What companion plants should avoid calendula?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Calendula is beneficial to many garden plants, but has undesirable companions. Some vegetables and herbs can be negatively affected when placed near calendula. Knowing incompatible plant combinations can help you avoid growth challenges and pest issues. Planting calendula with careful spacing will allow you to enjoy all of the plants while preventing competition.
Legume Family
- Beans suffer reduced nitrogen fixation
- Peas show stunted pod development
- Calendula root exudates inhibit rhizobia bacteria
Brassica Vegetables
- Cabbage attracts shared aphid populations
- Kale develops increased flea beetle damage
- Broccoli heads mature slower when adjacent
Root Crops
- Potatoes produce smaller tubers
- Carrots develop forked roots more frequently
- Radishes show increased woodiness
Nutrient competition can really cause problems for certain herbs. Basil syrtanovii doesn't perform well when planted with calendula. The plants compete for phosphorus. Other mint types can suffer from minor losses in their essential oil yield. Rosemary finds the growing situation too much for it to handle and has a slightly slow growth rate. Consider using marjoram as a neutral buffer plant for one of these herbs.
Avoid cross-contaminating pests spatially. Brassicas attract aphids, which will then colonize on the calendula. Use tall plants, such as corn, as physical barriers between incompatible pairs. Additionally, rotating plant families on an annual basis will help break pest and disease cycles for both families.
Adopt strategies for small garden spaces. Create container gardens to separate incompatible plants. Stagger planting times to avoid all growth stages occurring simultaneously. Utilize a vertical growing system to separate the root zones, thereby benefiting from the increased area utilization.
Read the full article: How to Grow Calendula: Complete Guide
