If you want to make your garden look like heaven, plant the best companion plants. When there is a combination of different types of soil, beneficial insects, and other plant types, the overall garden becomes healthy.
The same combination of companion plants applies to the asparagus plant. You need to find plants symbionts to the asparagus plants, and mutually benefit each other. This article contains a list of 10 companion plants for asparagus with the detailed benefits of these plants. Stay tuned for complete information about the specifications, features, and importance of these companion plants for asparagus.
About Asparagus Plant
Asparagus is a perennial plant that needs total sun exposure in your garden. These plants need almost 2-3 years to grow to their full size, and then they can quickly grow for 10 to 15 years. As asparagus plants have a long life after a few years of growth, they need companion plants similar to them and enjoy total exposure. These asparagus plants are asparagus, lace fern, climbing asparagus, grass, and ferny asparagus.
Their botanical name is Asparagus officinalis. Asparagus plants grow in 3 to 8 gardening zones. These plants can grow for over 20 years and don’t disappoint you in their beautiful and lengthy growth. Asparagus is native to Asia, Europe, and northern Asia. It is naturalized in regions with different temperatures worldwide.
Asparagus is of major importance as it is an excellent source of dietary fiber that helps in digestion. It is also a good source of vitamin A. The addition of this plant to your garden enhances the overall aesthetics.
What are the Benefits of Companion Plants
Companion planting for asparagus can be very beneficial. For example, planting marigolds alongside your asparagus can avoid harmful insects, preventing them from destroying your crops. Similarly, planting dill or parsley can attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which feed on pests. These plants also fill the blossoms of your asparagus with seductive scents, attracting pollinators. Companion planting contains several advantages for your garden, which include:
Pest Control
Other plants emit substances that drive away asparagus-loving pests. In addition, they can attract beneficial bugs that feed on pests, reducing the need for pesticides.
Improved Pollination
Some other plants bring in bees and butterflies for pollination, promoting better fruit formation and high crop yields. They are also beneficial in keeping your asparagus free from harmful insects, reducing the need for harsh chemicals.
Weed Suppression
Coarsely-sown companion plants, sown densely, shadow out the soil, preventing weed growth. This means there is no need for manual removal of weeds or using herbicides, making your gardening tasks more accessible and more eco-friendly.
Soil Improvement
Some companion plants, such as legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it and providing essential nutrients for neighboring plants.
Enhanced Flavor and Growth
Different combinations of companion plants can improve vegetable taste or encourage healthier growth by shading them, giving them support, or providing nourishment.
Biodiversity
Companion planting increases biodiversity in your garden, creating a more balanced ecosystem. This reduces the risk of crop failure due to pests or diseases and promotes a healthier garden overall. A diverse garden is more resilient to environmental changes, requires less maintenance, and can even improve the taste and quality of your crops.
Asparagus Companion Plants
Planting asparagus is a great exercise, you must wait over three years to establish its roots and for natural growth. Like many other perennial vegetables, when asparagus starts blooming, it grows for years and decades. Here are complete details of plants that are proven as the best companion plants for asparagus:
1. Basil
Basil is botanically known as Ocimum basilicum. The major requirement for good growth of basil plants is well-drained and moist soil. Basil is found mainly in hardiness zones 10-11.
Basil plants have a significant advantage in reducing asparagus beetles, fliers, whiteflies, mosquitos, and carrot flies. This plant is one of the best companion plants for asparagus due to its features that keep the threat away from asparagus. These plants are native to Asia, including Pakistan, India, Thailand, and Iran.
2. Cilantro
Coriander is the common name for Cilantro, however, Coriandrum sativum is its botanic name. This plant is found in hardiness zones 2 to 11. In addition, well-drained and nutrient-rich soil is required for its better growth.
Cilantro is a good companion plant for asparagus because it helps deter aphids, spider mites, and Colorado potato beetles. All these diseases can take over your garden in less time. But if you have these companion plants around your asparagus, you can protect it in different weather conditions. Cilantro is native to southern Europe and Asia.
3. Comfrey
The common names of the Comfrey plant are Knit bone and Boneset. Whereas, its botanic name is Symphytum officinale. This plant requires rich, loamy, and well-drained soil for better growth. Comfrey is found in hardiness zones 4 to 9.
Comfrey is native to North America, and they are also known as hounds tongue. This plant is a proven best companion for asparagus. It is well-known for preventing severe fungal diseases from the asparagus plant and deterring the asparagus beetle.
