Should You Really Plant Cucumbers and Zucchini Together?

Zucchini are one of the hardest working vegetables in the garden because they can be used in many ways and don’t need much care. They also happen to be some of the fastest-growing vegetables for new gardeners. When you plant zucchini, you only have to do it once; all summer long, you can pick the squash with the blossom end.

But these vigorous summer squash can still fall victim to a range of issues. Pests and diseases, like aphids, powdery mildew, cucumber beetles, and bacterial wilt, can really hurt your zucchini harvest. And if you’re lacking in bees to pollinate the yellow squash blossoms, say goodbye to your potential harvests!.

Thank goodness that scientific research has finally caught up with old garden knowledge to show us how powerful companion planting can be. When you plant zucchini with other vegetables, herbs, and flowers that get along, you can get the most out of your space, increase yields, and reduce crop problems.

More than that, these plants make your garden look nice and attract bees and other pollinators that are important for a healthy ecosystem. Let’s dig into our favorite zucchini companion plants, as well as what not to plant with them!.

Top Zucchini Companion Plants

Pick flowers, herbs, and/or other vegetables to grow with your zucchini to help it grow and cut down on the need for weeding and harmful pesticides in the garden. There are many different options to choose from. We’ve broken out our favorites by each section. Let’s take a deeper look!.

Companion flowering plants are essential to attract pollinators.

We all know that we need to “save the bees” in our gardens. But when it comes to zucchini, planting nectar-rich flowers is not only for the bees. It’s in our best interest. In fact, without pollinator plants, you could end up with no zucchini at all.

Summer squash require 6 to 10 bee visits to fully pollinate a single flower. Those pollinated flowers grow into the zucchini squash you crave. So if you don’t have a parthenocarpic zucchini variety that develops seedless fruit without the help of bees, then you’ll definitely benefit from these flower companion plants in your garden. As a bonus, they attract beneficial predatory insects to help cut down on pest issues.

Sweet Alyssum is able to control pests by attracting predatory insects.

With its sweet-smelling tiny white flowers and low-growing habit, sweet alyssum is the quintessential companion plant. It does a lot of things for your garden and helps keep pests away by attracting ladybugs and parasitic wasps that eat pests. It also looks beautiful, smells great, and draws in tons of bees to pollinate your squash.

Alyssum is a fast-growing companion that is scientifically proven to prevent aphid infestations without competing with your crops for light, nutrients, or space. When paired with zucchini, it can drastically reduce pest pressure while improving yields through increased pollination.

Repels pests, attracts predators, and improves squash pollination

It takes about 50 days for alyssum to flower, so plant it right before you move your zucchini to the bed. Plant this lovely flower at all the row ends or scattered throughout the zuke patch. Remember that more is better! Give the alyssum plants 10 to 12 inches of space between them and the zucchini so the big squash leaves don’t shade them out.

Calendula produces orange flowers that attract insect pollinators and predators that eat aphids, and hoverflies.

A popular daisy-family flower, Calendula has ultra resinous, fragrant blooms. Though it’s commonly called “pot marigold”, it’s not actually related to marigolds. However, its vibrant orange flowers and insect-attracting properties make it equally as beneficial.

Aphid-eating lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps love feeding on the high pollen content of calendula flowers. As a bonus, this plant is highly medicinal for your skin and digestive system.

Attract beneficial predators and pollinators

Scatter calendula anywhere in your garden, leaving 12” between this herb and other plants. Zucchini can eat calendula, so it’s best to plant it in small areas around the edges of a raised bed or at the ends of a row. As the calendula flowers mature and dry, scatter the seeds in place to keep the patch expanding. You shouldn’t have to worry about any competition with your zucchini plants.

Clover flowers attract beneficial insects.

White and red clover are both commonly grown as cover crops. They are also great as living mulches because they fix nitrogen in the soil. When planted around raised beds for zucchini or along paths, clover flowers bring in all kinds of nice bugs while also keeping weeds down and keeping the soil moist.

These fragrant blossoms can improve squash pollination and reduce pest pressure in your zucchini. Clover grows naturally, but can get a bit unruly if left unmaintained.

Fixes nitrogen, attracts beneficial insects, and acts as living mulch to compete with weeds

Some clovers are very friendly, so you should either let your zucchini grow before planting or keep the clovers out of the beds and on the paths. This can be done by putting a lot of straw or leaves under the zucchini plants to keep the clover from growing in.

