If you’re growing lettuce this season, read on to discover some of its best companion plants.
Plus, lettuce leaves will help hide bright red strawberries out of the sight of animals.
Turnips also serve as an aphid repellent.
PhotoAlto/Laurence Mouton / Getty Images
Basil also adds beneficial nutrients into the soil, helping lettuce’s growth.
Marigolds
Ravinder Kumar / Getty Images
Marigolds will keep away cabbage worms and nematodes.
Improving drainage systemsandrepelling aphids, it’s a win-win.
huayang / Getty Images
Ladybugs love parsnips, which protects the lettuce’s leaves.
That means it serves as a barrier around your precious lettuce plants.
The leaves will provide protection from summer’s hottest rays andkeep it from wilting.
Image Source / Getty Images
Garlic will repel aphids and beetles, as well as some mammals.
Chives
Like garlic, chives have an odor that repels aphids and other pests.
And unlike some plants, onions take up limited space and won’t compete with lettuce for nutrients.
Geri Lavrov / Getty Images
Scallions
Scallions and onions are actually the same plant.
You simply harvest scallions when they plants are young, before they have formed an onion bulb.
Scallions are grown for their leaves instead.
Nicholas Kostin / Getty Images
As such, scallions have the same companion plant benefits as onions.
This can provide shade for lettuce plants if placed properly.
Lettuce plants do like lots of sun, but sometimes midday sun can be too harsh.
deepblue4you / Getty Images
Nearby cucumbers can help.
Asparagus
Asparagus has a similar companion plant effect to cucumber.
While cucumbers climb, asparagus plants just get really tall, shading lettuce on hot, sunny days.
Ravinder Kumar / Getty Images
Asparagus plants also have deep roots that promote healthy soil structure.
Beans
Pole beans also vine up on support structures, creating shade for lettuce plants.
Many lettuces bolt when the temperatures get too hot.
Dimitrie Ragar / 500px / Getty Images
When a plant bolts, it puts its energy towards flowering instead of growing harvestable leaves.
Spinach
Spinach and lettuce are very similar.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes and lettuce grow great together, working in tandem.
Olga Shumytskaya / Getty Images
The following plants can be detrimental to lettuce.
Plant lettuce plants somewhere where they will get at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
They can handle more sun, but in warmer regions, protect lettuce from midday heat.
Adrian Crook / Getty Images
Coffee grounds can add nitrogen to the soil, and nitrogen is an essential nutrient for lettuce growth.
However, nitrogen is not instantly available as soon as you scatter coffee grounds around.
It’s possible to add too much to the soil before it can break down, causing rot.
duckycards / Getty Images
Add coffee grounds sparingly or compost it instead.
If you space lettuce plants too close together, they will compete for nutrients.
The individual plants will not get as large as they would get if they had enough space.
Howard Grill / Getty Images
Zen Rial / Getty Images
Nadya So / Getty Images
Getty Images/Photo by Cathy Scola
Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images
DigiPub / Getty Images
