The Ultimate Guide: Best Plants to Grow With Your Asparagus (And What to Avoid!)

A fresh stalk of asparagus is one of summers greatest pleasures, and that stalk arrived on your plate thanks to the hard work of a gardener and perfectly picked asparagus companion plants. When planted with strawberries, dill, tomatoes, eggplant, and even marigolds, asparagus grow stronger and faster than they would when left to fend for themselves.

Intentionally planting the right companion plants near asparagus means repelling harmful insects, preventing weeds from growing, putting nutrients into the soil, and—perhaps the best part—improving the flavor of your asparagus harvest.

Ready to level up your asparagus gardening plans this year? Here are 12 of the best asparagus companion plants.

12 Best Companion Plants for Asparagus

• 01 of 12
  

  Basil

  Credit: deepblue4you / Getty s Predatory wasps love to make their home near basil plants. And, while they may sound scary, predatory wasps will rid your garden of asparagus enemies, including aphids and beetles. Thats why basil and asparagus go together like two peas in a pod.

  • Name: Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Somewhat rich, well-draining
• 02 of 12
  

  Dill

  Credit: 2ndLookGraphics / Getty s Dill actually attracts bugs—but theyre bugs that devour asparagus-eating bugs. Lacewings and ladybugs both show up when dill plants are present, and they eat aphids, which attack asparagus.

  • Name: Dill (Anethum graveolens)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Rich, well-drained
• 03 of 12
  

  Marigold

  Credit: wulingyun / Getty s Pops of warm, bright color cover the ground when marigolds are planted near asparagus. But theyre more than a pretty addition: these vibrant flowers repel some of asparaguss most ferocious enemies, including aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes.

  • Name: Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Evenly moist, well-drained
• 04 of 12
  

  Parsley

  Credit: Priscila Zambotto / Getty s If you want the best tasting asparagus possible, plant parsley near your plants. This fragrant herb is high in nitrogen, which not only helps the asparagus grow, but it also gives it a more robust, improved flavor.

  • Name: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
  • Light: Full sun, light shade
  • Soil: Consistently moist but well-drained

  Continue to 5 of 12 below

• 05 of 12
  

  Strawberries

  Credit: Jacky Parker Photography / Getty s Strawberry plants creep along the ground with shallow root systems. As they cover the soil, they provide ground cover that helps asparagus grow. They keep weeds at bay while helping trap moisture in the soil.

  • Name: Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, rich, well-drained
• 06 of 12
  

  Nasturtium

  Credit: Nadya So / Getty s The vibrant color and strong, floral scent of nasturtium are gorgeous in a garden, but thats not the only reason theyre an excellent plant to add to your bed of asparagus. Their fragrance repels asparagus beetles.

  • Name: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Acidic, well-drained
• 07 of 12
  

  Peas

  Credit: Ben Monk / Getty s Peas grow well as a companion plant for asparagus, helping to maintain the moisture in the soil and keep it at the level that asparagus plants prefer for optimal growth.

  • Name: Pea (Pisum sativum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Moist, neutral

  Tip

  While peas fall into the legume family and are an excellent companion plant for asparagus, not all legumes are created equal. Beans, also a legume, are a poor companion for asparagus.

• 08 of 12
  

  Eggplant

  Credit: Juana Mari Moya / Getty s While asparagus and eggplant may be two favorite summer vegetables, they couldnt be more different in the nutrients that fuel them. Thats why they make for excellent companion plants. Additionally, asparagus keeps away the nematodes that will ravage eggplants.

  • Name: Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-12
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-drained

  Continue to 9 of 12 below

• 09 of 12
  

  Tomato

  Credit: Esin Deniz / Getty s Tomatoes and asparagus know exactly how to defend each other from their worst enemies. Tomatoes repel asparagus beetles, while asparagus repel tomato-destroying nematodes.

  • Name: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-10
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• 10 of 12
  

  Lettuce

  Credit: Anna Mardo / Getty s Lettuce thrives in cooler temperatures than asparagus, which is exactly why they work as companion plants. Asparaguss tall silhouette will help shade the low-growing lettuce, helping it stay cool on hot days. It will also serve as an excellent ground cover, insulating the soil and preventing moisture from evaporating.

  • Name: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun, partial sun
  • Soil: Loamy, rich, well-drained
• 11 of 12
  

  Spinach

  Credit: JackF / Getty s Spinach plants grow in neat rows and keep to themselves, which makes them an excellent companion plant for asparagus. They also dont compete for nutrients in the soil—its as if the asparagus wont even know theyre there.

  • Name: Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun, partial sun
  • Soil: Loamy, moist, well-drained
• 12 of 12
  

  Cilantro

  Credit: Adrian Crook / Getty s Cilantro and asparagus have opposing growth habits, with cilantro having a low profile and shallow roots and asparagus growing taller and deeper into the soil. That makes them the perfect companions for a garden. Plus, cilantros flowers attract beneficial insects.

  • Name: Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
  • Light: Full sun, partial sun
  • Soil: Moderately moist, well-drained

companion planting asparagus

FAQ

What should you not plant next to asparagus?

• #1: Allium Family (onion, garlic leeks, shallots, chives)
• #2: Potatoes
• #3: Carrots

What pairs well with asparagus in the garden?

• Tomatoes. Tomatoes are among the top companions for asparagus due to the mutually beneficial relationship they share. …
• Basil. …
• Parsley and Dill. …
• Marigolds and Nasturtiums. …
• Strawberries. …
• Carrots. …
• Cucumbers. …
• Alliums (Onions, Garlic, Leeks)

What do you put around asparagus?

Some suitable types of mulch for asparagus include well-rotted manure, compost, leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, straw, hay, bark mulch, and bark chippings. Don’t use landscape fabric or black plastic, which traps asparagus shoots, and don’t use grass clippings that have been sprayed with broadleaf herbicides.

Does asparagus like sun or shade?