If you have raised garden beds, clover is the perfect walkable living mulch to seed around the wood. Maintain it by occasionally mowing or edging the clover with lawn equipment. Whichever route you take, don’t seed clover directly next to your zucchini. There are many ways that this plant’s flowers can help your zucchini, even if they are 4 to 6 feet away from the plants.

Borage is known for their turquoise flowers that repel cucumber beetles from squash and attract bees.

A popular plant with star-shaped turquoise flowers, Borage attracts bees and other pollinators. This bushy companion can help keep cucumber beetles away from your zucchini. It brings in loads of bees to improve pollination rates for bigger, juicier squash.

Salvia also has deep taproots that “mine” water and minerals from the ground to make them easier for nearby plants to use.

Attract beneficial predatory insects, improve pollination, and accumulate minerals

Borage is a fairly large plant that can keep up with zucchini without risking overgrowing it. Transplant these companions at the same time, leaving about 18” between the zucchini and the borage plant.

Nasturtiums have attractive flowers of different colors that are a trap for pests.

Tropaeolum spp. , otherwise known as nasturtiums, are playful morning glory-family flowers that come in a rainbow of colors. They are absolute magnets for hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and ladybugs.

The spicy aroma repels pests and lures them away from your zucchini. The flowers are also edible and have a delicious peppery flavor perfect for garnishing summer salads.

Repel pests, attract beneficial predators, and attracts pollinators

Make sure you give nasturtiums enough space to grow and flower. They can grow up to 10 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide. They look great planted around the edges of your vegetable beds or growing up next to a row of zucchini. Leave 18 to 24 inches of space between nasturtiums and their neighbors so that a flower patch doesn’t take over your squash!

Marigolds have a strong scent that repels pests.

French marigolds have been researched extensively for their pest-repellant properties in both greenhouse and outdoor settings. They repel insect pests above-ground and suppress root knot nematodes below-ground.

The strong aroma of the flowers and certain compounds in the roots make it an all-around workhorse companion. Marigolds can even help keep rabbits and rodents away from your squash. Plus, pollinators love them and they are beautiful additions to bouquets.

Repel pests, deter root knot nematodes, and attract pollinators

Be sure to select the more compact French marigold varieties (as opposed to Mexican marigolds). Plant them every few feet around the perimeter or row ends of your zucchini beds. Keep 12-18” between neighboring zucchinis and marigolds so the flowers don’t get overgrown.

Phacelia is an excellent companion plant for zucchini, producing wonderful purple flowers that attract pollinators.

One of the best insectary plants on the planet, phacelia (P. tanacetifolia) is a showstopper quick-growing floral companion for zucchini. Phacelia is in the Boraginaceae (borage) family and shares many similar properties to borage flowers.

With its lacy fern-like foliage and curled bell-shaped purple blossoms, phacelia is as beautiful as it is useful. Bees love phacelia so much that if you plant them near zucchini, you won’t have to worry about squash being pollinated again.

Attract pollinators and beneficial insects

Phacelia is the perfect peak-summer companion for zucchini because it matures in approximately the same time frame. Direct seed at the same time as squash, leaving 18-24” of space from neighboring zukes. It is also great for clump plantings in border beds.

Bachelor’s Buttons produce pom-pom-shaped flowers that attract all sorts of beneficial pollinators.

Bachelor’s buttons are beautiful annual flowers that are often grown because they attract many helpful pollinators. The pom-pom-shaped flowers bloom nonstop even when it’s very hot outside, which makes them a perfect match for zucchini’s tough summer performance.

Bachelor’s buttons, which are sometimes called cornflowers, don’t care much about the soil and won’t compete with your squash for nutrients.

Attract pollinators and beneficial insects

Direct seed bachelor’s buttons about 12-18” from zucchini plants or in large clumps on the borders of beds. They will grow back every year on their own, so you don’t have to worry about them taking over your garden.

Bee Balm has a strong aroma that repels many pests.

Some bugs don’t like the smell of bee balm leaves because they are high in essential oils that keep bugs away. The vibrant poofy flowers also attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial predators to your squash patch.

Bee balm is super low maintenance and comes back year after year for continuous companion support. This well-known flower is also native to the US, which makes it a great choice for gardeners who like native flowering plants.

