Spinach is a cold-tolerant plant that grows best in spring and fall, and bolts in the summer heat. However, there are plenty of heat-tolerant vegetables, herbs, and flowers that can be planted alongside spinach to keep veggie beds productive through summer and boost harvest yields. Best of all, many of these spinach companion plants also repel pests and can help protect spinach leaves from damage.
Spinach is a cool weather crop that is fast growing and nutrient dense It can be harvested multiple times throughout the season by pinching off outer leaves, making it a productive addition to any vegetable garden. While spinach itself is relatively easy to grow, you can boost yields and get even more out of your garden space by companion planting
Certain vegetables, herbs, and flowers make excellent companions for spinach based on their growth habits and ability to enhance growth. Here are some of the best companion plants for spinach and how they create a symbiotic relationship.
Vegetables that Grow Well with Spinach
Several vegetable companions can maximize the productivity of your garden beds by utilizing vertical and horizontal space efficiently
Peas
Planting peas near spinach is mutually beneficial. As a legume, peas fix nitrogen in the soil which gives spinach an extra growth boost. The vining growth habit of peas also provides dappled shade that protects spinach from late spring heat and prevents bolting.
Lettuce
Lettuce and spinach have similar light, soil, and water needs so they thrive when planted side by side. Their shallow root systems don’t compete for resources either. You can interplant them for an extra early spring or fall harvest.
Radishes
Quick growing radishes help break up compacted soil and improve aeration around spinach roots. Their rapid growth also allows you to make use of space while waiting for the spinach to mature.
Beets
Beets and spinach can be seeded at the same time in early spring or fall since they share preferences for cool weather and moist soil. Their foliage grows at a similar height without competing for light or root space.
Broccoli
When broccoli transplants are still small in spring, they leave plenty of space to scatter spinach seeds nearby. By the time the broccoli grows large, the spinach will be ready to harvest.
Kale
Kale and spinach are both cold hardy plants that don’t compete for resources. Kale leaves also provide shade to keep soil cool and moist for spinach during warmer weather.
Herbs for Companion Planting with Spinach
Herbs that complement spinach can be harvested fresh for kitchen use while also repelling pests and attracting pollinators.
Dill
Dill has a reputation for improving the vigor and enhancing the flavor of its companions. It also attracts predatory insects that help control spinach pests.
Cilantro
Cilantro germinates well in cool weather and its flowers support beneficial predator insects. It adds a fresh flavor when paired with spinach in recipes too.
Chives
Onions and chives ward off insects with their strong scent. Chives also have an ornamental quality and make a pretty border planting.
Borage
The star-shaped flowers of borage attract pollinators while repelling pests like worms and slugs that can damage spinach.
Parsley
The moderate height of parsley complements spinach without shading it out. Its aroma masks the scent of spinach to pests.
Flowers to Grow with Spinach
Blooming companion plants beautify the spinach garden while providing ecological services like pest control.
Marigolds
Marigolds have natural nematicide activity in their roots which protects against parasitic roundworms that affect spinach roots.
Nasturtiums
With their trailing habit, nasturtiums are ideal for planting along the border of spinach beds. Their pungent aroma deters aphids and whiteflies.
Calendula
The bright orange blossoms of calendula repel rabbits, aphids, and flea beetles that can plague spinach plantings.
Sweet Alyssum
Alyssum attracts lacewings, ladybugs, hover flies and other beneficial insects that prey on spinach pests like aphids.
Sunflowers
Low growing sunflowers provide afternoon shade for spinach during hot spells, helping prevent bolting.
What to Avoid Planting with Spinach
While most garden plants can be successfully combined with spinach through proper spacing and timing, there are a few exceptions that are best avoided:
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Strawberries – These prefer more acidic soil compared to spinach’s preference for slightly alkaline conditions.
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Potatoes – As heavy feeders, potatoes can deprive spinach of nutrients.
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Legumes like beans – Too much soil nitrogen from legumes leads to leafy growth over root development in spinach.
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Corn – Being a heavy feeder, corn competes with spinach for soil resources.
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Mint – Invasive mint roots will take over space meant for spinach.
By understanding the ideal growing conditions for spinach and selecting companion plants that enhance those, you can create a productive polyculture garden. Thoughtful companion planting boosts yields, improves pest management, and allows you to make the most of your planting space when growing spinach.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is a simple gardening technique where you plant plants that support each other’s growth close together. Some companion plants may repel pests or attract predatory insects that devour destructive bugs, while other companion plants may provide shade, attract pollinators, or offer other benefits.
If you want to grow healthier and more productive spinach plants, here are a few companion plant pairings to try.
