Chili Pepper Companion Planting
Some of the best companion plants for hot peppers are those that repel certain insects and also attract their natural predators. The European corn borer is one bug that can be especially harmful to pepper plants. Plant your peppers near buckwheat to attract beneficial insects that eat the borers. Basil is a good neighbor because it repels fruit flies and some varieties of beetles that feed on peppers. Alliums are great companion plants for hot peppers because they deter aphids and beetles. Plants in the allium genus include:
Onions Leeks Garlic Chives Scallions Shallots
As an added bonus, alliums are popular chili pepper companions in cooking as well. Companion planting with chili peppers doesn’t stop with pest control. Hot peppers thrive in the sun, but their roots actually prefer shaded, moist soil. It is because of this, good companion plants for hot peppers are those that provide a lot of shade relatively low to the ground. Dense, low growing herbs like marjoram and oregano will help keep the soil around your hot peppers moist. Other hot pepper plants are also a good choice. Planting hot peppers close together shields the soil from quick evaporation and protects the fruits, which actually grow better out of direct full sun.
