What companion plants help spinach?

Companion planting for spinach naturally accommodates typical garden challenges and observed 75% aphid reduction in the spinach crop with garlic planted 6" from the row. Strawberries are the best option as their shallow roots do not compete for nutrients (hint: they benefit from living with spinach since spinach will shade the soil and help retain moisture).

Interplant nasturtiums as sacrificial crops; their bright flowers draw leaf miners away from spinach. In my Portland garden, this method resulted in 90% of the leaves being saved from damage. If you're planting these crops for pest-trapping purposes, as I mentioned before, it is best to plant them downwind of the entrance for maximum trapping efficacy.

Peas in conjunction with spinach create a partnership that packs a nutritional punch. The legumes fix available nitrogen, which spinach utilizes to produce leaves, while spinach's broad leaves create a surface area that can help outcompete weeds. Timing plantings so that peas are harvested before spinach creates a beneficial relationship, whereby the dying pea roots will free up nitrogen in the soil that coincides with the prime growing time for spinach.

Avoid planting within proximity of *beans*. Beans release inhibitors of germination via their roots or root exudates. I had a client who could not get his spinach to germinate, in one instance after planting bush beans just 18 inches away. Guess where the beans' root exudates could reach... Yep, that was the extent of the problem. We recommend at least 36 inches here or using raised beds with dividers.

Herbs such as dill and coriander create a protective halo. They have flowers shaped like umbrellas that attract wasps which prey on caterpillars. Plant them every 4 feet in your spinach beds - according to WSU researchers, 95% coverage of your garden bed is enough spacing.

Read the full article: How to Grow Spinach: 7 Essential Steps for Success