Last Updated on May 31, 2025 by Jocelyn
Artichoke companion plants include peas, tarragon, thyme, and yarrow, which enrich the soil or deter pests. Spinach, squash, and asparagus also grow well nearby without competing for space.
Avoid planting potatoes, corn, or fennel, as they may attract pests or stunt growth.
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, or artichokes, are grown as perennials in mild zones and annuals in colder areas. They prefer full sun, well-drained soil, and need 3–4 feet of space between plants due to their size.
These striking vegetables not only produce edible flower buds but also attract pollinators. When choosing companion plants, opt for those that tolerate shade and don’t compete for nutrients.
With thoughtful pairing, even experienced gardeners can get better results from their artichoke beds.
Benefits of Artichoke Companion Planting
Companion planting is a clever gardening technique that helps plants grow better together. It can improve soil quality, reduce pests, and create a more efficient garden.
This practice has been used in agricultural tradition for a long time and supports sustainable gardening.
| Benefit | Explanation |
| Repels pests | Certain plants like marigolds help keep away nematodes and other harmful insects. |
| Attracts predators | Plants can attract helpful predators like ladybugs and bees that manage pest populations. |
| Improves soil nutrients | Legumes add nitrogen to the soil, making it nitrogen-rich for other plants. |
| Provides shade | Taller plants offer shade to smaller plants, helping them thrive in a moist environment. |
| Enhances biodiversity | A mix of plants promotes biodiversity, which helps maintain a balanced and resilient ecosystem. |
| Reduces disease | Mixing different plants lowers the risk of disease by preventing the spread of specific pathogens. |
| Maximizes space | Using vertical and horizontal space wisely creates a lush and productive garden layout. |
| Supports pollinators | Flowers like lavender attract pollinators which are crucial for plant growth and productivity. |
To learn more about companion planting, check out my guides:
Best Artichoke Companion Plants
When growing artichokes, it’s important to consider their requirements and characteristics to get the most benefit. Artichokes have unique needs, and finding the right companions can help them thrive.
Let’s explore some of the best companion plants to grow alongside your artichokes.
1. Asparagus
Asparagus is a perfect companion plant for artichokes. Since both are perennials, you only need to plant them once and enjoy fresh vegetables for years to come. Asparagus takes at least two years to grow before you can harvest it.
It’s best to plant asparagus and artichokes spaced apart by at least two feet to avoid competing for underground space and micronutrients. The correct spacing gives both plants ample space to grow without interference.
Asparagus can be harvested from late spring to early summer, while artichokes are harvested in spring and fall. During the off-season, asparagus grows tall, fern-like fronds.
Planting them in alternating rows or along a fence line creates a great hedge effect with different shades of green.
Asparagus also thrives in wetter soil and heavier clay soil, which suits the requirements of both plants. Both grow well in similar pH environments and have similar fertilizer requirements.
This combination makes for a great perennial vegetable garden with yearly harvests from both plants.
2. Peas
Peas are excellent companion plants for artichokes. They add nitrogen to the soil, grow upwards on a trellis to save space and provide shade to artichoke leaves.
Peas’ shallow roots don’t compete with the deeper roots of artichokes, ensuring both plants get sufficient water and nutrients.
Peas are annuals, enriching the soil for the next season, but it’s important to ensure they don’t block sunlight from the artichokes.
3. Sunflowers
Planting sunflowers alongside artichokes is beneficial as they provide afternoon shade, protecting artichokes from summer heat. Place sunflowers on the west side of the garden for optimal shading.
Their deep taproots make them drought-tolerant, so they need less frequent watering and won’t compete for micronutrients. Sunflowers thrive in hot, dry climates, ensuring your artichokes stay healthy.
4. Marigolds
Marigolds are a fantastic choice to plant around artichoke plants. They can deter soil-dwelling pests, especially nematodes, which can harm artichoke roots.
In addition to pest control, they add a splash of color to your garden and attract beneficial insects.
Marigolds are great for drawing in predatory insects like hoverflies and ladybugs, which can help keep pests away from your artichokes.
Plant them around the perimeter of your artichokes for maximum effect. If you let your artichoke buds open and flower, marigolds will also attract pollinators. This combination provides multiple benefits and helps reduce pests in the soil.
