Companion Plants for Asparagus

Herbs

• Some of the most popular edible herbs partner well with asparagus. To improve your asparagus plants' vitality, plant either parsley or basil in between its rows. Basil is a boon to many plants in the veggie patch, deterring fungal growth and keeping away aphids, mosquitoes, milkweed bugs and mites. Of particular importance to your asparagus plants, basil and parsley can drive away the asparagus beetle, as well.

Tomatoes

• Planting tomatoes alongside your asparagus is another excellent means of keeping away asparagus beetles; the solanine they contain helps ward off the insect pests. The relationship between tomato plants and asparagus plants is mutually beneficial; as tomato plants ward of asparagus beetles, asparagus plants keep away several varieties of nematodes. You can multiply the positive effects of companion planting by putting tomatoes, basil and asparagus all close together, all three of which complement one another. While basil and tomato keep away asparagus beetles, basil also keeps away tomato hornworms.

Pot Marigolds

• Pot marigolds, also known as calendula, help to deter beetles, making them a fine choice for companion planting alongside asparagus. Planting pot marigolds in between rows of asparagus will generally provide plenty of sunlight for the relatively low-growing flowers. On the other hand, the delicate asparagus fronds can help protect the marigold from the most intense sunlight during the hottest days of summer. Besides its use as a cut flower, pot marigold can serve as a useful part of your vegetable garden; its edible blooms go well in salads.

Strawberries

• Strawberries make good companion plants for asparagus. Unlike many annual vegetable species, strawberry plants are biennials or even perennials, meaning that they make a longer-lasting accompaniment for the perennial asparagus plantings. While you plan the rest of your vegetable patch anew each spring, your strawberry and asparagus bed may keep returning 30 years down the road. Like basil or pot marigolds, strawberries' low growth works well in between rows of tall asparagus. Its clumping formation can fill out around the asparagus stalks, helping to deter weed growth.