4. Dill
The botanic name of Dill is Anethum graveolens. Dill is found in hardiness zones 3 to 7. It requires well-drained and slightly acidic soil for good growth.
Dill are native to southwest Asia or southeast Europe and are best for preventing spider mites, aphids, and squash bugs. These plants have a perfect natural aroma that helps keep different harmful insects away from the asparagus.
5. Oregano
The botanic name of Oregano is Origanum vulgare. It is found in hardiness zones 4 to 9. Oregano requires Sandy loam soil to grow well.
Oregano helps deter cabbage moths. This plant is best grown indoors and outdoors, along with asparagus as its companion plant. They are well-known for adding them to Mexican and Mediterranean dishes. These plants, along with asparagus, prefer well-draining and moist soil. The oregano plant is native to Mediterranean countries, western Asia, and parts of Mexico and the US.
6. Parsley
parsley is the common name and Petroselinum Crispum is its botanic name. This plant demands well-drained soil with rich organic matter. Parsley thrives best in 4 to 9 hardiness zones.
Parsley is well known for preventing asparagus beetle. Its perfect fragrance attracts beneficial insects and keeps away harmful pests. These plants are mostly grown as biennial crops. They are native to the eastern Mediterranean.
7. Sage
Culinary or common garden sages are the common names of sages. Whereas, botanically it is known as Salvia Officinalis. It is mainly found in 5 to 8 hardiness zones and thrives best in sandy and loamy soil.
Sage has multiple benefits, and they are well-known for preventing bean beetles, other cabbage moths, and carrot flies. These sages are famous for planting herbs and are best known for their culinary role. Sage is native to the Mediterranean region. They make the best companion plants for asparagus due to their similar excellent characteristics, like total sun exposure, and they grow back after every year.
8. Thyme
The common name of thyme is garden thyme however, Thymus Vulgaris is its botanic name. It is found mainly in hardiness zones 5 to 9 and requires well-drained and alkaline soil for better growth.
Thyme is native to temperate and subtropical areas of Europe and northeast tropical Africa. These plants are good companions for asparagus as they help deter cabbage worms and moths. It is also a weed suppressor and improves soil health.
9. Eggplant
The common name of the Eggplant is Brinjal or Aubergine. however, its botanic name is Solanum Melongena. It thrives in sandy loams and hardiness zones 4 to 10.
Eggplant is native to Asian countries, mainly India, and is best known for preventing asparagus beetle. You can grow this vegetable plant in your garden, they are good companion plants for your asparagus. You can use it as a companion plant and vegetable to pick for food. Eggplant has solanine, a toxic alkaloid, a highly effective biopesticide that helps keep your garden from pests.
10. Lettuce
The common name is Lettuce, whereas its botanic name is Lactuca Sativa. It thrives best in the hardiness zone 5 and grows best in Sandy peats, loams, and mucks.
The lettuce plant is native to the Mediterranean area and started growing as a weed. It works by minimizing the growth of weeds between the rows of this plant. You must place this plant in the shade when the weather is hot. They are the best companion as they are well known for keeping weeds away from plants to ensure their health.
Conclusion
Companion planting is necessary as it creates a healthy garden ecosystem by deterring pests, attracting pollinators, suppressing weeds, and enriching the soil. There is a different and extended variety of companion plants for asparagus plants. This article explores the 10 best companion plants for asparagus, while others include nasturtium, marigold, asters, tomatoes, strawberries, and spinach. If you have a garden where you want to plant asparagus but don’t know any plant to grow as its companion, you can choose any plants from the above list and make your garden look colorful and vibrant.
FAQs
1. What Are the Bad Companion Plants for Asparagus?
Some plants are not suitable to grow with asparagus that are: onions, leeks, garlic, chives, wild onions, ramps, and shallots. In addition to these plants, the plants of the Allium category also proved to be bad companions for your asparagus plant and affect its good growth.
2. Can I Plant Asparagus and Strawberries Together?
Yes, of course, Strawberries are the most suitable companion plants to grow with asparagus. However, carefully produce the roots of asparagus 1 foot under soil when you want to plant strawberries as the companions of asparagus. This can prevent root competition among these plants.
3. Can You Plant Other Vegetables with Asparagus?
You can grow plenty of vegetables with asparagus, Some vegetables are lettuce, spinach, eggplant, and others, which provide nutrients in the soil. Some of the shallow-rooted plants take away nutrients from asparagus. Some of them are leek, onion, and other varieties of allium. Most vegetables enjoy living with asparagus as they make a symbiotic relationship with one another.