Repels pests, attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects

Bee balm is a perennial best kept out of your annual beds. These bushes can get up to 4 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, so put them near your zucchini beds along the edges of your garden with perennial herbs.

Snapdragons produce bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and bumblebees with their fragrance.

These tall spike-shaped flowers look incredible rising up from a verdant broad-leaved blanket of zucchini squash. The bell-shaped flowers look lovely cut and smell great, which attracts many types of bumble bees and native bees.

Seed snapdragons in the spring 3-4 weeks before transplanting zucchini. They can be planted in a row alongside zucchini crops or scattered in between every few plants. By the time you plant zucchini, the snapdragons should be about 6 inches tall. Give them 12 to 18 inches of space between each other. With their cold tolerance, snapdragons will even outlast your zucchini plants into the fall.

Yarrow has creamy white flowers that attract parasitic wasps.

Yarrow has umbel-shaped flowers that are creamy white, pastel pink, or bright yellow. It is known for its beautiful lacey leaves. Wasps and hoverflies that feed on parasites love yarrow. This means that aphids and cucumber beetles might not be able to survive as well in your zucchini patch. Honey bees also love yarrow and can help with pollinating your squash.

Attract beneficial predatory insects and pollinators

Plant yarrow about a month before you plant zucchini, and make sure it has at least 24 inches of space between it and other squash plants. It grows well in the four corners of a raised bed or every six feet in a row. Any kind of lavender will do, but I like the classic native wildflower yarrow better than the colorful domesticated ones.

Echinacea repels pumpkin bugs and aphids.

Also called coneflower, echinacea is naturally bug repellant, particularly for squash bugs and aphids. It keeps these bugs away from zucchini and brings in the pollinators you need for strong, healthy squash crops.

This popular annual is also referred to as purple coneflower. Also, they are native to the United States. This makes them a great flower for people who want to grow native plants along with their vegetable garden.

Repel pests and attract beneficial insects

Echinacea needs at least 18-24” of space per plant and takes a year or two to flower. Since it is a hardy perennial, you should plant it in herb border beds instead of your squash beds. If you give echinacea this much time and space, it will reward you with lots of pretty pink cone-shaped flowers and help keep pests away from your garden.

Zinnias produce colorful flowers that protect zucchini from pests.

A lover of warm weather and full sunlight, Zinnia thrives in similar conditions as zucchini. These colorful flowers help protect squash from pests while adding splashes of color and beauty throughout the garden.

Zinnias are subtropical plants that require the same warmth as zucchini. Around the same time, you can move them to the garden, making sure to plant squash seedlings (or tomatoes or peppers) every few feet. However, planting squash next to zinnias can cause powdery mildew, which can easily spread to other plants in the garden. To avoid this, cut back or uproot tired old zinnia plants before they succumb to any diseases.

Strong-scented herbs are just as useful in the zucchini patch as they are in a delicious Italian saute. Putting herbs between plants is an old trick that uses the power of smell and flowers to keep pests away.

Dill flowers attract insect predators that eat aphids, thrips, and cucumber beetles.

A lot of different ladybugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and other bugs that eat aphids, thrips, and cucumber beetles come to dill’s big umbel flowers. Some gardeners even report that young dill plants can improve the growth and vigor of zucchini seedlings.

Dill is a fairly low maintenance herb, and is easy to grow. It can be a bit unruly if left unmaintained, so don’t sleep on your maintenance schedule.

Improve vigor and attract beneficial insects

Put baby dill in the garden with the zucchini, leaving 12 to 18 inches of space between each plant. Harvest the leaves as desired and allow the plant to bolt into its full glory of summer flowers.

The strong mint aroma can scare pests away from zucchini beds.

Mint can be a tricky plant to use as a companion because it is so aggressive. However, mint also has a notoriously strong fragrance that keeps bad bugs off your crops. When it flowers, it also attracts bees and beneficial insects for miles around.

Attract pollinators and beneficials

If you plant mint in the wrong place, it can get out of hand because it grows so quickly. Don’t plant this herb in your zucchini beds. Instead, use it as a groundcover or prune it into perennial beds next to your zucchini beds.

Oregano has a peppery aroma that repels beetles and aphids.

As one of the most popular pest control herbs, oregano is a great companion for almost all veggies. When it comes to zucchini, the peppery aromatic leaves of oregano keep squash bugs and aphids at bay.