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Strawberries
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Credit: Westend61 / Getty s Strawberries and spinach are often paired together in salads, but they may great partners in gardens, too. These plants both thrive in cool weather and rich soil, and strawberry flowers attract hoverflies that feed on spinach pests. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! - 02 of 15
Legumes
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Credit: Jenny Dettrick / Getty s Beans, peas, and other legumes are famous for their nitrogen-fixing roots that naturally enrich soils. Keeping these plants near spinach can provide more nutrients to spinach plants, while trellised beans may also protect heat-sensitive spinach from intense sun. - 03 of 15
Oregano
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Credit: annick vanderschelden photography / Getty s Strongly-scented oregano plants can repel pests from spinach, and oregano flowers are highly attractive to predatory insects, too. If you’ve struggled with pests like aphids in the past, growing spinach near oregano may help. - 04 of 15
Alliums
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Credit: DaveAlan / Getty s Like oregano, alliums repulse a range of spinach pests, including hungry slugs that decimate spinach leaves. Leeks, onions, chives, garlic, and scallions are also harvested long after spinach, so interplanting spinach and alliums can maximize garden space. Continue to 5 of 15 below - 05 of 15
Root Vegetables
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Many Color Carrots. Credit: Allison Achauer / Getty s Carrots, beets, parsnips, and spinach all love cool weather and rich soil, and they thrive in spring or fall. Plus, root veggies do most of their growing underground, which means they won’t compete with spinach for space or light. - 06 of 15
Marigolds
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Credit: Lex20 / iStock / Getty s Marigolds are commonly grown for their pest-repelling properties, but these plants are even better at attracting hoverflies and other beneficial bugs. Not to mention, marigolds add a pop of color to veggie gardens and grow well in pots or larger beds. - 07 of 15
Tomatoes
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Credit: Helios4Eos / Getty Spinach doesn’t tolerate hot weather, bolting as soon as temperatures rise in summer. But if you succession plant spinach with heat-tolerant tomatoes you can get more veggies out of your garden, and your soil won’t sit empty. - 08 of 15
Cilantro
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Credit: Nungning20 / Getty s Cilantro has similar growing needs to spinach and it craves cool weather and regular watering. Although spinach and cilantro both bolt in summer, you can plant a second crop of spinach and cilantro in late summer and harvest these cold hardy crops into fall. Continue to 9 of 15 below - 09 of 15
Nasturtiums
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Credit: Nadya So / Getty s Another pest-repelling flower, nasturtiums distract aphids and whiteflies, and attract predatory insects that feed on garden plants. Mounding nasturtiums are usually best for companion planting, while trailing nasturtiums may crowd out spinach. - 10 of 15
Brassicas
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Credit: Barbara Rich / Getty s Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radishes, and kale are just a few brassica plants that grow well with spinach. Brassicas all thrive in cool weather and moist, rich soil and they’re commonly grown under row covers, which can keep pests away from spinach plants, too, making them great companions. - 11 of 15
Eggplants
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Credit: RuudMorijn / Getty s As with tomatoes, eggplants do most of their growing in summer and they can be succession planted with spinach to boost garden yields. Planting spinach under taller eggplants should also provide spinach with light shade and delay bolting. - 12 of 15
Rosemary
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Credit: Jasenka Arbanas / Getty s Slugs and other garden pests hate the scent of rosemary, and growing this fragrant herb near spinach can shield its leaves from pests. However, rosemary prefers drier soil than spinach, so you may want to grow it in pots near your veggie beds. Continue to 13 of 15 below - 13 of 15
Lettuce
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Credit: Kodiak Greenwood / Getty s Most lettuce varieties grow best in cool weather and they have similar needs to spinach. Growing these two plants together is an easy way to add more color to your garden and get a mix of tasty greens for fresh salads. - 14 of 15
Dill
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Credit: Oxana Medvedeva / Getty s Dill prefers cooler weather and it’s usually planted in spring or fall, just like spinach. Dill plants also loves moist soil and they’re light feeders that won’t compete with spinach for nutrients. - 15 of 15
Cosmos
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Credit: The Spruce / LetÃcia Almeida If you want to bring more color and beneficial insects to your garden, try planting cosmos near spinach. Cosmos are highly attractive to pollinators, as well as predatory insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps.
Spinach Growing Tips Garden Quickie Episode 149
FAQ
What is a good companion plant for spinach?
By far, the best companion plants for spinach are peas and beans. When grown on a trellis, these plants can provide shade that helps delay bolting in spinach. In addition, these legumes fix nitrogen from the air, making it available to the spinach to ensure a dark green color and fast growth. Other good companions for spinach include:
What plants help spinach grow?
These plants share nutrients and keep the soil healthy. Flowers like marigolds, nasturtiums, and calendula protect spinach from pests while making your garden pretty. Herbs such as dill, parsley, and chives not only keep bugs away but also attract good insects that help spinach grow.
Do some plants get along with spinach?
Some plants don’t get along with spinach, including: Companion planting is a fun way to add flair to your garden, gain extra yields from small spaces, and prevent problems in your spinach. The most important thing to remember is that spinach needs enough space and light to grow to its full glory.
What plants can be planted next to spinach?
Growing some plants next to spinach helps keep away harmful bugs. Garlic acts as a ground cover and keeps pests out. Radishes fight off flea beetles that harm spinach leaves. Marigolds send root-knot nematodes, aphids, and rabbits running the other way. Nasturtium deters both aphids and mites from bothering nearby plants.
Should you plant spinach with other vegetables?
If you’re planning on growing spinach, consider planting it alongside these vegetable companions: Lettuce is a great companion for spinach because it shares similar nutrient needs. Both plants require plenty of nitrogen to grow, and lettuce can help provide this nutrient when planted together.
What vegetables grow well with spinach?
Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets are great companions for spinach since these veggies are cold-tolerant and can be planted together early in the season. They help loosen the soil as they grow, making it easier for spinach roots to spread.