5 Plants to Keep Away from Your Squash
Certain plants simply don’t thrive alongside squash, making it essential to know which ones to avoid.
Growing incompatible plants can lead to competition for nutrients, pest issues, and reduced yields in your garden.
These plants may hinder squash growth, impacting your harvest if planted too close.
Cucumber
Cucumbers and squash don't play nicely in the garden.
These two plants often fight over nutrients, leading to less healthy growth for both.
Water becomes another issue; cucumbers can soak up more than their fair share, leaving squash thirsty and struggling to thrive.
Keeping these crops apart ensures each gets what it needs for a fruitful harvest.
Fennel
DiggersFennel can be a wonderful addition to your garden, especially for luring in helpful insects that support plant health.
However, this aromatic herb doesn’t get along with every vegetable.
Squash plants may struggle if fennel is nearby due to competition for nutrients and space.
Choosing the right companions in your garden is essential; understanding these relationships will lead you toward healthier crops and a flourishing green space.
Brassicas
Cabbage, kale, and cauliflower belong to the Brassicas family.
These plants thrive on nutrients in the soil, making them heavy feeders that can starve your squash of essential sustenance.
Pests like aphids and cucumber beetles find these leafy greens inviting too; their presence might lead to a pest invasion affecting nearby squash as well.
Keeping these vegetables away from your squash will help maintain a healthier garden environment for both crops.
Potatoes
Some nightshade crops, like potatoes, can be more of a hindrance than a help in your garden.
They compete fiercely for nutrients and space, often stunting the growth of neighboring plants such as squash.
The roots tangle with those of other vegetables, leading to chaos underground that affects overall health.
Keeping these plants separate might just save you from unwanted gardening troubles down the line.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins belong to the same family as zucchini and squash, yet they don't get along when it comes to growing together.
Cross-pollination between pumpkins and squash can lead to poor growth for the latter.
This means gardeners need to be careful about planting these crops near each other.
Keeping them apart ensures that your squash thrives without interference from pumpkin pollination issues.
James Turner
Founder & Lead Designer
Expertise
Interior Design, Sustainable Design Practices, Spatial Planning, Innovative Material Applications, Contemporary Art Techniques, Visual Communication, Multimedia Artistry, DIY Design and Home Projects, Eco-Friendly Living Spaces, Creative Solutions
Education
University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP)
Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), Columbus, OH
James Turner is the founder and lead designer at Velocity Art and Design. He studied Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati, focusing on eco-friendly design and smart use of space.
Later, he expanded his artistic skills with a Fine Arts Certificate from the Columbus College of Art & Design, where he learned about modern art and visual storytelling.
With over 10 years in design, James is passionate about making spaces that are both beautiful and practical. He shares his DIY tips and creative ideas to inspire others to explore their own creativity and transform their living spaces.