After years of growing asparagus, I’ve learned that these perennial vegetables can be either the anchor of a thriving garden ecosystem or a source of endless frustration – it all depends on what you plant alongside them. When we first established our asparagus bed, we made the classic mistake of treating it like an isolated crop. Now, our asparagus patch is one of the most productive areas of our space, thanks to careful companion planting.
Asparagus has some quirks that make companion planting especially important. With its shallow root system and tall, ferny growth habit, it creates unique growing conditions that can either help or harm other plants. Plus, since asparagus beds typically last 20+ years, choosing the right companions is a long-term investment in your garden’s success.
In our experience, the best companion plants for asparagus either take advantage of its unique growth pattern or actively contribute to its health. Some of our most successful combinations have been completely accidental discoveries, while others came from careful planning and observation.
Best Options for Asparagus Companion Plants
Asparagus plants are long-lived and can produce a big yield, but only if you look after them. And, as many of you know by now, I do not use chemicals, and wherever I can, I work with nature, not against it. You probably also know I’m a huge fan of companion planting everything. Companion planting and building healthy soil are the foundations of organic growing and a healthy, productive permaculture system.
When you plant asparagus, companion planting with the right combinations helps you repel asparagus beetle, attract beneficial insects, and makes that garden bed incredibly productive, as you get multiple crops from a comparatively small space.
Strawberries
Strawberries are our favorite asparagus companions, and we discovered this combination by happy accident. One spring, we noticed volunteer strawberry plants had spread into our asparagus bed. Instead of pulling them out, we decided to observe how they performed. The results were surprising – not only did the strawberries thrive, but they also helped suppress weeds without competing with the asparagus roots.
The timing works perfectly: strawberries produce their fruit just as asparagus plants are developing their ferny growth, and the asparagus fronds later provide light shade during the hottest part of summer when strawberries appreciate some protection. The roots of strawberries also help prevent soil erosion without interfering with the asparagus root system.
Tomatoes
While it might seem counterintuitive to pair these heavy feeders, tomatoes and asparagus make excellent garden companions. The scientific reason is fascinating – tomato plants release solanine, a natural compound that repels asparagus beetles. We’ve noticed significantly fewer pest problems in our asparagus beds where we integrate tomato plants along the edges.
Just be sure to plant your tomatoes at least 12 inches away from the asparagus crowns to prevent root competition. We’ve found that determinate varieties work better than indeterminate types, as they’re less likely to shade out the asparagus ferns later in the season.
Basil
Basil has become our go-to companion plant for both tomatoes and asparagus. Not only does it help deter asparagus beetles with its strong aroma, but it also thrives in the partial shade created by mature asparagus ferns. We plant basil along the edges of our asparagus beds, interspersed with other crops like tomatoes.
Parsley
Parsley has earned a permanent spot in our asparagus beds, and for good reason. This hardy herb’s deep taproot brings up minerals from lower soil layers, essentially acting as a natural nutrient pump for your asparagus. We’ve noticed that asparagus growing near parsley often develops thicker, more robust spears. As an added bonus, parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and predatory wasps that help keep pest populations in check.
Nasturtiums
When we started interplanting nasturtiums with our asparagus, we were initially just looking to add some color to the bed and draw aphids away from some of the other crops. What we discovered was that these cheerful flowers do much more than just look pretty. Nasturtiums act as a living mulch, helping retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Their sprawling growth habit means they’ll fill in any bare spots without climbing or interfering with the asparagus ferns.
Peas
Early-season peas make excellent asparagus companions because they fix nitrogen in the soil, providing a natural fertilizer boost just when asparagus needs it most. We plant our peas along the edge of the asparagus bed in early spring, letting them climb temporary supports. By the time the peas are finished producing, the asparagus spears are just reaching their full height, making this a perfect seasonal succession.
Cucumbers
Like peas, cucumbers work well with asparagus because of their different growing seasons. We plant cucumber seedlings near our asparagus just as the spring harvest is ending. The timing is perfect – the developing asparagus ferns provide ideal partial shade for cucumbers during the hottest part of summer. Just be sure to provide trellising that won’t compete with the asparagus roots.
Marigolds
Don’t underestimate these common flowers – they’re workhorses in our asparagus beds. And honestly one of my favorite companion plants for just about anything. Marigolds release compounds through their roots that deter nematodes and other soil-borne pests. We’ve found that planting a border of marigolds around our asparagus bed helps create a protective barrier that keeps many unwanted insects at bay. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) seem to work best in my experience.
Horseradish
Planting horseradish at the corners of your asparagus bed might be the best thing you can do for pest control. The strong-scented roots help deter many common asparagus pests. And yes, they repel asparagus beetles. We’ve noticed significantly fewer pest problems in beds where we’ve established horseradish guards. Just remember that horseradish can be aggressive, so plant it in contained corners where it won’t overtake your asparagus.
