Winter Squash and Companion Planting
It can be difficult to know what to plant next to winter squash: winter squash plants take up a large amount of garden space and can easily overwhelm neighboring plants.
Because lack of pollination is a primary reason for poor yield, GardenZeus recommends encouraging bees to visit your squash by planting it near borage, nasturtiums, rosemary, oregano, and other bee-attracting herbs and plants. Allowing vegetables like radishes and carrots to flower and persist in your garden while squash are in bloom may also attract bees and help with squash pollination.
Avoid planting root crops, such as beets, onions, and potatoes, near squash, which may disturb sensitive squash roots when harvested.
The main concern with companion planting for winter squash, including pumpkin, is that with the vigorous growth, long vines, and sprawling habit of many varieties, squash plants may simply overwhelm, cover, and starve other plants by blocking sunlight. Vining winter squash are generally not recommended for interplanting, but can be successfully grown with tall or large columnar plants, such as sunflowers, amaranth, and corn, especially tall or giant corn varieties.
The Three Sisters is a traditional Native American agricultural grouping that includes corn, beans, and squash. Will this combination work in your garden? See ‘The Three Sisters’ Companion Planting Combination for California
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Other articles regarding companion planting for warm season vegetables include: