Avid Gardeners Who Grow Green Onions Also Know To Plant This Tasty Companion

It seems like green onions have unlimited uses in the kitchen and can add a little bit of zest to an otherwise bland dish lacking memorable flavor. Whether you sprinkle them on a baked potato to give it more punch or add them as a topping to soups, you can't go wrong with the ingredient. And it turns out green onions are just as beneficial in your garden as in the kitchen. Green onions are part of the allium family and are a fast-growing, relatively low-maintenance vegetable. The bulb crop takes up very little room in garden beds or plots and makes excellent companion plants because of their natural ability to scare off pests.

Companion planting is the practice of growing two plants close to one another to provide each with mutual benefits in ways such as promoting plant health, increasing yields, and deterring unwanted insects. In this case, choosing green onions as a companion plant is a prime example of working with nature instead of against it — and there is a particular summer vegetable that pairs perfectly with it. We are talking about peppers, which are equally as tasty with sweet or hot flavors. Though they are delightful, peppers can sometimes be a bit tough to grow in the garden because they attract pests. Lucky for you, green onions can help.

Green peach aphids, which usually appear from spring to fall, are among the most common pests attracted to peppers. They feed on juicy peppers by sucking on the plant and bring about a handful of undesirable issues, including stunted growth and the transmission of nasty viruses. Yellowing or curling leaves on your plant are key signs aphids have gotten ahold of it.

This is where green onions come in as an excellent companion plant that will thrive next to your peppers. Green onions contain sulfur compounds that can repel pests. The pungent aroma keeps aphids and other critters, such as slugs and cabbage worms, away. To take it one step further, if you're having problems with deer or rabbits foraging in your garden, the smell of onions keeps them away, too.

To receive the full benefits, try interplanting peppers next to onions when arranging your garden. You can plant green onions between your pepper plants or grow your peppers in the center of your garden bed and have your onions border around them. You will find that green onions take up very little space!

Onions tend not to compete with peppers for nutrients in the soil. By planting peppers and green onions together, you will maximize your planting space in your garden without the pair fighting for nutrients. Also, pepper plants are much taller than green onions, leaving quite a bit of room for them to grow healthy and strong underneath. Plus, the duo has similar growing requirements and tending needs.

Peppers and onions prefer full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7. Green onions are known to enrich the soil, which will help your pepper plant thrive. Keep in mind that they both need plenty of nitrogen in the ground to survive, so it's beneficial to add a rich compost every once in a while, such as making a DIY compost at home. With all that said, creating a natural ecosystem in your garden where plants work together to support each other's growth is truly remarkable. Green onions and peppers naturally help each other thrive and will pair well in the kitchen, too, when you're ready to harvest!