracts beneficial insects, beans add nitrogen to the soil, and sunflowers provide shade for tender cucumber vines.

❌ Avoid Planting Near:

• Potatoes (both are prone to similar pests)

By incorporating companion planting into your garden plan, you can create a more resilient and productive garden while reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers. Happy planting!

Download This Free Garden Planner with Companion Planting Cheat Sheet!