From crisp afternoon snacks to hearty fall soups, celery is a great addition to any garden or meal. And when adding celery to your garden, there are a few ways you can help it to grow, as well as support the rest of your garden with the use of companion planting. Companion planting is when you use specific plants to support the growth of other vegetables, trees, or flowers.

For example, some plants when placed next to celery will keep away bugs. Others will help add nitrogen to the soil, and some grow tall enough to offer shade or protection from the wind and other elements. Plus, many of these plants are a staple for any garden, and will complement your celery both in growth and in your cooking! Keep reading to find out which plants are best for companion planting with celery!

1. Leeks

A bunch of leeks in a brown crate

Image credits: Jonathan Kemper via Unsplash

Leeks are a great addition to a garden, and you can also use them when cooking a variety of meals. When planted near celery, they can help your celery grow better as it helps to regulate the nutrients in the soil. Celery requires a high amount of nutrients, including nitrogen and potassium.

In particular, the scent of the leek, which is similar to garlic or an onion, can also repel certain pests, such as carrot rust flies. Leeks keep them away from celery as well as other plants in your garden.

2. Cucumber

cucumbers growing on the ground with yellow flowers

Image credits: Kelly Neil via Unsplash

Cucumbers are common in most gardens, and make a good companion for celery. The cucumbers can climb a trellis and celery does well in the shade and protection provided by the plant's leaves. When looking to pair celery and cucumbers, make sure to check that your type of cucumber is a vining variety. Some cucumbers come in a bush type, but as such, will not have vines to climb a trellis.

When looking for a cucumber to use for companion planting in this case, make sure to get the type that will grow on a trellis. Some vining types include straight eight, burpless, or marketer varieties.

3. Bush Beans

A pile of bush beans sitting inside a wooden box

Image credits: Sonja Langford via Unsplash

Bush beans help fix the nitrogen in the soil. They are also a heat tolerant plant, and bush beans can be a great option as they are low maintenance and produce a large harvest. The nitrogen that bush beans provides, allows your celery and other plants to grow faster and larger, especially as celery requires large amounts of nitrogen when growing.

Celery and bush beans have similar soil requirements of 6 to 6.5 pH levels. The two plants also require a similar amount of watering in most cases, at 1 to 2 inches of water each week, making them great friends in the garden.

4. Cabbage

A large head of celery with opening leaves

Image credits: David Holifield via Unsplash

Cabbage and celery both help each other out! The cabbage helps to protect the celery by offering shade and protection from the elements, much like the cucumber plant. However, cabbage does this without the need of a trellis.

In this case, planting celery near cabbage will also help the cabbage thrive in their co-dependent relationship. Celery can repel cabbage worms and moths, which commonly affects these leafy greens.

5. Garlic

A bulb of garlic opened up with some cloves spread out, bug repellent

Image credits: Tijana Drndarski via Unsplash

Garlic can deter rabbits from your garden, which is a great help if you've had rabbits come to nibble on the garden in the past. Don't let them ruin all the hard work and time you've invested into your yard! This happens because garlic has quite a strong smell, even when growing.

This pungent clove can also keep pests away from celery such as aphids, caterpillars, mice, and even deer! Garlic works great as a deterrent because it is more fragrant, and less appealing to many animals and insects.

6. Nasturtium

A large red Nasturtium flower in front of a wooden backdrop

Image credits: Nareeta Martin via Unsplash

As a pretty and easy-to-grow option to add to your garden, nasturtium makes a good companion for celery. With it's red, orange, and yellow flowers and circular leaves, it helps keeps unwanted insects like whiteflies, aphids, and cabbage moths away from your celery and other plants. It also has the added bonus of adding some variety to your garden, and allowing a pop of color among your vegetables.

Because of their bright colors and sweet nectar, they'll also attract hummingbirds and pollinators to your garden. Nasturtium does well with celery as they also do best with soil that is around a 6.5 pH level.

7. Cosmos

A pink cosmos flower

Image credits: kim sung jin via Unsplash

Cosmos is another flower that works in almost the same way as nasturtium in that it repels pests, because pests do not like the smell or taste of the petals. Cosmos is a good-smelling plant however, and there is even one variety, chocolate cosmos, that will remind you of that cocoa aroma!

These beautiful blooms help keep away aphids that might attack your celery plants.  Cosmos may also attract good critters such as butterflies and honey bees. These helpful insects can be beneficial to flowers, but also to other vegetables you may be growing by helping to spread pollen. 

No Plant Left Behind!

You have a wide list of plants available to choose from when you want to find companion plants for celery. Many of the companion plants can be a great addition to meals as well, such as cabbage, garlic, or leeks! Or, if you prefer flowers, the nasturtium and cosmos can add a splash of vibrant color to your garden.

These plants can help protect your celery from insects as well as protect it from the heat and help it flourish. Celery prefers fertile soil, so it's  a good idea to find plants that help with the heavy nutrient demands of celery. Also, the short roots of celery means that it can move or fall in high winds. But, tall plants can help offer shade as well as help shield the plant from any winds or other weather.

Comment below if you've tried any of these, or if you have had success with other companion plants. If you enjoyed this article remember to share!