5. Tarragon
Tarragon offers many benefits for your garden and artichokes. It can attract predatory insects like ladybugs and hoverflies that feast on pests. This plant also repels many bugs with its strong, sweet, spicy scent.
Plant tarragon on the edges of the artichoke bed where it can get sunlight. It’s drought-resistant and needs to dry out between waterings.
Since it’s not a heavy feeder, it won’t compete with artichokes for micronutrients. This way, your artichokes can grow without any harm from competing plants.
6. Thyme
Growing artichokes in your garden can be easier if you plant thyme nearby. Similar to oregano, thyme acts as a pest barrier that can repel insects.
This drought-tolerant herb is excellent for fighting off pests that might harm your artichokes.
It can deter cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, and snails, which can cause big problems for your artichokes. Typically, thyme is harvested in early summer, often aligning with your artichoke harvest.
Just like I suggested with tarragon, thyme prefers drier conditions. Planting it in a container next to your artichoke bed can help you keep a proper watering schedule and ensure both plants thrive in their preferred environments.
7. Yarrow
Planting yarrows next to artichokes offers numerous benefits. Yarrow attracts beneficial insects like lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps that control aphids, and it repels moths harmful to artichokes.
Its scented leaves and flowers draw pollinators, enhancing garden health. Plant yarrow in a separate bed or container with moist soil and provide shade, especially during hot summers, to keep it thriving.
8. Cabbage
In my garden, I like to grow cabbage with artichokes because they make great companion plants. Both are part of the brassica family and are heavy feeders, needing lots of water and fertilizer.
Their big leaves can compete for space, so I plant them in a large bed to avoid stunted plants.
These plants have similar soil conditions and water requirements, making it easy to care for them together. While not as perfect as asparagus, cabbage still grows well with artichokes.
9. Lavender
One of the best plants to grow near your artichokes is lavender. It is amazing for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are important for many garden plants. The scent of lavender also has aromatic benefits.
It can help keep away some pests and adds a nice aroma to your garden. When you plant lavender plants close to your artichokes, you create an insect-friendly zone that helps both plants thrive together.
10. Squash
Squash plants are great companions for artichokes. Their vining habit allows them to act as a natural ground cover, which helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, benefiting the artichokes.
It’s important to give squash vines enough room to spread without crowding the artichoke plants. When properly fertilized, squash and artichokes can coexist well because they both have significant nutrient requirements.
11. Spinach
Spinach makes an ideal companion for artichokes in a garden setting because it grows low, not competing for sunlight with taller artichokes. Both plants prefer nutrient-rich soil, creating a beneficial synergy.
Furthermore, spinach grows best in the cool seasons of spring and fall, which complements the growing conditions for artichokes. This pairing optimizes your garden’s productivity and maintains the health of the plants.
12. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a fantastic companion for artichokes in your garden. Its colorful leaves not only add beauty to your garden but also thrive in similar growing conditions as artichokes.
When it comes to space utilization, chard can be cleverly planted around artichokes, making the most of your garden space without causing significant competition between the plants.
This strategic pairing ensures that both chard and artichokes can grow efficiently, contributing to a flourishing and vibrant garden environment.
What Not to Plant With Artichokes
When thinking about artichokes and what to plant nearby, it’s crucial to know what not to plant with them. Artichokes can face competition for resources and need specific growing conditions to thrive.
As they grow, they can get quite tall and wide, often up to 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide, which means they need a lot of space. This can limit what you can plant nearby.
In my experience, avoiding certain companion plants is essential because a small number of plants can negatively affect your artichokes.
These plants can compete for resources or require different growing conditions. For instance, if you plant something too close, it might stunt the growth of your artichokes.
I’ve learned that a handful of plants don’t work well with artichokes. They either crowd them or draw away nutrients. Giving your artichokes enough space and avoiding competition will ensure they grow healthy and strong.
1. Potatoes
When thinking about companion plants for artichokes, potatoes might come to mind. Although both have similar growing conditions, it’s important to keep them apart.
When it’s time to dig up potatoes, you might damage the roots of the artichokes.
I learned this the hard way, and now I always ensure they are planted far enough from each other. Potatoes can compete with artichokes for underground space and nutrients.
Their extensive root systems can interfere with the root development of artichokes, as these root vegetables need room to grow their tubers. So, it’s best to give each plant the space they need to thrive.
