Companion plants for cucumbers
What to grow next to cucumbers, what to keep away from them, and why. Each reason is tagged by how well it’s supported.
Good companions
Beans Practical reason
Share trellis space and are light feeders.
Peas Practical reason
Spring pea trellis can be reused for cucumbers after peas finish.
Dill Practical reason
Attracts predatory wasps and hoverflies; handy for pickling too.
Lettuce Practical reason
Grows in the shade at the foot of a cucumber trellis.
Keep apart
Potatoes Garden tradition
Compete for water; potatoes may encourage blight in cucumbers according to tradition.
Sage and strong herbs Garden tradition
Traditionally said to stunt cucumbers.
Melons Practical reason
Share cucumber beetles and bacterial wilt.
Planning the bed
Space cucumbers 12 inches apart (2 per square foot in square-foot gardening); the spacing calculator works out how many fit. For timing, see when to plant cucumbers, and the full companion planting chart compares all 16 vegetables at once.
Questions gardeners ask
What are the best companion plants for cucumbers?
Beans, Peas, Dill, Lettuce. Beans: Share trellis space and are light feeders.
What should you not plant with cucumbers?
Potatoes, Sage and strong herbs, Melons. Potatoes: Compete for water; potatoes may encourage blight in cucumbers according to tradition.