Companion planting for mustard is an experience-based observation developed over centuries. People have noticed that planting certain plants side by side has a positive effect on each other, increasing the quality and quantity of the harvest.
Companion planting is not set in stone and it is the least you can do for your plants. You can get the right care from the individual plant article. You can see the companion and the enemy plants of mustard below.
| Companion plants for mustard | Enemy plants of mustard |
|---|---|
| Yarrow | Beans |
| Dill | Strawberry |
| Mint | Eggplant |
| Celery | Tomato |
| Chamomile | Corn |
| Garlic | |
| Onion |
Why does companion planting work?
Companion planting works due to several interconnected factors:
Pest Control: Certain plants emit natural chemicals or scents that repel pests, effectively acting as natural pest deterrents for nearby plants. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fosters a more balanced ecosystem.
Attracting Beneficial Insects: Some companion plants attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, hoverflies, and predatory wasps, which feed on common garden pests. This creates a natural form of pest control and helps maintain ecological balance.
Soil Improvement: Different plants have varying root structures and nutrient requirements. Companion planting can enhance soil health by reducing soil erosion, suppressing weeds, and improving nutrient uptake. For example, leguminous plants fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting neighboring plants that require nitrogen for growth.
Competition Reduction: Companion planting can help reduce competition for resources such as water, sunlight, and nutrients by utilizing plants with complementary growth patterns and root structures. This allows for more efficient resource utilization and healthier plant growth.
Biodiversity and Resilience: Planting diverse species together increases biodiversity in the garden, which can enhance ecosystem resilience. A diverse ecosystem is better equipped to withstand pests, diseases, and environmental stresses compared to monocultures.
Maximizing Space: Companion planting allows gardeners to make the most of limited space by intercropping plants with different growth habits and maturity rates. This maximizes yield per square foot and promotes efficient land use.
Overall, companion planting capitalizes on the natural synergies between plant species, creating a thriving and sustainable garden ecosystem.
What are the companion plants of mustard?
The following plants have positive effects on the growth of your mustard. These plants can repel pests that damage your plants. These plants provide increased nutrition to the soil that your plants can use. Therefore, we recommend planting these plants next to your mustard.
Yarrow
Yarrow grows in well-drained, sandy or loamy soil with a pH range between 5.5 and 7.0. Full sunlight and moderate moisture nurture its delicate flowers and fern-like foliage. Yarrow provides invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by attracting pollinators, repelling pests.
Pest Protection: Mustard can attract pests like aphids and flea beetles, which damage its leaves. Yarrow steps in by drawing in helpful insects like ladybugs and lacewings. These beneficial bugs love to snack on aphids, keeping mustard safe. With fewer pests around, mustard’s leaves stay healthy and strong, making it a better crop for you.
Pollinator Attractor: Yarrow’s flowers also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which help boost the health of your garden overall.
Dill
Dill thrives in various soil types. Flourishing in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil under the gentle caress of sunlight, it embodies adaptability and elegance. Consistent moisture and occasional pruning support lush growth and abundant foliage. Dill offers general benefits to neighboring plants by attracting beneficial insects and enhancing overall garden biodiversity.
Dill is a great companion plant for mustard because it attracts helpful insects like ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewings. These insects eat pests like aphids and cabbage worms, which often attack mustard and other cole crops.
By planting more dill every three weeks, it keeps growing all summer, even when mustard takes a break in the heat. In late summer and fall, the two plants make a perfect team again. By the end of the season, you can use dill seeds for pickling and its greens for freezing.
Mint
Mint thrives in various soil conditions. Flourishing in well-drained, moist soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0. Partial shade and consistent moisture nurture its lush foliage and aromatic leaves. Mint provides invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, and promoting a sense of freshness in the garden.
Natural Pest Fighter: Mint has a strong scent that repels flea beetles, a common pest that can damage mustard leaves. By planting mint near mustard, you create a natural barrier that keeps these pests away. With mint protecting your mustard, you don’t need to rely on sprays or other pest controls, making your garden healthier and more eco-friendly.
Easy to Grow Together: Both plants are hardy and grow well in similar conditions, like moist soil and plenty of sunlight.
Celery
Celery flourishes in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil infused with organic matter. Consistent moisture and sunlight support robust growth and vibrant foliage. Celery contributes to the overall health of neighboring plants by improving soil structure, enhancing water retention, and fostering beneficial microbial activity. Belonging to the Apiaceae family, alongside esteemed companions like parsley and carrots, celery symbolizes the natural vitality and elegance found within the garden's embrace.
Flavor Boost: Many gardeners believe that growing celery near mustard improves the mustard’s flavor. While it’s not scientifically proven, it’s a long-standing garden tradition worth trying!
Space Saver: Celery grows upright and doesn’t take up much space, making it a great choice for small gardens. You can plant it close to mustard without overcrowding.
Both plants grow well in similar conditions, like moist, nutrient-rich soil, so they thrive side by side.
Chamomile
Chamomile thrives in diverse growing conditions. Flourishing in well-drained, loamy soil under gentle sunlight, it embodies adaptability and calmness. Consistent moisture and occasional pruning support lush growth and abundant flowering. Chamomile offers general benefits to neighboring plants by attracting beneficial insects, such as pollinators, and enhancing overall biodiversity.
Chamomile’s delicate flowers and mustard’s leafy greens make a pretty and practical pair, thriving in similar conditions like full sun and well-drained soil.
Pest Protection: Chamomile helps repel common mustard pests like whiteflies, keeping the plant healthier and free from damage.
Attracts Helpful Bugs: Both German and Roman chamomile bring in beneficial insects like hoverflies and ladybugs. These insects feed on aphids, protecting mustard plants from one of their biggest threats.
