What to plant next to Basil
The neighbours on this page are sorted by what the evidence shows: a proven benefit, good with a condition, simply compatible, or to keep apart. Each group says why, and the sources are listed at the end of the page.
Good neighbours, with a condition
A tall or climbing plant shades a low plant that needs full sun, so put the tall one on the north side (the south side in the southern hemisphere).
These go on the north side, this plant on the south:
Avocado tree
Mango tree
Banana plant
Papaya
Cassava
Passion fruit
Guava
Dragon fruit
Tomato
Cherry tomato
Beefsteak tomato
Compatible
Pineapple
Taro
Ginger
Turmeric
Kapia pepper
Padrón pepper
Plum tomato (Roma)
Bell pepper
Chili pepper
Eggplant
Gogoșar pepper
They grow together without a known conflict, but the benefits traditionally claimed for these pairings are not proven.
Why it helps
Mixing crops in the same bed spreads the risk: pests find their target harder, the soil is used at different depths and flowers bring in the insects that pollinate and hunt aphids.
| Spacing in the row | 30 cm (12 in) |
|---|---|
| In a 30 cm (1 ft) square | 4 per square |
| Crop rotation group | Herbs, flowers and perennials |
| Sow outdoors | May–Jun |
| Harvest | Jun–Sep |
Basil: spacing, plants per square and companions →
Plan it in the garden
The planner warns you when two crops with a documented shared risk, such as tomatoes and potatoes, end up next to each other, so you can fix the layout before planting.
Start Planning Your GardenSources
The class of each neighbour on this page rests on these sources.
- Planning the Vegetable Garden (426-312) — Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech for: good neighbours, with a condition; checked 2026-10-31
- Preparing a garden plan — UC Master Gardener Program, UC ANR for: good neighbours, with a condition; checked 2026-10-31
- The Myth of Companion Plantings (L. Chalker-Scott) — Washington State University Extension for: compatible; checked 2026-10-28