Steve Yoder
I'm Steve, a 30-something urban gardener fascinated by companion planting research. Growing up surrounded by greenery sparked my passion for gardening early on. I enjoy transforming my small backyard, experimenting with companion planting techniques and eco-friendly practices. Sustainability matters—I advocate for native plants and composting.
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If you enjoy the tart, tangy flavor of rhubarb, you’ll be glad to know that it has some wonderful garden companions that you can grow with it. These plants not only brighten up your garden and offer some flavor, but they also help keep pests and illnesses at bay. In this post we will show you the top 8 rhubarb companion plants and 5 you should avoid.
The Best 8 Rhubarb Companion Plants
There are several plants that can be excellent rhubarb companion plants, offering advantages including pest control, improved soil, and natural trellising. The best eight rhubarb companion plants—strawberries, chives, garlic, beans, marigolds, catnip, nasturtiums, and peppers—will be discussed in this article. You can foster a fruitful and healthy environment for your rhubarb plants and reap a plentiful crop by including these plants in your garden. Let’s have a look at the best rhubarb companion plants:
Strawberries
Let us start the list of the best rhubarb companion plants with strawberries! While strawberries are a low-growing plant that prefers somewhat acidic soils, rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that thrives in acidic conditions. Rhubarb and strawberries support each other’s nutritional requirements when grown together since rhubarb requires a lot of potassium and strawberries require more nitrogen1. Additionally, the rhubarb plant’s leaves can shade the strawberries and maintain wet soil.
To learn more about strawberry companion plants also see:
Chives
Because they need similar types of soil and because chives can help the rhubarb plant attract pollinators and deter pests, chives, and rhubarb make wonderful companion plants. To prevent rivalry for nutrients and space, plant them in different rows or containers. If you follow these hints – congratulations you won another member of great Rhubarb companion plants!
Of course, the gardenhousing team also prepared a list of the best chives companion plants – check the article: 4 Best & 4 Bad Chives Companion Plants
Nasturtiums
Continuing the members of the best rhubarb companion plants we make a stop at a very special plant! Nasturtiums and rhubarb can form a great combo when it comes to companion planting. While rhubarb is an acidic and tart vegetable, nasturtiums are famous for their spicy, delicious blooms. They not only complement one another in terms of flavor, but when grown together, they can also offer a number of advantages. Nasturtiums, for instance, can deter pests like aphids, cucumber beetles, and whiteflies that harm rhubarb plants. They may also attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which can suppress other pests.
While nasturtiums‘ thick roots help loosen compacted soil and fix nitrogen, rhubarb can boost soil health by providing shade and preserving soil moisture. By planting them together, you can enjoy a beautiful and productive garden full of tasty vegetables and edible flowers.
We have an amazing list of nasturtium companion plants! Check it out:
Catnip
Rhubarb and catnip are excellent garden companions. The capacity of catnip to deter pests like aphids, flea beetles, and squash bugs can aid in rhubarb’s defense against harm. Additionally, because of their various root depths, they may cohabit without vying with one another for water and nutrients, enhancing the health of the soil. To avoid competition for resources, make sure to put them far enough apart to allow for adequate growth. With the right maintenance, you can have a flourishing garden with tasty rhubarb and content cats. These facts allows catnip to be part of the best rhubarb companion plants!
Marigolds
Marigolds are the next members of our list of the best rhubarb companion plants! Marigolds attract helpful insects that can help manage pests, while the rhubarb roots are protected by the roots of marigolds from destructive nematodes. Rhubarb also provides shade for marigolds, preserving soil moisture for their thin roots. You can have a lovely and fruitful garden with little work because both plants are quite simple to establish and maintain.
To avoid competition for resources, just be sure to put them far enough apart so they have room to thrive. If you take good care of your garden, it will flourish and produce delicious rhubarb and lovely marigolds.
More information about marigold companion plants is in the article below:
Peppers
Peppers are also excellent rhubarb companion plants. Rhubarb protects pepper plants’ soil moisture and provides shade, and its powerful aroma deters pests. Additionally, because of their various root depths, they can survive without vying for the same nutrients. With the right maintenance, you may have a prolific garden that produces tasty peppers and tart rhubarb.
Pepper is a friendly plant which makes it a great companion when it comes to gardening:
Spinach
Good rhubarb companion plants also include spinach! As a cool-season food, spinach thrives in the shade that the tall rhubarb plants provide. Rhubarb will additionally supply spinach with nutrients and help maintain soil moisture. With the right maintenance, you can have a thriving garden that produces tasty spinach and tart rhubarb.
Spinach is very popular and probably the most common plant in hobby gardens! This is why it is very important to know what to grow next to it. Check out the article for all details:
Asparagus
The list of the best rhubarb companion plants comes to an end and we finish with asparagus! In your garden, rhubarb and asparagus make wonderful allies. Perennial vegetables like asparagus profit from the shade that the tall rhubarb plants offer. Additionally, rhubarb helps nourish the asparagus and preserve soil moisture. Both plants can coexist without competing for resources because they require little upkeep. With the right maintenance, you can have a thriving garden that produces tasty rhubarb and asparagus.
Also see: Asparagus Companion Plants – Together Stronger?
What Not to Plant with Rhubarb
Attention! There are also a few plants that are bad rhubarb companions plants. Keep these 5 plants far away from your rhubarb patch:
Brassicas
Plants in the cabbage family, like broccoli and cauliflower, can attract pests like cabbage worms that will also munch on your rhubarb. Avoid choosing them as rhubarb companion plants!
Garlic
Rhubarb and garlic are typically not thought of as ideal companion plants. They don’t specifically benefit each other.
Liking various types of soil, garlic and rhubarb are not the best of friends. Garlic prefers a more alkaline soil, but rhubarb prefers a slightly acidic environment. Furthermore, rhubarb has deep roots, whereas garlic has shallow roots. If planted too closely together, they could compete with one another for nutrients and water.
Additionally, growing garlic close to rhubarb can alter its flavor. The smell and perfume of garlic are powerful and may spread to neighboring plants, including rhubarb. While this may not be a concern for everyone, it is something to keep in mind if you are growing rhubarb for its distinct tart flavor.
Beans
Beans require various types of soil and growing conditions and have different growth tendencies. Beans and rhubarb are not suitable companion plants. It is also challenging to give adequate room for both plants in the same garden bed. To avoid competition, it is advised to grow them separately.
Nightshades
Plants like tomatoes and potatoes are susceptible to the same diseases as rhubarb, so it’s best to keep them separate. Otherwise they will harm your whole garden!
Walnuts
Let’s finish the bad rhubarb companion plants with a nut! Walnut trees and other juglone-producing plants can release a toxin into the soil that harms or kill rhubarb and other sensitive plants. So make sure to keep them far away.
Of course, we do not want to finish the article with negative and bad companions! Here is a list of the bad for rhubarb – but great for other plants companions:
References
- Wojdyło, A., Oszmiański, J., & Bober, I. (2008). The effect of addition of chokeberry, flowering quince fruits and rhubarb juice to strawberry jams on their polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and colour. European Food Research and Technology, 227(4), 1043-1051.