While some plants will benefit your cucumber crop, others will compete for resources, attract pests, share diseases, and more.
Looking forward to biting into a fresh, juicy cucumber plucked right from your garden? To successfully produce this summer staple, it’s important to know which plants should not be grown nearby. “Cucumbers generally grow well with many other edibles and flowering perennials,” says Beth Bolles, horticulture agent with the University of Florida IFAS Extension Escambia County. However, several plants can negatively affect cucumber growth and flavor. If you’re growing cucumbers in your garden, experts share below a list of bad companion plants for cucumbers that should not be planted nearby.
Meet the Expert
- Beth Bolles is a horticulture agent with the University of Florida IFAS Extension Escambia County.
- Matthew Wilson is a gardening expert and CEO of Handy Gardeners, a company that specializes in gardening and landscaping.
Related: 8 Cool, Crunchy Cucumber Salad Recipes to Make Right Now
01 of 09
Squash
Planting squash next to cucumbers can attract pests that harm your cucumbers. “Since squash is in the same family as cucumbers, they have the same pests (such as powdery mildew and squash vine borer),” says Bolles. “An example of an insect that will attack squash and cucumber fruit is pickleworm.”
02 of 09
Sage
Planting sage next to cucumbers is not wise. The reason is twofold: The aroma of sage can interfere with the crisp “cucumber-y” taste of cucumbers, while both plants compete for water resources, which can inhibit cucumbers’ growth…