As it bolts, the purple flowers provide important habitat and nectar-rich food for lacewings and other beneficial predators. This herb is also easy to care for, and can grow in many different growing conditions.

Repel pests and attract beneficials

Leave about 16 to 18 inches of space between plants when you plant oregano in the edges or corners of your zucchini beds. The low growth habit means it can get overgrown by your squash if planted too close.

An excellent companion plant for zucchini, Rosemary repels pests such as cucumber beetles and squash bugs.

Rosemary has a unique taste and leaves that are sticky and repel all kinds of bugs, from squash bugs to cucumber beetles and more. The sprigs are perennial in zones 7 and warmer, and they taste great with zucchini in recipes.

Rosemary shrubs can grow incredibly wide and tall. They do best on the edges of perennial beds, away from your annual beds but close to your zucchini plants.

Lavender produces wonderful purple flowers with a sweet fragrance.

This Mediterranean native is incredibly popular for its sweet classic aroma and gorgeous beauty in the garden. But it’s more than just a pretty plant; the strong scent of lavender leaves and flowers keeps pests away and attracts bees that help pollinate zucchini.

Repel pests and attract pollinators

Since both lavender and rosemary come from the Mediterranean, you can plant them in the same gravelly soil beds around the edges of a vegetable garden. Keep lavender shrubs a few yards from your zucchini.

Sage has a herbal scent that repels bad bugs.

Like its rosemary and lavender cousins, sage has a strong herbal smell that keeps bad bugs away. It tastes great in the kitchen and produces lovely flowers in peak summer. It’s another low maintenance herb that’s easy to grow. It does require a bit of monitoring, as like other herbs, it can grow wildly if left alone.

Repels pests and attract pollinators

Keep sage on perennial borders with lavender and rosemary.

Thyme flowers attract beneficial insects to the garden.

Containing the powerful compound thymol, thyme is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This plant uses its scent to keep soil-borne pathogens (organisms that cause disease) away from its plants and to scare away pests.

On the other hand, thyme flowers bring in good bugs that make your garden a healthy ecosystem that doesn’t need any pesticides or fungicides.

Prevent diseases, repel pests, act as ground cover, and attract beneficial insects

Plant bushy thyme only on the margins of your zucchini patch. Alternatively, opt for a creeping thyme variety to use as a groundcover in the zucchini bed. Creeping thyme can handle some shade and foot traffic because it keeps the soil cool, keeps water in, and keeps weeds from growing. It even gives baby zucchini a nice, soft place to grow without letting them rot in the ground.

Companion planting with other vegetables can help you make the best use of a small space garden. You can not only get more variety on your plate, but you can also keep pests away, make the soil more fertile, and beat weeds.

Corn is a good companion plant for zucchini as it does not compete with them.

In Mexico and Latin America, the traditional “three sisters” or milpa planting includes corn, beans, and squash grown together in a way that makes them all healthy. This trio provides numerous benefits to all crops involved.

The zucchini squash acts as a ground cover to shade out weeds and keep the soil moist. Meanwhile, the beans fix nitrogen that boosts the growth of both corn and zukes. The corn plants fill in the empty spaces between the zucchini plants and gives the beans a stalk to grow up.

We love that corn won’t hurt zucchini (as long as the soil is fertile enough) and won’t block its light. The tall growth habit acts as the perfect complement to zucchini’s low bushy shape.

Maximize yields and add biodiversity

Seed or transplant two rows of corn in mounds, then plant squash every 4 feet between them. Plant bean seeds around each corn stalk in a circle if you want to add beans. You can repeat the pattern for as long of a bed as you’d like.

Known for saturating the soil with nitrogen, peas positively affects zucchini yield.

Peas are also excellent nitrogen-fixers thanks to their association with rhizobium bacteria. These tiny organisms live with leguminous roots and help them change nitrogen from the air into nitrogen that plants can use.

This is great news for your zucchini crop because zukes are moderate to heavy feeders. They need plenty of nutrients to continuously produce.

Peas are also good because they can grow up a trellis without blocking the light from the crops below. Zesty low, wide leaves keep the soil moist and free of weeds. Peas, on the other hand, can make the most of vertical space by winding up a T-post or cattle panel trellis.

Fix nitrogen and maximize growing space

Sugar snap peas are notoriously quick growing, but may not enjoy the hot summer weather that zucchini craves. Instead, choose indeterminate (vineing) shelling peas that can handle the heat and grow up a trellis in the zucchini patch. rnrnDirectly seed the peas at the same time as you transplant zucchini. Set them at least 12 inches apart from each other and give them a narrow, tall trellis, like a fence post.

