Pair spinach with the right companion plants to boost growth, deter pests, and keep your greens thriving all season long!
Spinach is one of the easiest leafy greens you can grow. It thrives in cool weather and grows very well in spring and autumn gardens. However, spinach does have one big challenge—warm temperatures can cause it to bolt, turning the leaves bitter and inedible.
That’s where companion planting comes in! Growing spinach alongside the right plants can provide shade, improve soil health, and even help keep pests away. Many of spinach’s best companion plants are also cool-weather crops that thrive in the same conditions. These plants can work together to create a healthier, more productive garden.
But not all plants make good neighbours. Some can compete with spinach for nutrients or attract pests that might damage its leaves. But, with the right combinations, you can enjoy a longer, healthier spinach harvest!
In this post, we’ll go over the best companion plants to help your spinach grow strong and a few plants you should avoid planting nearby.
The Best Companion Plants for Spinach
Herbs
Cilantro
Cilantro (also known as coriander) makes a fantastic companion for spinach because they thrive in the same conditions and grow to a similar size, meaning they won’t compete for space or sunlight. When cilantro flowers, its delicate blooms attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory wasps, which help keep common spinach pests such as aphids and caterpillars under control.
Dill
Dill is a wonderful companion plant for spinach. They love cool weather and have similar growing needs, making them easy to care for side by side. One of the biggest benefits of planting dill near spinach is that, just like cilantro, it attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which help control aphids and other leaf-munching pests.
But that’s not all, dill is known to enhance the growth and flavor of nearby plants, helping your spinach become stronger and more flavorful!
Parsley
The scent of parsley helps deter pests such as aphids and carrot flies. At the same time, it attracts beneficial insects that help keep your garden’s ecosystem balanced. Just like spinach, parsley also enjoys cool temperatures and moist soil.
Borage
The starry blue flowers of borage will attract beneficial insects to your garden. It also keeps deer from munching on your greens. But the benefits don’t stop there! Borage is a bioaccumulator, meaning its deep roots pull up valuable nutrients like calcium and potassium from the soil, making them more available to shallow-rooted plants like spinach.
This not only improves soil fertility but also helps your spinach grow nice and healthy. With borage in your garden, your spinach gets natural pest control and a nutrient boost—all from one beautiful, easy to grow plant!
Chives
The strong scent of chives helps keep common pests like aphids and leaf miners away from your spinach. Even better, chives are believed to help prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew, which can be a problem in cool, damp conditions where spinach thrives.
When they bloom, their pretty purple flowers attract beneficial insects like bees and parasitic wasps, which help pollinate your garden and control harmful bugs. Since chives have a fairly shallow root system, they won’t compete with spinach for nutrients either.
Vegetables
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, bok choy, and mustard greens are all cool-weather crops that grow very well with spinach. They won’t compete for space or nutrients, and their quick-growing nature means you can harvest them around the same time for a continous supply of fresh greens.
Legumes
Legumes such as peas and beans naturally fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it with this essential nutrient that helps spinach grow lush and healthy. As legumes grow up a trellis or stake, they provide light shade, which helps keep spinach cool and slows down bolting during warm weather. They grow vertically while spinach stays low to the ground, making efficient use of garden space!
Garlic
Garlic is like a built-in security system for your spinach patch! Its strong scent keeps slugs, caterpillars, and even deer from snacking on your greens. Plant garlic around the edges of your spinach bed to create a natural pest-repelling barrier. Meanwhile, spinach does its part by acting as a living mulch, covering the soil to keep weeds down and moisture in.
Leeks
The strong scent of leeks helps protect spinach from aphids and carrot flies. As they grow, leeks also help loosen the soil, making it easier for spinach roots to spread and take nutrients in. Since leeks grow tall and spinach stays low, they won’t compete for space either.
Brassicas
Plants from the brassica family which include cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli make great companions for spinach. They grow well together without competing for root space, They all thrive in cool weather and share the same growing conditions.
A great way to maximize space is by planting spinach between your brassicas—spinach grows fast and will be ready to harvest just as the larger brassicas start to take over. As brassicas mature, their large leafy tops provide shade for spinach, helping it stay cool and preventing it from bolting.
