Because we don’t need the plant’s flowers for anything, the best celery companion plants are ones that repel pests and attract predator insects. Although companion planting can help attract pollinators, we don’t need to worry about this here.
In this article, we’ll look at the best companion plants for celery, along with what you should avoid planting near it.
Best Companion Plants for Celery
1. Beans
Beans make good celery companion plants because they transfer nitrogen into the soil. This helps for something like celery because it’s a heavy feeder, meaning you won’t need to focus as much on fertilizing. Plus, celery repels bean beetles, making the relationship work both ways.
A planter with a built-in trellis (such as this) will work well, although you can just set up your own.
2. Marigolds
Marigolds are a popular companion plant for all types of crops. They emit a scent that repels pests such as aphids, but they also work as a trap crop. In short, this means they attract slugs away from your valuable food crops. Nasturtiums also work well for this.
3. Cosmos
Cosmos are flowers that attract parasitic wasps. Although this might not sound like an insect you want in your garden, it’s a natural predator for almost every pest that’s attracted to celery.
4. Spinach
Spinach is one of the best celery companion plants because it likes the same growing conditions. This means you can easily keep them in the same pot (like this one). Better yet, celery acts as a natural deterrent for spinach-loving pests.
5. Alliums
Alliums are a common no-go for companion planting, but they actually make great companion plants for celery. The strong odor given off by garlic, onions, etc. deters a wide range of pests. You don’t need to plant them in the same pot; nearby will work fine.
What Not to Plant with Celery
The plants that don’t work with celery are typically root vegetables or ones that suck up too many nutrients during growth. Here’s a quick roundup.
Carrots, Turnips and Parsnips
The biggest issue with these root vegetables is that they’re from the same family as celery, meaning they attract the same pests. As such, you’ll want to avoid growing them altogether because you run the risk of losing a lot if you have an infestation.
Corn
Corn relies on the same nutrients as celery, meaning they’ll compete during the same growing season. If you want a plant that provides shade to your celery, stick to beans.
Potatoes
Growing these veggies in the same pot as celery will most likely kill the celery by disturbing its roots during harvest. This shouldn’t be a massive issue when growing on a balcony, as they can be kept nearby.
Final Thoughts on Celery Companion Plants
Luckily, most companion plants for celery are easy to grow on a balcony, and some don’t even need to be grown in the same pot. Providing you avoid keeping carrots and parsnips nearby, you should have very few issues with your celery.