Beans are a nitrogen-fixing companion plant for zucchini.

Like peas, beans are the perfect nitrogen-fixing companion for zucchini. They grow quickly and maximize the vertical space above a zucchini canopy. Meanwhile, the zuke leaves shade out any competition.

Fix nitrogen and maximize growing space

Be sure to choose pole beans (bush beans will likely get overgrown by zukes). Trellis them just like the peas described above.

Tomatoes are an excellent companion as they are tall enough to withstand competition from zucchini.

Because zucchini’s big leaves cover the ground and keep it cool and moist, tomatoes are one of the best plants to grow with them. The yellow blossoms of both crops attract pollinators to the patch. Simultaneously, the tomatoes are tall enough to withstand competition from the zucchini.

Maximize yields, add biodiversity, and attract pollinators

You can trellis indeterminate tomatoes or opt for bush (determinate) varieties with this interplanting technique. When I grow tomatoes on a trellis, I can cut off the lower leaves and still have a lot of space between the zucchini stems and tomato stems.

Plant several seedlings at once, making sure there is at least 18″ of space between each tomato and zucchini plant. Cut the tomato plants back to a single or double leader, and then plant them on a T-post that you nail in between the zucchini plants.

Garlic has a strong fragrance that repels aphids and cucumber beetles.

A popular season-long crop, garlic deters pests with its strong aroma. When grown with zucchini, it can help keep aphids and cucumber beetles at bay.

Plant your zucchini seedlings in the middle of your beds after you pick a row of summer “green garlic.” This should be done right after the last frost in the spring. This timing will perfectly allow the adjacent garlic to continue maturing while the new zucchini takes off. Leave a minimum of 18” between rows of zukes and garlic.

Onions have a pungent odor that repels pests.

Like garlic, the pungent sulfury smell of onions is excellent for repelling zucchini pests. Their big bulbs also loosen the soil for shallow-rooted summer squash plants.

Repel pests and maximize yields

Transplant onions at the same time as zucchini about 24” from the baby zucchini plants. Keep the onions in a clean row next to the squash so you can switch between the two crops. You can also use onions to border a whole raised bed.

Peppers grow well with zucchini because they are sturdy and compact, which fits with the way zucchini grows.

Peppers, whether they are hot or sweet, do well when they are partially shaded by nearby zucchini plants. This keeps their fruits from getting too hot in the sun. These tomato-family plants that grow in a bushy way go well with zucchini because they are thick and compact, while zucchini is big and bushy.

Also, their season is known to be very long, which means you can plant zucchini plants when you have empty spots in your garden. Peppers are also easy to grow, and require minimal maintenance in the garden.

Maximize yield and increase biodiversity

To get the best results, start pepper plants indoors at least a month before zucchini plants. This is because zucchini plants only need 40 to 60 days to mature. When you transplant, make sure there is at least 18 to 24 inches of space between the peppers and zucchini so they don’t get too crowded.

The #1 SECRET To Growing ZUCCHINI SQUASH and CUCUMBERS (Plus 2 Tips)

FAQ

Can cucumbers and zucchini grow together?

What not to plant next to zucchini?

Will zucchini and cucumbers cross-pollinate?

Can you plant zucchini & cucumbers together?

Planting zucchini and cucumbers together can save space in the garden, as they both grow on vines and require similar growing conditions. They can be planted in the same bed, and the vines can be trained to grow up a trellis or fence. Both zucchini and cucumbers are heavy feeders and require fertile soil to grow.

What is the best way to cook zucchini?

One of the healthiest and tastiest ways to cook zucchini is in the oven. They cook more slowly, allowing the spices to penetrate the slices better and making the zucchini more flavorful.

What happens if you grow zucchini and cucumber together?

If the plants are too close together, they may not get enough sunlight or air circulation, which can lead to issues such as disease or pests. Finally, it is important to keep an eye out for any signs of disease or pests when growing zucchini and cucumbers together.

How do you grow zucchini & cucumbers?

When planting zucchini and cucumbers, it is important to consider their growing conditions. Both plants thrive in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. If the soil is too wet, it can lead to root rot. Additionally, it is important to make sure the soil is slightly acidic, as both plants prefer a slightly acidic soil.