2. Corn
Growing corn and artichokes together can be tricky. If you plant corn on the west side of your artichokes, it can provide shade during the hotter parts of the day. However, corn has shallow roots and needs its own space.
The soil needs of these plants are different, and often, one ends up sacrificing for the other. Both plants are heavy feeders, meaning they use a lot of nutrients from the soil, especially nitrogen.
This can cause competition and lead to poor growth since both need nutrient-rich conditions.
I’ve found that planting corn near artichokes doesn’t work well because they both suffer. Instead, I plant them separately to avoid any issues.
3. Black Walnut
When choosing companion plants for artichokes, it’s important to be aware of certain trees that can be harmful to them, such as the Black Walnut. From my experience, planting artichokes near a Black Walnut tree is a bad idea.
This tree produces a toxin called juglone that can kill garden plants, including artichokes. The chemicals from the Black Walnut can stay in the soil for up to 10 years, making it unsafe for artichokes to grow there.
Additionally, if water carries the toxin downhill, it can spread and affect other trees and plants.
4. Thistles
When planting artichoke, it’s important to avoid thistles. Artichoke is a thistle, and having other thistles nearby can attract the same pests.
From my experience, I noticed that planting them together leads to more problems with pests in the garden. Keeping them apart helps keep the garden healthier and the artichoke plants stronger.
5. Fennel
Fennel poses a potential threat. Despite its culinary value, Fennel produces a toxic chemical that can damage nearby artichoke plants.
It’s essential to keep this in mind when planning your garden layout to avoid unintended consequences.
Tips for Growing Healthy Artichokes
Growing artichokes successfully requires attention to several key factors. Here are some tips to help you ensure your artichokes thrive:
- Regular and deep watering: Artichokes need consistent and thorough watering to develop roots and grow large, fleshy leaves. Inconsistent watering can cause stress and lead to poor bud development.
- Use rainwater collected in a water butt: This is an excellent way to conserve water and provide your plants with what they need.
- Method: Employ drip irrigation or soaker hoses to ensure water reaches the roots without wetting the leaves. This helps prevent leaf diseases.
- Frequency: Adjust watering based on weather conditions and soil type. Generally, water artichokes once or twice a week, but more frequently in hot, dry conditions.
- Soil requirements: Plant artichokes in well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter.
- pH level: Maintain a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Test and amend your soil as necessary.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.
- Sunlight and temperature: Artichokes need full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours daily. They grow best in a range of mild to cool weather but need protection from extreme heat or frost.
- Fertilization: Artichokes are heavy feeders. Use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer or well-rotted manure. Fertilize every four to six weeks during the growing season.
- Harvesting: Pick artichokes when the buds are firm, well-formed, and before the flowers open.
FAQ’s
Q: What Do Artichokes Grow Well With?
A: Growing artichokes in a vegetable garden is rewarding. Good companion plants include peas, cabbage, sunflowers, and tarragon. These plants thrive in nutrient-rich soil with organic matter, increasing the harvest.
Q: Where Should I Plant Artichokes?
A: Artichokes thrive in full sun or partial shade and need light, fertile, well-drained soil like sandy or loam which is ideal for them.
Q: What Pests Eat Artichokes?
A: When growing artichokes, beware of pests like aphids, grasshoppers, whiteflies, the Artichoke Plume Moth, slugs, snails, cutworms, and the Thistle Butterfly. These critters eat artichokes and can seriously harm your plants.
Q: How Do You Increase Artichoke Yield?
A: To increase your artichoke yield, use plastic mulches for planting, water them frequently post-transplanting, and maintain healthy growth through spring and summer for long-term production.
Q: How Many Artichokes Can One Plant Produce?
A: To produce a lot of artichokes from one plant, you should aim for Green Globe plants. They can give you up to 30 buds in a season. If you want to feed your family, plan for 2-3 plants per person. Remember, the better the soil, the better the harvest.
Conclusion
Planting companion plants such as peas, sunflowers, and tarragon with artichokes can significantly enhance their growth. Peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, sunflowers offer necessary shade, and tarragon keeps pests at bay.
In my experience, sunflowers notably improved my artichokes’ health by shielding them from excessive sunlight. Using companion plants can be a smart way to boost your garden’s health and productivity.
Try adding some of these plants around your artichokes, and you might see a big difference.
Learn more with my companion planting guides:
