North Dakota Garden Wars: The Veggie Combos That Spell Disaster

This past weekend, the idea of planting a small garden came up in a conversation with my neighbors. They do not want to do anything too ambitious—just a few tomatoes, some carrots, maybe a couple of pepper plants. You know, the classic plan for a simple backyard patch that somehow turns into a full-blown vegetable jungle by mid-summer. Before long, the ideas started growing: “What about cucumbers? Or onions?”

That’s when things took a surprising turn.

Turns out, not all vegetables get along. In fact, according to the wise green thumbs at marthaStewart.com, some garden pairings are basically the Hatfields and McCoys of the plant world. Just because it looks nice together in a salad doesn’t mean it should grow side-by-side in the dirt.

Things You Should Not Plant Together In A ND Garden

Take tomatoes and cucumbers, for example. You’d think they’d be best buds—salad staples and all—but no. Both are greedy little plants when it comes to sunlight, water, and nutrients. Plus, cucumbers like to sprawl, and their vines could end up throwing shade on the tomatoes. Literally.

Read More: North Dakota Summer Outlook Is In—and It’s Turning Up the Heat

And don’t even think about putting beans and onions together. Onions apparently give off chemicals that stunt the beans' growth. Talk about passive-aggressive!

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Lettuce and celery might seem like peaceful, leafy neighbors, but celery is a pest magnet. Aphids and whiteflies flock to it like seagulls to a dropped sandwich. Lettuce nearby is just collateral damage.

Then there’s peppers and cabbage. Peppers, being part of the nightshade family, don’t appreciate the cabbage family’s overbearing nature. It’s like trying to live next door to a cousin who borrows your stuff and never gives it back.

Oh—and if you’re thinking pumpkins and summer squash would make a fun combo, think again. They’ll cross-pollinate and give you weird mutant gourds that are better suited for Halloween than dinner.

The same goes for peas and garlic. Garlic might keep vampires away, but it also stunts pea growth and hogs the soil nutrients. It's the ultimate garden diva.

So, before you dig into your North Dakota dirt this spring, check your planting pairs. Your garden—and your future meals—will thank you.

Who knew vegetables could be so dramatic?