What shouldn't be planted near spinach?

Right companion plants ward off disease, theft of nutrients, and other threats to spinach. Avoid nursery stock that is highly competitive with it for space, which is a target of the same pests. I protect spinach by putting it far away from its wrong neighbours. You will have sturdier plants that way.

Strawberries can carry verticillium wilt throughout the soil, causing stunted growth and yellowing of leaves on spinach plants. I didn't discover the effects of strawberries on spinach until after I had lost an entire crop of spinach. It is important to separate strawberries from spinach by using raised beds or planting them in different sections of your garden.

Potatoes have very aggressive root systems that extract soil nitrogen before other plants can absorb it. This is the main reason I no longer plant potatoes next to or above spinach. By planting potatoes downhill from spinach, the risk of nitrogen deficiency can be minimized through proper spacing and rotation.

Corn creates too much shade, excluding needed light. Spinach should have 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Tall stalks of corn present shadows all day long. I plant corn on the north side of my spinach beds. Yours will get plenty of light.

Fennel releases root chemicals that inhibit the growth of spinach, these allelopathic compounds stunt leaf development. I plant fennel near pathways away from edibles. You'll avoid reduced yields with separation.

Beans alter soil pH unfavorably for spinach. They raise the alkalinity beyond spinach's preferred range of 6.5 to 7.5. I test the soil weekly when beans grow nearby. You maintain optimal conditions with monitoring.

Instead, plant beneficial companions, such as radishes or peas. These fix nitrogen and deter pests naturally. I interplant them between spinach rows. You create synergistic growing environments.

Read the full article: How to Grow Spinach: Ultimate Gardening Guide