Gardening Ideas Fruit, Vegetable, & Herb Gardens Fruits 7 Best Companion Plants For Watermelon (And 3 To Avoid!) Here are the best companion plants for watermelons. By Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone is a lifestyle and garden writer whose work has appeared in many national publications including Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce, PureWow, and others. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on May 30, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Why You Should Plant Watermelon with Companion Plants Best Companion Plants for Watermelons Companion Plants To Avoid With Watermelons Close Photo: Getty Images / Willowpix You’ve probably heard about companion planting, or the idea that some crops can “help” each other out. Much of companion planting is based on observation and folklore. But a few studies have shown limited positive effects, such as using collards to attract moths away from cabbage or planting African marigolds near your squash to attract beneficials that suppress pests such as aphids. One of the basic principles of companion planting is that it increases biodiversity in your garden to create a more balanced ecosystem. That can be achieved by companion plants in ways such as trapping pests or boosting pollination, and thus, crop productivity. On the flip side, some gardeners also believe there are plants you shouldn’t plant together. How To Grow And Care For Watermelon Why You Should Plant Watermelon with Companion Plants When it comes to watermelons, one of the most useful jobs of companion plants is to help with pollination. Watermelons are in the cucurbit family, which includes squash and cucumbers. These plants have separate male and female flowers and cannot self-pollinate. To pollinate and produce a watermelon, a bee must visit multiple times to transfer 500 or more pollen grains! Poor pollination also leads to misshapen fruit or cracks in the center of melons. In addition, because watermelons need full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day, companion plants for watermelons must be those that thrive in full sun. They also should not be so tall that they shade out your watermelons. While the science isn’t strong on all plant combinations, it won’t hurt to experiment with companion planting in your garden. But remember that because every garden is different with its own microclimate, nutrient needs, and weather conditions, you’ll need to observe your plants closely to see what works (or doesn’t). Best Companion Plants for Watermelons Nasturtium Getty Images / Jacky Parker Photography Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majusSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-drained, moist Nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed. They’re loved by pollinators and a potential trap crop because they’re a favorite of aphids, a common watermelon pest. Beneficial hover flies are then attracted to feed on aphid larvae. Sweet Alyssum Getty Images Botanical Name: Lobularia maritimaSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained but moist This low-growing, sweetly-scented annual is a pollinator magnet. Green lacewings also are attracted to this plant, and their larvae feed on adult aphids. Catmint Getty Images / Moonstone Images Botanical Name: Nepeta catariaSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-draining, varies This herbaceous perennial is a must-have in every garden because it’s extremely appealing to pollinators. With silvery foliage with a slightly minty scent and a profusion of purple, white or pink flowers, it’s both pretty and practical, with a long bloom time. Borage Getty Images / Paul Starosta Botanical Name: Borago officinalisSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-draining, rich This annual herb is easy to grow from seed. It has pretty blue flowers that pollinators, such as bees, and beneficials such as parasitic wasps and hover flies, adore. One small university study showed planting borage near crops increased pollinator activity, especially of native bees and hover flies. Dill Getty Images / Cyndi Monaghan Botanical Name: Anethum graveolensSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-draining, low fertility This herb is easy to grow from seed, and its tall flowers on willowy stems attract pollinators and beneficials such as bees, hover flies, and lady beetles, which also enjoy dining on aphids. Of course, you can also harvest this herb for cooking. Marigolds Getty Images / Douglas Sacha Botanical Name: TagetesSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Moist, well-drained These annuals come in cheery colors from sunny yellow to pumpkin orange and range in size from 6 inches to several feet tall. They bloom all summer long, attracting pollinators and beneficials such as hover flies, lady bugs, and parasitic wasps. Lavender Getty Images / Marianna Armata Botanical Name: Lavandula sp.Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Sandy, well drained Lavender’s long bloom period helps keep the pollinators coming, an important reason to grow this gorgeous, fragrant perennial near your watermelon crop. Consider planting a lavender border near your garden plot. Companion Plants To Avoid With Watermelons Striped cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles, and squash bugs are common watermelon pests which also attack other members of the cucurbit family. In order to avoid an invasion that wipes out everything, don’t plant these crops in the same family near your watermelon plants: Cucumbers Squash Pumpkins 13 Best Strawberry Companion Plants For A Juicy Summer Harvest Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit