Companion plants for carrots
What to grow next to carrots, what to keep away from them, and why. Each reason is tagged by how well it’s supported.
Good companions
Onions and leeks Garden tradition
Traditional pairing to mask scent from carrot fly.
Lettuce and radish Practical reason
Radish marks slow carrot rows and is harvested before carrots need room.
Tomatoes Practical reason
Different root zones; carrots tolerate the partial shade.
Keep apart
Dill (flowering) Garden tradition
Same family; mature dill can cross-pollinate and is said to reduce carrot growth.
Parsnips Practical reason
Share carrot fly and carrot root diseases.
Planning the bed
Space carrots 3 inches apart (16 per square foot in square-foot gardening); the spacing calculator works out how many fit. For timing, see when to plant carrots, and the full companion planting chart compares all 16 vegetables at once.
Questions gardeners ask
What are the best companion plants for carrots?
Onions and leeks, Lettuce and radish, Tomatoes. Onions and leeks: Traditional pairing to mask scent from carrot fly.
What should you not plant with carrots?
Dill (flowering), Parsnips. Dill (flowering): Same family; mature dill can cross-pollinate and is said to reduce carrot growth.