Tradition
Good
avoidgood
1 chart entry: 1 recommend, 0 advise against.
All entries cite a source.
Onion
Allium cepa
Amaryllidaceae
Potato
Solanum tuberosum
SolanaceaeCan you plant onions and potatoes together?
It depends. The sources disagree about onions and potatoes. Results on pests were mixed in a field trial, while onions kept pests off potatoes in a field trial.
Why it depends
Mixed results on pests. In a field trial, results on pests were mixed.
The influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Potts · 1991 · [[Annals of Applied Biology]])Fewer pests. In a field trial, onions kept pests off potatoes.
Volatile exchange between undamaged plants - a new mechanism affecting insect orientation in intercropping. (Ninkovic V · 2013 · PloS one)Garden charts recommend it. 1 garden chart entry recommends growing them together. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
The influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Potts · 1991 · [[Annals of Applied Biology]])
What to plant with onions and potatoes
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
BroccoliWith onions: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith potatoes: Bigger combined harvest
What to keep away from onions and potatoes
PeaWith onions: Garden charts advise against it, not tested- AsparagusWith onions: Garden charts advise against it, not testedWith potatoes: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
CarrotWith potatoes: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
CucumberWith potatoes: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
Squash & pumpkinWith potatoes: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Research
Mixed
avoidgood
2 papers found: 1 positive, 0 negative, 1 mixed.
pest suppression x2
auto-classified not reviewed by a person
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
It's complicated
What happens above and below ground
Each animation illustrates a mechanism a study reported for this pair. Pick a card to focus on it.
Everything at once.
Companion plants for both onions and potatoes
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With onions | With potatoes |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for onions and broccoli | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for potatoes and broccoli |
The evidence, with sources
- Mixedpest suppressionfield trialauto-classifiedThe influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solanum tuberosum).The influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Potts · 1991 · [[Annals of Applied Biology]])Relevance 91% · effect confidence 62%
- Goodpest suppressionfield trialauto-classifiedOnion helps PotatoVolatile exchange between undamaged plants - a new mechanism affecting insect orientation in intercropping.Volatile exchange between undamaged plants - a new mechanism affecting insect orientation in intercropping. (Ninkovic V · 2013 · PloS one)Relevance 95% · effect confidence 94%
- GoodOnion helps PotatoPotato: helped by onionThe influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Potts · 1991 · [[Annals of Applied Biology]])
All neighbours of onion and of potato, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown onions and potatoes together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.