20 Companion Plants For Watermelon

Nasturtiums are pretty orange flowers that can help protect your watermelon plants in the garden. They smell strong and keep away harmful bugs like aphids and beetles. Plant them around your watermelons after the frost season. Put the seeds about 1 inch deep and 12 inches apart in well-draining soil with lots of sunlight.

Water them regularly, but not too much, to avoid root rot. These flowers not only make your garden colorful but also attract good bugs like bees and ladybugs, making your watermelon patch healthier. They're like natural bodyguards for your tasty watermelons.

Marigolds make great companions for watermelons in your garden. They draw in helpful bugs like ladybugs and pollinators while keeping away tiny nematode worms that harm watermelon roots. Marigolds release chemicals from their roots that fight harmful soil pathogens.

Plant them by scattering seeds on well-draining soil, 6-8 inches apart, after the frost risk is gone. Marigolds love full sun and need moderate watering. To keep them blooming, remove old flowers. With marigolds around, your watermelon patch gets a natural shield against pests, and your garden becomes a vibrant and healthier place for these delicious fruits to grow.

Radishes are excellent companions for watermelons in your garden. They grow quickly, providing ground cover that suppresses weeds and can be harvested before watermelon plants expand.

Their green leaves attract aphids, acting as a decoy. This draws in beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, creating a natural pest control system in your garden. Radishes serve as a helpful distraction, allowing predatory insects to feast on the aphids instead of bothering your watermelon plants.

This harmonious relationship promotes a healthier garden, ensuring your watermelons thrive without the interference of common pests. Plant radishes alongside watermelons for a well-balanced and pest-resistant garden space.

Surprisingly, oregano makes a beneficial companion for watermelons in your garden. Despite its wide sprawl, the plant cooperates well with watermelons. Watermelons have shallow roots that extend a bit deeper than oregano's roots. This unique dynamic allows oregano to absorb the water it requires, leaving the excess for the watermelons.

It's a clever sharing system that prevents oregano from being overwatered while ensuring watermelons get the hydration they need. This cooperative relationship showcases the natural harmony that can exist in a garden, where different plants complement each other's needs, contributing to a thriving and balanced growing environment.

Basil is a fantastic companion for watermelons as it serves as a natural defense against whiteflies, a common and troublesome pest for watermelon plants.

The aromatic properties of basil act as a deterrent, keeping whiteflies at bay and protecting your watermelon crop. By planting basil near your watermelons, you create a harmonious environment where each plant contributes to the well-being of the other.

This natural pest-repelling partnership not only safeguards your watermelon plants but also enhances the overall health and vitality of your garden.

Mint proves to be a powerful companion in the garden, effectively deterring aphids and flea beetles. However, its vigorous growth requires careful containment. Plant it in a controlled environment like a container or raised bed to prevent its invasive underground runners from encroaching on your watermelon patch.

This strategic placement safeguards your watermelons while harnessing mint's pest-repelling benefits. Additionally, having mint nearby offers culinary advantages, enhancing your food experience with delightful watermelon mint salads. By managing its growth, you enjoy the dual benefits of a pest-resistant garden and a flavorful addition to your meals.

Catnip, a member of the mint family notorious for attracting feline friends, doubles as a natural aphid deterrent in the garden. Thriving with six hours of sunlight, it demands occasional pruning to prevent garden domination. Beyond its cat-friendly allure, catnip serves culinary and medicinal purposes; ideal for spicing up dishes or brewing therapeutic teas.

For those uninterested in a cat gathering, consider planting traditional mint as mentioned above. This adaptable herb not only fends off aphids but also offers versatile uses, creating a dynamic garden where practicality meets playful interaction, ensuring a balance between pest control, culinary delights, and potential cat antics.

Sunflowers make an excellent choice for a companion plant. Their tall, sturdy stems provide reliable support for pole beans and peas without overshadowing watermelons. Watering beans and sunflowers at their base minimizes the risk of powdery mildew. Sunflowers also attract a variety of insects, including pollinators and pest predators.

Additionally, their bright hues add a cheerful splash of color to your watermelon patch, enhancing the visual appeal. Embrace the beauty and functionality of sunflowers as they contribute to a thriving and visually pleasing garden.

Borage is a garden gem, enhancing plant growth while keeping pests at bay. This herb acts as a natural booster, promoting the overall health and development of neighboring plants, making it a fantastic companion in your garden. Its vibrant blue flowers not only add beauty but also attract pollinators, contributing to better fruit production in nearby plants.

Borage's fuzzy leaves contain compounds that deter certain pests, creating a protective barrier for your garden. Easy to grow and maintain, this herb is a valuable addition to any garden, offering both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits for the well-being of your plants.

Beans make fantastic companions for watermelons as they are nitrogen-fixers, hosting bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-absorbable form. This nitrogen is crucial for watermelon plants, supporting leaf growth, stem development, and robust fruit size.

To grow beans with watermelons, sow seeds about 1 inch deep and 4-6 inches apart after the frost risk is gone. Beans thrive in well-draining soil with full sun and moderate watering. For climbing varieties, offer support with trellises or stakes. This partnership ensures your watermelon patch receives essential nutrients, promoting healthy growth and a bountiful harvest.