Comfrey
If there’s one companion plant that’s earned its weight in gold, it’s comfrey. This perennial powerhouse develops deep roots that mine nutrients from far below the asparagus root zone, and its leaves make exceptional mulch material. We plant comfrey along the north side of one of our asparagus beds where it won’t shade the spears. When the leaves die back, they create a nutrient-rich mulch that feeds the asparagus naturally. Plus, of course, comfrey is invaluable as a medicinal herb.
Sage
After experimenting with various herbs, sage has proven itself as one of our most reliable companions. Its deep root system doesn’t compete with asparagus, and its strong aroma helps deter asparagus beetles and other pest insects. We’ve found that sage plants actually seem to grow more vigorously when planted near asparagus, though we’re careful to space them at least 18 inches from the asparagus crowns.
Spinach
Spinach makes an excellent early-season companion for asparagus in our garden. Since it grows best in cool weather, we plant it between asparagus rows just as the first spears are emerging. The spinach is usually ready to harvest before the asparagus fully develop, making it a perfect crop for maximizing your garden space. Plus, its shallow roots don’t interfere with the deeper asparagus root system.
Thyme
Like other Mediterranean herbs, thyme thrives in the well-drained soil that asparagus prefers. We use creeping thyme as a living ground cover around our asparagus beds. Not only does it help suppress weeds, but it also provides habitat for beneficial insects. The shallow root system of thyme means it won’t compete with your asparagus for nutrients or water.
Lettuce
Quick-growing lettuce varieties work surprisingly well as asparagus companions. We plant lettuce in early spring between asparagus rows, taking advantage of the space before the ferns develop. By the time the asparagus needs more room, the lettuce is already harvested. This technique helps us maximize our garden space while keeping the soil covered and productive.
Beets
We’ve had great success growing beets alongside asparagus, particularly in spring and fall. Their root system operates at a different depth than asparagus, and they benefit from the light shade cast by developing ferns. Just be sure to plant them at least 12 inches away from your asparagus crowns to prevent competition.
Plants to Avoid Planting With Asparagus
The right asparagus companion plants work wonders for the asparagus plants and the other plants, maximizing produce yield over the whole growing season. But the wrong ones, such as those that compete with the asparagus root system, can shorten the life of the asparagus and significantly reduce yield.
Alliums
All members of the allium family, including onions, garlic, leeks, and chives, seem to stunt asparagus growth. In our experience, asparagus spears growing near alliums are noticeably thinner and less productive. This may be due to soil chemical interactions or root and nutrient competition.
Carrots
While it might be tempting to utilize the space between asparagus plants for root crops, we’ve found that carrots and asparagus make poor companions. Carrots compete directly with asparagus for nutrients and water. Plus, the deep cultivation needed for carrot growing can damage asparagus roots.
Potatoes
Keep your potatoes far from your asparagus bed. Asparagus growing near potatoes shows signs of stress and reduced vigor. Potatoes and asparagus compete heavily for nutrients, and potatoes can also harbor diseases that affect asparagus. Additionally, the deep cultivation required for potato growing can damage asparagus roots.
Corn
Despite being a common vegetable garden staple, corn makes a terrible companion for asparagus. Corn is a heavy feeder that depletes soil nitrogen rapidly, leaving little for asparagus. Its tall growth also casts too much shade over asparagus ferns, reducing their ability to photosynthesize and store energy for next year’s crop.
Beans
While bush and pole beans might seem like good companions since they fix nitrogen in the soil, we’ve found they actually compete too aggressively with asparagus for water and nutrients. The climbing nature of pole beans can also damage asparagus ferns. If you want to grow nitrogen-fixing plants near asparagus, stick with early-season peas instead.
After years of experimenting with different companion planting combinations in our asparagus beds, we’ve learned that success comes down to understanding how plants interact both above and below ground. The best companions either provide direct benefits to your asparagus through pest control and nutrient cycling, or they take advantage of the unique growing conditions that asparagus creates without competing for resources.
Our most successful beds use a combination of these companions planted in layers – deep-rooted plants like comfrey and horseradish around the edges, seasonal vegetables like tomatoes and peas in strategic spots, and beneficial herbs and flowers filling in the gaps. This creates a diverse, productive growing space that supports healthy asparagus production while maximizing garden space.
Remember that every garden is different, and what works in one climate or soil type might not work in another. Start with a few proven companions like strawberries or tomatoes, and gradually experiment with others to find what works best in your garden. Just be sure to avoid the known problematic plants we’ve discussed, especially alliums and heavy feeders like corn and potatoes.
The time you invest in planning your asparagus companions will pay off for years to come. After all, a well-planned asparagus bed can produce for two decades or more, making it one of the most valuable investments in your garden. By choosing the right companion plants, you’ll create a productive, low-maintenance growing space that gets better with each passing season.