Companion planting is a method that gardeners and farmers have utilized all over the world for hundreds of years. It assists in growing crops by planting nearby crops that complement each other to guard against disease or insects or provide shelter.

When it is cultivating the watermelon plant There are a variety of best companion plants gardeners can choose to use to achieve greater yields and ensure the crops are healthy.

The Benefits of Companion Planting with watermelons

If you are able to take the time to manage your garden, incredible things can happen. Take a look at these advantages of watermelon plants as companion plants in addition to the watermelons, and for other plants in the vicinity.

• Attracting pollinators. Generally speaking, flowers that attract pollinators can be advantageous to plant near the crops you want to grow.
• Pest Control or Repellent. Certain plants that are companions can attract prey to the watermelon bugs. Other plants could deter pests or even repel pests. Combining these plants could make a great winning combination!
• Maximizing Space for Growing. A companion planting of watermelons can help you make the most of the space left. They can stretch out quite a bit and therefore it is essential to make use of the remaining space.
• Trellising smaller varieties of watermelon could make use of cornstalks to create Trellises, allowing them to develop vertically if it is possible.
• Nutrients. Certain crops may influence the number of nutrients in the soil. For instance, bush beans or cowpeas can help fix nitrogen, which increases the supply of watermelons as well as good companion plants.

Watermelons are a good example of a “smother crop,” which means they stop weeds from growing.

Vegetable Companion Plants for Watermelon

The planting of watermelon near vegetable gardens can help one or the other, depending on the mix.

Consider these suggestions to intercrop watermelon and vegetable best companion plants:

• The Alliums include Chives Garlic, Leeks, and Onions Alliums like garlic and onions provide anti-fungal benefits as well as insect control capabilities, making an excellent option for watermelon plants to accompany.
• Beans. Beans from the pole and bush generally do well at fixing nitrogen in soils. They are excellent bedfellows for watermelon, which develop more rapidly when they are able to absorb enough nutrients in the soil.

• Carrots. Instead of planting in rows grow the carrots around watermelons in order to fill in the gaps. Make sure they don’t overly shaded.

• Corn. Tall cornstalks can provide some assistance to watermelon vines. Be aware of the shade that corn produces and make sure the watermelons don’t get completely shaded. You can plant watermelons alongside sweet corn and pop plants.

• Cowpeas. Similar to beans cowpeas may help increase the nitrogen levels in soil, by converting them into nitrogen compounds that other plants can take up. The cowpeas should be planted about a week earlier to allow them to can flower in the same period.

• Lettuce. The most loved crop isn’t tall nor do the roots develop deep. These two characteristics work well with watermelons, which are agroecological partners.

• Okra. A tall growing habit for the garden, Okra pairs well with the sprawling watermelons in the garden. Okra has attractive flowers which attract pollinators to the area.

• Peas. Peas with low growth are great partners for watermelon plants. Similar to pole beans and cowpeas, peas may increase the nitrogen levels in soils.

• Radishes. They are quick growing and only take up an inch of space, radishes are great as companion plants for watermelon. Simple to pull, radishes will be in the ground before watermelon harvesting time arrives.

Beyond that, bear the fact that watermelon as well as other melons are quite good planters generally. Some combinations are superior to others, however, even more, undesirable combinations could be a total disaster.

Flowers as Watermelon Companion Plants

In the garden, planting flowers to be watermelon companion plants will help to attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The stunning color explosion is also a delight to observe.

Here are some suggestions for watermelon flowers as good companion plants to think about:

• Cosmos
• Coneflowers
• Coreopsis
• Marigolds (Their pungent aroma deters many pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and cucumber beetles)
• Nasturtiums
• Sunflowers

Herbs as Watermelon Companion Plants

Additionally, they can be used as companion plants to watermelon. Many plants thrive in the corners of the garden and are almost an added bonus.

Here are some herbs that go well with watermelon in your garden.

• Borage
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Dill
• Lavender
• Marjoram
• Mint – In Pots! Be aware that mint has an independent mind and can become invading. Take extreme care to store mint in pots, so as not to harm your gardens the next time.
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Summer Savory
• Tansy
• Thyme

Flowers of herbs such as lavender and borage are able to attract pollinators, as well as predatory insects.

Aromatic herbs such as catnip or Tansy can be used to ward away pest insects such as leafhoppers and flying insects.

Herbs that are low-growing can serve in the form of a mulch, and can also have pest repellent properties as well as anti-fungal properties.

Certain herbs that are watermelon partners can even aid in improving the flavor of the fruit or increase its growth rate.

Worst Companion Plants for Watermelons

If you’re thinking about what to plant next to watermelons, be aware that certain worst companion plants will not grow in a location that is in close proximity.

Heavy feeders will not perform much better if they are planted close to watermelon. Therefore, you should avoid planting broccoli, asparagus, and pumpkins in the vicinity of watermelons.

• Cucumbers because they both suffer from those same bugs (cucumber beetles) Cucumbers, watermelons, and watermelons generally perform better when they are they are not near each other. But there are instances in which gardeners have planted both together and the results were a success.

• Peppers are susceptible to receiving too much shade or little nutrients if they’re planted in close proximity to watermelons. Additionally, research has shown that peppers interplanted with other crops as well as watermelons, along with a couple of other crops didn’t fare as well as a unit.

• Potatoes can attract insects and run the risk of spreading diseases to your garden. This is why it’s best to steer clear of pairing with watermelon and potatoes.

• Pumpkins. Some believe that pumpkins can be planted close to watermelons, however, both crops require lots of space. They may also both choose to be feeders that are heavy. This is why you should keep an area between the watermelons and pumpkins.

• Squash for Winter and Summer and zucchini due to all the bugs particularly cucumber beetles. You should think about growing zucchini and squash away from watermelon plants.

• Tomatoes. Since many tomato plants get big and tall, these plants could not be suitable partners for watermelons.

Finding the Best Watermelon Companion Plant

This being said we did plant some tomatoes and watermelons together because of the lack of space in our garden for 2021, and we got plenty of Romas as well as two personal-sized watermelons. It would be interesting to see if it’s possible to cultivate a larger watermelon this year!

I hope that this list of watermelon-related plants will be useful. I did not add that Buckwheat is a great option due to its ability to attract insects that are predatory.

It’s also possible to plant Blue Hubbard squash as a plant to trap in your yard or in your garden. It can deter insect pests from your watermelons, and may also aid in protecting your summer squash and zucchini crops to resist the pest that is known as the squash vine borer.

Final Words

Watermelon companion planting is a fantastic way to ensure your garden is healthy and free from bugs while adding some stunning flowers. The most suitable plants to plant with watermelons include herbs like marigolds and lettuces as well as Nasturtiums, and radishes. Avoid planting squash, cucumbers, and potatoes close to watermelons in order to reduce the chance of pests. Happy Gardening!