Grow corn as a companion plant along with watermelon as it serves as a valuable addition to your watermelon patch. Utilize it as a natural trellis for beans or peas, eliminating the need for additional support structures. However, be mindful of shared pest vulnerabilities, such as thrips and aphids, between corn and watermelons.

To counteract potential pest pressure, incorporating companion plants that repel these insects becomes crucial. This emphasizes the effectiveness of companion planting as a strategic approach to creating a balanced and mutually beneficial ecosystem in your garden, ensuring the health and productivity of both corn and watermelon plants.

Lettuce proves to be an ideal companion for watermelon plants. These fast-maturing cool-season crops offer ground cover, minimizing weed growth around watermelons. Interplanting lettuce with watermelons not only suppresses weeds but also provides some shade during hotter periods.

The beauty of this pairing lies in the timing. Lettuce is harvested and cleared from the garden by the time the sprawling watermelon vines need more space. It's a harmonious collaboration where each plant plays its part, ensuring a well-maintained and efficient use of garden space throughout the growing seasons.

Garlic, a natural aphid deterrent, makes a fitting companion for watermelons as it fends off these plant-draining pests. Similar to vampires, aphids can sap plants of vital nutrients, and garlic's presence helps keep them at bay. To grow garlic, plant cloves in the fall, mulch for warmth, and anticipate spring emergence.

Opt for cloves from a garden supplier for optimal results. The aphid-repelling qualities of garlic extend to chives and onions, forming a trio of plants that not only provide flavorful additions to your kitchen but also contribute to a pest-resistant and thriving watermelon patch in your garden.

Onions make excellent companions for watermelons, utilizing their potent scent to repel various pests. The choice of onion variety determines their proximity to watermelons; green onions and chives can snugly fit between rows. However, bulbing onions should be positioned at row ends, away from watermelon roots.

The expansive bulbs of bulbing onions might disrupt the shallow watermelon roots, leading to dissatisfaction for both plants. This strategic placement ensures a harmonious coexistence, utilizing onions' pest-repelling properties while avoiding any potential interference with the growth and well-being of the watermelon plants.

Rosemary stands out as a valuable companion for watermelon plants, boasting dual benefits of pest deterrence and aromatic charm. This fragrant herb not only adds a delightful aroma to the garden but also serves as a natural deterrent for various pests.

Planting it near watermelons helps create a protective barrier against unwanted insects, contributing to a healthier and pest-resistant environment.

Rosemary's aromatic foliage enhances the sensory appeal of the garden while offering practical advantages. This makes it a wonderful addition to your watermelon patch, where beauty and functionality come together in a symbiotic relationship.

Thyme proves to be a valuable plant in the garden, contributing to the growth of plants while acting as a natural pest repellent. Its aromatic presence not only enhances the garden's fragrance but also serves as a deterrent for pests. When planted alongside watermelons, thyme promotes overall plant health, fostering robust growth.

Simultaneously, it helps keep unwanted pests at bay, creating a protective atmosphere for the watermelon patch. This versatile herb not only adds culinary appeal but also showcases its practicality by fostering a balanced and thriving garden space where growth is encouraged, and potential pest issues are mitigated.

Chives also work as natural pest deterrents, particularly against aphids and various other pests. The pungent aroma of chives acts as a natural repellent, discouraging pests from infesting the watermelon patch.

Planting chives alongside watermelons creates a symbiotic relationship where the chives contribute to pest control, fostering a healthier environment for the watermelon plants to thrive.

This simple and effective partnership safeguards against potential pest issues. Also, it adds a flavorful and practical dimension to your garden, showcasing the benefits of thoughtful companion planting for a flourishing and pest-resistant harvest.

Dill emerges as a strategic ally in your watermelon patch, attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs, and avid aphid hunters. Placing dill near watermelons creates a haven for aphid-eating insects, forming a natural defense against these pests.

Dill's unobtrusive growth means it won't compete fiercely for nutrients or water, making it an ideal companion between watermelon rows. 

Regular Dill harvesting prevents it from becoming invasive. This symbiotic relationship not only safeguards watermelons from aphid troubles but also adds a functional and visually appealing element to the garden, showcasing the harmonious balance achievable through thoughtful companion planting.

Cucumbers serve as versatile companions for watermelons, offering both ground cover and pest-deterrent properties. Their sprawling vines provide effective ground cover, reducing weed growth around watermelon plants. Additionally, cucumbers contribute to pest control by deterring certain pests that commonly afflict watermelons.

The cucumber's natural pest-repelling qualities enhance the overall health of the watermelon patch. By integrating cucumbers into your garden alongside watermelons, you not only create an efficient use of space but also foster a mutually beneficial relationship, resulting in a more robust and pest-resistant harvest.

Last but not least, carrots offer dual benefits by improving soil structure and acting as a natural pest repellent. Their deep, slender roots contribute to soil aeration and structure, creating a favorable environment for watermelon plants. Carrots also release compounds that repel certain pests, helping to deter potential threats to the watermelon patch.

This collaborative planting approach optimizes soil health while providing a protective barrier against pests. Integrating carrots into your garden alongside watermelons showcases the synergy between these plants. It promotes a balanced and thriving garden where each plant contributes to the overall well-being and productivity of the other.