Companion planting is one of the best and easiest methods to boost your plants’ health. Companion planting is sometimes done to get rid of pests, as some plants serve as deterrents to bugs that want to eat up their neighbors, while other plants draw predators that feast on those bugs.
Some plants even help to improve the flavor of others around them. Jalapenos are one of those plants that will do well with good companions. They could need some help from companion plants if you want to get the most out of them.
Plants such as carrots, spinach, basil, okra, garlic, lettuce, eggplant, chard, radishes, asparagus, chives, onion, tomatoes, rosemary, and leeks, are considered some of the best jalapeno companion plants.
More details on that later!
Table of Contents
What Is Jalapeno?
Jalapeno is a fruit of the capsicum pod specie. It is a hot pepper with medium size, especially when compared to other kinds of chili peppers, and can grow up to 2 to 3 inches long, but sometimes can grow over 6 inches long.
Jalapeno has its origin in the Mexican region. Still, it is currently widely grown in all parts of the world because of its significant flavor and mild heat level, averaging around 5,000 Scoville Heat Units. In other words, it is hot, but not excessively hot.
Meanwhile, the term ‘Jalapeno’ was gotten from the Spanish word ‘Jalapa or Xalapa,’ the capital of Veracruz, Mexico. That was where jalapeno was first grown, thereby giving it its name. Jalapeno can be best served when green. But, leaving the fruit on its plant for too long will cause it to turn red.
However, the red type can also be as tasty as the green variety, although a little tastier. Jalapeno has other names like Huachinango (the ripe red jalapeno), Chile Gordo (Fat Chili Pepper), Cuaresmeno, Chipotle Pepper (a smoked jalapeno pepper), etc.
When grown alongside jalapeno, several plants can be beneficial to it. Read down to see some of the most popular jalapeno companion plants:
Best Jalapeno Companion Plants
Some plants are beneficial to others in several ways when planted alongside them. For instance, the jalapeno pepper is a plant that will need help from other plants to maximize the benefits.
Some of these companion plants for jalapeno either help shelter the plant, prevent wind, scare certain weeds and pests, help retain moisture or serve as a trellis.
Below are some of the most common jalapeno companion plants!
1. Carrot
Apart from the fact that it is tasty when used together as a spice with pepper, carrots also offer a great combination with your peppers in the garden to provide the latter with the much-needed mulch it requires.
Carrots can also help control weeds in the garden, thereby offering your peppers a greater chance to grow vigorously. Another factor that makes carrot a good companion plant for your jalapeno is that it helps to give your peppers the proper spacing out they require.
2. Basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs that can thrive even when it is alone. However, growing them side by side with pepper will yield great results, particularly for the jalapenos. One of the most common benefits of basil as a jalapeno companion plant is that it brings out great taste flavor from the peppers.
Another benefit is that basil helps prevent several garden pests such as flies, mosquitoes, thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Doing so provides you with a viable option to grow your jalapenos, whether you are growing them for consumption or commercial purposes.
3. Okra
Another popular jalapeno companion plant is the okra. It enhances the health and better growth of peppers by offering partial shelter and preventing strong winds from reaching them as much as they would.
Okra also serves as a deterrent to pests, including aphids, from causing eating up your garden. Therefore, they are good companion plants to your jalapenos during the summer season particularly during the summer season.
4. Chard
Many benefits come with the Swiss chard when you grow them together with jalapenos in your garden. One of its great benefits is protecting your peppers from wind and excessive sunlight through its partial shade. It also deters weeds and provides extra color and beauty to your garden.
5. Radishes
If you need a good companion plant for your jalapenos, radish is another option, as it helps to maximize the space in your garden.
Even though they don’t provide direct benefits as others on this list, they are a great option for space maximization and utilization. They possess rapid growth and, before 4 weeks, will begin to yield while you keep waiting for your peppers to mature.
6. Chives
Even though it appears further down in our list, chives remain one of the best and most popular jalapeno companion plants because they increase the yields and taste of your peppers. They also help prevent pests, including several notable insects and aphids, from infesting your garden.
7. Spinach
Spinach is a good combination plant for jalapenos. In other words, several benefits come with planting it close to your peppers in the garden, including preventing weeds. It also helps during the spacing of the peppers and doesn’t compete with the peppers for sunlight or water.
8. Leeks
Leeks originate from the same family as onions and garlic. Even though they are not as popular as their others, they will certainly make great companions for your jalapenos.
This is because they can only consume a small space and help to deter insects like carrot flies. Leeks are smallish, thereby making them ideal options for garden space-out.
9. Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the smallest plants that serve as a jalapeno companion, yet it is one of the best options, especially during garden spacing between peppers. It also helps crowd out weeds, thereby preventing them from infesting your garden.
10. Onions
Apart from being seen as one of the few plants with edible leaves and roots, onion provides a reliable option if you want a companion plant, not just for your jalapenos but also for other plants. Onions prevent pests like cabbage worms, slugs, aphids, and several others from infesting your garden.
11. Tomatoes
Another common jalapeno companion plant is the tomato. It comes with several benefits when planted side by side with peppers, as it helps to boost their flavors. We all know that tomatoes are a tasty plant. Therefore, they will add great flavor to the pepper when grown alongside it.
Tomatoes also help prevent weeds from taking control of your garden, while also serving as a deterrent to several kinds of pests like aphids, amongst others that threaten your garden.
12. Garlic
The smell of garlic alone can scare every pest from your garden, and it is a great companion plant for your jalapenos. It comes with several benefits, including preventing weeds from usurping your garden.
13. Rosemary
Rosemary is a very attractive perennial plant with beautiful colors and a sweet scent. For this reason, it is a good option to be planted alongside your jalapenos, as it will boost your pepper garden with its lovely scent.
It will also boost the flavor of your pepper and helps to prevent weed from your garden. Rosemary does perfectly in optimal conditions.
It grows rapidly to the extent that it becomes a nuisance, thus preventing weeds from getting close to your garden and providing your garden with partial shade from excessive sunlight.
14. Eggplant
Originated from the Solanaceae family, the eggplant is popularly known for producing edible fruit. It is mostly a purple-colored berry used in many cuisines, including vegetable cooking.
Eggplant is a great option for your jalapenos combination because it deters weeds, prevents pests, and adds color to your pepper garden.
15. Asparagus
Have you tried planting asparagus alongside your pepper? It is certainly a great companion plant, as it comes with several benefits, including serving as partial shade to your jalapenos with its medium to long-sized leaves. It also prevents weeds and certain pepper pests like aphids from infesting your garden.
Other jalapeno companion plant alternatives include and are not limited to;
- Beets
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Dill
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Geraniums
- Petunia
- Nasturtium, etc.
Plants That Cannot Grow With Jalapeno Plants
Meanwhile, in as much as these plants are great companion plants for jalapenos, there are also plants that you shouldn’t consider planting next to your peppers. This is because they can be harmful to your peppers in several ways.
For instance, some of them compete with your jalapenos for the same soil nutrients, while others draw pests and diseases that can affect your peppers. These plants include but are not limited to;
- Beans (for jalapenos)
- Peas (for jalapenos)
- Cauliflower
- Kohlrabi
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Brussels sprouts
- Fennel
- Apricots
You may also want to read:
- 10 Best Watermelon Companion Plants
- Top 19 Beets Companion Plants
- 9 Best Turnip Companion Plants
- 11 Beautiful Eggplant Companion Plants
