Red raspberryRubus idaeusacts as a trap crop
Nasturtium can draw aphids away from young raspberry growth.
What to plant with Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Nasturtium grows best when paired with plants that acts as a trap crop, repels pests. We've catalogued 23 beneficial companions Every pairing below cites its mechanism — pest deterrence, nitrogen fixing, allelopathy, or shared disease.
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Plant near these for better growth
23 plantsBlack currantRibes nigrumacts as a trap crop
Nasturtium can act as an aphid trap crop near currants.
Pumpkin / ZucchiniCucurbita peporepels pests
Nasturtium repels squash bug.
Cucumis sativusCucumis sativusrepels pests
Nasturtium deters cucumber beetle.
Amaranthus cruentusAmaranthus cruentusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Amaranthus hypochondriacusAmaranthus hypochondriacusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
PigweedAmaranthus retroflexusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
CeleryApium graveolensacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
AsparagusAsparagus officinalisacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Wild CabbageBrassica oleraceaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
TurnipBrassica rapaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Cucumis meloCucumis meloacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Cucumis sativusCucumis sativusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Pumpkin / ZucchiniCucurbita pepoacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Daucus carotaDaucus carotaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Lactuca sativaLactuca sativaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
CressLepidium sativumacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Pastinaca sativaPastinaca sativaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
RadishRaphanus sativusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
SpinachSpinacia oleraceaacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
PotatoSolanum tuberosumacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
TomatoSolanum lycopersicumacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Abelmoschus esculentusAbelmoschus esculentusacts as a trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
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How these mechanisms work
trap crop
A sacrificial crop draws pests away from the main harvest.
pest repellent
Strong aromatics like basil, garlic, and marigold mask the olfactory cues that pests use to find their target crop.
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Frequently asked
What are the best companion plants for Nasturtium?
The top companions are Red raspberry, Black currant, Pumpkin / Zucchini. 20 more pairings are catalogued above with their mechanisms.
Can companion planting reduce pest damage on Nasturtium?
Aromatic companions deter many pests through scent masking and alarm pheromones. Effect varies by pest species and density — most effective as part of a polyculture, not a one-plant solution.
Is companion planting scientifically proven?
Some mechanisms are well-documented (legume nitrogen fixation, allelopathy in walnut and fennel, nematode suppression by marigolds). Others are traditional pairings with anecdotal support. We cite both, but mark mechanism strength where available.
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Other Tropaeolaceae
Plants in the same botanical family — often share cultivation needs and pest sensitivities.
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