Learning about companion planting for lettuce can be quite beneficial, especially when you want to maintain constant supply of fresh produce all year long.
Companion planting is about another plant together with your lettuce for the beneficial outcome. Some of the benefits include protection, improved flavor, and others.
Deterring Pests and Bugs
What to plant with lettuce to keep bugs away? When you have pest issues in your garden, but you don’t really want to use the dangerous pesticides, try the alliums. They are available in various types, such as chives, onions, or garlic.
The alliums have pungent smell that garden pests dislike. Not to mention that the smell is quite strong too. When you plant alliums with lettuce, you can fight off aphids, snails, slugs, and deer away. Your lettuce would be safe and sound.
Calendula is another companion planting for lettuce that you can use for the pest control trait. You can deal with snails and slugs easily. Aside from its natural medicinal trait, calendula is also great for bouquet, thanks to its ornamental appeal.
Cilantro is another great option. This aromatic herb can ward off the annoying insects that can affect lettuce’s growth. To get the best result, plant it next to the lettuce so pests won’t be attracted to come into your lettuce plant.
Other options that you can have to avoid pests are:
• Mints. No matter what varieties you plant close to the lettuce, they have this distinctive smell that will repel off slugs. Just so you know, slugs are very dangerous for the lettuce.
• Turnips. They are naturally the enemy for aphids. You should plant the turnips close to the lettuce so aphids won’t come close to the lettuce.
Best and Worst Companions
If you are serious about having the planting companion, you should know some of the best and worst companion plants for lettuce. Some of the best options are:
• Beets. Because lettuce and beets have different roots sizes, they won’t get in one another’s way. You won’t have any space competition. In fact, when you have them together, you can max out the space within your garden.
• Asparagus. Because of its natural stature, asparagus can provide great protection against the shade. This is important when you plant the lettuce in bright and sunny area.
• Carrots. Just like beets, carrots can maximize the space garden so you can enjoy maximum outcome of the produce.
• Strawberry. When you plant strawberries close to the lettuce, you can actually improve the soil health naturally. Not to mention that the plant can actually attract beneficial insects, like parasitic wasps and predatory mites.
Some of the worst options for companion planting for lettuce include:
• Fennel. Basically, it’s a (garden) crop that isn’t compatible with most other plants. Fennel can disturb other plants’ growth – or even kill them.
• Cabbage family. You don’t want to plant cabbage family varieties close to your lettuce. It includes kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and brussels sprouts. The secretions from their root is able to prevent the (lettuce) seeds from growing and germinating.
There you have it, some of the best option for planting other plants with your lettuce. There are still more options and lists of companion planting for lettuce that you can search on your own.