Garlic
Garlic flourishes in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.5, it embodies adaptability and strength. Adequate sunlight and consistent moisture support robust growth and bulb development. Garlic provides invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by deterring pests with its strong aroma and acting as a natural fungicide against soil-borne diseases.
Pest Control: Garlic naturally repels pests like aphids, which are a common problem for mustard. The sulfur in garlic acts as a natural fungicide, keeping your mustard plants safe from bugs and disease.
Healthy Growth: Garlic helps keep your mustard healthy by reducing pest pressure, allowing it to grow strong and thrive without damage.
Easy to Grow Together: Both garlic and mustard grow well in similar conditions, like full sun and well-drained soil. They make a great pair in the garden!
Onion
Onions thrive in various soil conditions. Flourishing in well-drained, fertile soil—preferably loamy or sandy—with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0. Partial sunlight and consistent moisture nurture their hearty foliage and bulb formation. Onions provide invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by deterring pests with their strong aroma and improving soil structure with their fibrous roots.
Pest Protection: Onions help repel pests like cabbage worms and cabbage loopers, which often damage mustard greens. This keeps your mustard plants safer and healthier. Like garlic and celery, onions have natural pest-repelling properties, making them a solid choice to protect your crops without chemicals.
Shared Growing Needs: Onions and mustard thrive in similar conditions, like well-drained soil and full sun, so they make a great team in the garden.
What are the enemy plants of mustard?
Planting these plants next to mustard has a huge negative effect on the development of your plant. Growing enemy plants can appeal detrimental insects, change the taste of the grown plant and even consuming all of the nutrients and water from your mustard. Because of these negative effects, we don’t recomment growing the plants below next to your mustard.
Beans
Beans are thriving in well-drained soil and basking in ample sunlight, these leguminous wonders enrich the soil with nitrogen, enhancing the vitality of their botanical companions. As stalwart providers of sustenance and greenery, beans epitomize the essence of garden bounty and vitality.
Risk of Disease: Beans are prone to mold and mildew, and these infections can spread to mustard plants nearby. For example, a fungus that affects beans can also move through the soil and harm mustard, leading to problems like white mold.
Spread of Infections: The fungus that causes issues in beans can travel to mustard through the soil, so keeping them a little farther apart can help prevent this.
While some gardeners have had success growing beans and mustard together, others recommend spacing them out to avoid disease problems.
Strawberry
Strawberries grow in loamy soil with a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5. Full sunlight and consistent moisture nurture their delicate fruits and lush foliage. Strawberries provide invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by attracting pollinators, suppressing weed growth with their dense foliage.
Space Competition: Strawberries and mustard both need space to grow, but strawberries spread out and can take up a lot of room on the ground. This could crowd your mustard plants, limiting their space to grow and access sunlight.
Different Growing Needs: Strawberries prefer slightly acidic soil, while mustard thrives in more neutral soil. This difference in soil preferences can make it harder for both plants to grow at their best if planted too close.
Pest Issues: Strawberries can attract pests like slugs and snails, which may also go after mustard. Having them close together could increase the risk of pests spreading.
Eggplant
Eggplant thrives in well-drained, loamy soil under the nurturing warmth of sunlight. Flourishing in fertile earth enriched with organic matter, it embodies resilience and grandeur. Consistent moisture and adequate spacing support robust growth and prolific fruiting. Eggplant provides general benefits to neighboring plants by shading the soil, reducing weed growth, and promoting overall garden health.
Disease Risk: Like tomatoes, eggplants are part of the nightshade family and can carry verticillium wilt, a disease that can spread to mustard plants. If they’re planted too close together, this disease can quickly harm your mustard crop.
Even though eggplants might not show signs of wilt as quickly as mustard, the disease can still pass through the soil and infect mustard plants, potentially ruining your harvest.
To keep mustard healthy, it’s best to plant eggplants away from mustard, giving both plants more space to thrive without risk of disease.
Tomato
Tomatoes thrive in various soil conditions. Flourishing fertile soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0. Full sunlight and consistent moisture nurture their sprawling vines and abundant fruiting. Tomatoes provide invaluable benefits to neighboring plants by attracting pollinators, suppressing weed growth with their dense foliage, and adding richness to culinary dishes.
Disease Spread: Tomatoes, like other nightshades, can carry a disease called verticillium wilt. If mustard plants are too close to tomatoes, the wilt can spread quickly, potentially ruining your entire mustard crop.
While tomatoes might take longer to show signs of wilt, they can pass the infection to mustard plants fast.
To avoid this, it’s best to plant tomatoes and mustard far apart from each other. If you do grow nightshades like tomatoes, look for varieties that resist verticillium wilt to protect your mustard.
Corn
Corn thrives in rich, well-drained soil under the nurturing warmth of sunlight. Flourishing in fertile earth enriched with organic matter, it embodies resilience and vitality. Consistent moisture and adequate spacing support robust growth and prolific tasseling. Corn provides general benefits to neighboring plants by shading the soil, reducing weed growth, and promoting overall garden health.
Sunlight Competition: Corn grows tall and can block sunlight from reaching mustard plants. Mustard needs plenty of sunlight to grow well, and too much shade can slow its growth.
Nutrient Competition: Corn is a heavy feeder, meaning it takes a lot of nutrients from the soil. This can leave mustard with less of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Different Growing Needs: Corn thrives in warm weather, while mustard prefers cooler conditions. Planting them together may not align with their ideal growing times.
For a thriving garden, it’s better to plant mustard with companions that have similar needs and won’t compete for light and nutrients.