Root Veggies
Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets are great companions for spinach since these veggies are cold-tolerant and can be planted together early in the season. They help loosen the soil as they grow, making it easier for spinach roots to spread.
Cucumber
Cucumbers and spinach make a great duo, especially when it comes to making the most of your space. As cucumbers grow and spread, their big, leafy vines provide shade, helping to keep spinach cool as the weather starts to warm up.
Spinach, in turn, makes great use of the space underneath cucumber plants, filling gaps where bare soil might otherwise dry out or grow weeds. Since spinach is a quick grower, you can harvest it before the cucumbers really take off, making this pairing a great way to keep your garden productive from early spring to summer!
Tomato
In spring or early summer, you can sow spinach at the base of young tomato plants. While the tomatoes are still small, the spinach takes advantage of the open space and cooler temperatures to grow quickly. As the season warms up and the tomato plants get taller, their leaves provide shade to the spinach, preventing it from bolting too soon.
By the time the tomatoes start to get big, the spinach will be ready for harvest, making this a perfect way to maximize your garden’s productivity!
Flowers
Marigold
The unique scent of marigolds helps repel pests like aphids and nematodes. It also acts as a trap crop by luring harmful insects away from your spinach. Plus, marigolds are edible and are among the easiest plants you can grow!
Alyssum
Alyssum attracts lots of beneficial insects such as lacewings, bees, and butterflies, which not only help with pollination but also keep pest populations in check. Lacewings, for example, feed on aphids and other harmful bugs that might otherwise bother your spinach.
Alyssum’s low-growing habit makes it a great ground cover. It helps keep the soil cool and retain moisture, which is great for preventing spinach from bolting.
Nasturium
Nasturtiums helps repel pests like aphids and whiteflies. At the same time, nasturtiums attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which feast on those same garden pests. Plus, their trailing vines make a beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover, helping to keep the soil cool and moist for spinach to thrive in.
Yarrow
Yarrow is an amazing companion for spinach! Its sweet-smelling flowers attract helpful insects like ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and predatory wasps. Planting yarrow nearby brings these natural pest fighters right where you need them! Yarrow is also hardy, drought-tolerant, and helps improve soil health.
Calendula
Not only does calendula deter pests, but it also attracts friendly insects like bees and ladybugs to your garden! This hardy flower loves cool weather, just like spinach, so they make perfect planting buddies. The best part? Its vibrant petals are edible and can be used as an ingredient in teas, soaps, and even lotions!
Strawberry
Lastly we have strawberries! Spinach and strawberries are both cool-season crops, so they share similar growing needs and can be harvested around the same time. This combo is perfect for maximizing garden space, and what’s better that fresh spinach and juicy strawberries for a delicious smoothie?
Companion Plants to Avoid
Potatoes
Potatoes will compete with spinach for nutrients and space. Since both plants need plenty of resources to grow well, planting them together could stunt their growth and reduce overall yield.
Fennel
Fennel is not a suitable companion for spinach because it releases compounds into the soil that can stunt its growth.
Mint
Mint tends to spread aggressively, taking up too much space. Its strong growth can easily crowd out spinach, leaving it with limited space.
FAQ
Is spinach a cut and come again plant?
Yes, spinach is a cut and come again plant! You can harvest the outer leaves while letting the inner ones continue to grow for multiple harvests.
Is spinach a shade tolerant plant?
Spinach prefers some shade, especially during the warmer months, as too much sun can cause it to bolt (go to seed) quickly. Light shade works best.
Does spinach grow well in pots?
Yes, spinach grows great in pots and containers! Just make sure it is deep enough to accommodate its roots and place it in a spot with plenty of sunlight
Can you plant squash with spinach?
Squash and spinach can be planted together, but they might compete for space and nutrients. It’s best to give each enough room to spread out.
Can I plant spinach and kale together?
Yes, spinach and kale make great companions! They both enjoy cool weather and similar growing conditions.
Should you succession plant spinach?
Yes, succession planting spinach is a great idea! It ensures a steady supply of fresh leaves throughout the season by sowing a batch of seeds every few weeks.
Can spinach and peppers be grown together?
Spinach and peppers are not compatible companions. Spinach thrives in cooler temperatures, whereas peppers prefer warmth, leading to differing needs.
