8 Best Zucchini Companion Plants & Herbs (+ 4 Bad Companions)

Zucchini is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in your garden. It loves to have neighbors, so it is important to know zucchini companion plants. It’s also an annual. That means that you have to plant it every year and it produces fruit within 3 months of planting. The plant itself has a bush-like structure. You can plant several zucchinis together in one area and they’ll create shade for each other. Here is some more information about this incredible plant and zucchini companion plants.

Zucchini in a Nutshell

The large yellow flowers open into star-shaped pods. Zucchinis are monoecious. This means that both male and female flowers appear on a single plant. Male flowers are on a thin, long stem. Female flowers have only short stalks. They remain in many varieties and also remain attached to the ripening fruit for some time.

Zucchinis are heavy growers and so need a good supply of nutrients. When preparing the bed, you should take three to five liters of mature compost per square meter flat into the topsoil¹. A weekly dose of nettle manure in the irrigation water is very important. It strengthens the leaves and ensures the supply of nutrients – especially in the growth phase.

Besides, it is important to water the cucurbits often. Best, in the morning hours – as a lack of water can lead to the deformation of the fruit and a bitter taste. Until the plants shade the ground, you should loosen the soil in short time gaps.

Best Zucchini Companion Plants

• Radishes
• Squash
• Garlic
• Beans
• Capuchin Cresses
• Marigold
• Basil
• Parsley

Radishes & Squash as Zucchini Companion Plants

Radishes are often considered the workhorse of the garden. They are small plants that are easy to plant in zucchini plants. These zucchini companion plants for summer help repel common zucchini pests. These are aphids, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and others. The same is for squash! Of course, radishes are tasty. If you stay strong and don’t eat them you can also profit. They will help your zucchini more if you allow some plants to flower and set seeds.

Here your get more information about: Squash Companion Plants – 10 Best and 4 Bad

Garlic & Zucchini

A few garlic plants between zucchini can help keep aphids and other pests away.

Beans and Peas

Beans and peas – Zucchini plants are heavy feeders and legumes are beneficial. The roots fix nitrogen in the soil. Any type of legume works. My suggestion is to train pole beans to grow a trellis, saving valuable garden space.

For more information about beans companion plants – check this out: Beans Companion Plants – Which Ones Should be Chosen?

Capuchin Cresses and Marigolds as Companions to Zucchini

Capuchin Cresses and Marigolds – Easy-to-grow annual! Capuchin cresses and marigolds add color and beauty to the garden, but that’s not all. Nasturtiums attract pests like aphids and flea beetles. This means pests are more likely to leave your zucchini alone. Try planting nasturtium seeds around the perimeter of your zucchini patch. Marigolds planted near zucchini emit an aroma that pests don’t like and can be useful for discouraging nematodes. Both flowering plants attract bees that need zucchini plants for pollination.

Also look at: Marigold Companion Plants – Definition of Beauty

Basil & Parsley

Plant zucchini alongside summer herbs like basil and parsley. Their aromatic properties will help mask the smell of a growing zucchini plant. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the soil you’re placing your plants in is rich in nutrients. This will help them grow strong and healthy.

You find basil companion plants here: Basil Companion Plants – Choosing the Right Companions

As with any type of plant, it’s important not to overcrowd your garden! This leads to disease or nutrient deficiency issues down the road.

Herbs as Zucchini Companion Plants

Several herbs are suitable as zucchini companion plants. For example, the following herbs can help keep pests away:

• Peppermint
• Dill
• Oregano
• Catnip
• Lemon balm
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Parsley

Get more information about mint companion plants: Mint Companion Plants – Do They Even Exist?

Bad Zucchini Companion Plants

There are not only good neighbors for zucchini but also bad neighbors. Sometimes mixed cultures harm more than help the plant. As already noted, zucchini is a heavy consumer. It extracts extremely high amounts of nutrients from the soil. Also, high watering is necessary. In short, zucchini does not get along well with plants that need the same affection. These are: 

• Tomatoes 
• Potatoes 
• Eggplants 
• Peppers

Eggplant companion plants can be found here: 9 Eggplant Companion Plants for Better Growth

References

1. Bucki, P., Regdos, K., Siwek, P., Domagała-Świątkiewicz, I., & Kaszycki, P. (2021). Impact of soil management practices on yield quality, weed infestation and soil microbiota abundance in organic zucchini production. Scientia Horticulturae, 281, 109989.