The Top 10 Companion Plants for Lettuce (& 5 Foes)

November 19, 2025

Lettuce is an excellent option for beginner gardeners because it’s easy to grow and can be harvested multiple times from the same plant. The trouble is that pests love lettuce as much as gardeners do!

If you want your lettuce to thrive without having to rely on pesticides and other chemicals, the solution could be as simple as choosing the right companion plants. Below you’ll find our top 10 recommended companion plants for lettuce as well as a few pairings you should avoid.

1. Basil

As an aromatic herb, basil has strong pest-deterrent properties. Planting basil near your lettuce could provide some protection from common insect pests like thrips and aphids. And if you let your basil flower, it can attract pollinators as well as predatory insects that feed on smaller pests. Some gardeners have even found that planting basil near lettuce may help improve the flavor of your lettuce harvest.

2. Beets

Root vegetables like beets make strong companions for lettuce because they have different root systems. Beets largely grow underground and lettuce has a shallow root system, so it won’t interfere with the growth of your beets. Just be thoughtful about where you plant your lettuce so you don’t disturb the roots as you’re harvesting your beets.

It’s also worth noting that beets and lettuce have similar growing requirements. They’re both cool-season crops that can thrive in areas that get afternoon shade, so you can plant them together and make use of space that might not be ideal for other crops.

3. Carrots

Another root vegetable, carrots work very well with lettuce. Carrots have long tap roots and, as they grow, they help loosen up and aerate the soil to provide drainage for your lettuce crop. To return the favor, lettuce can help provide shade to keep the soil moist and cool for your carrots.

Tip: Carrots also tend to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs which feed on aphids, one of the primary pests known to affect lettuce. The key is to let some of your carrots go to seed instead of harvesting them to ensure they flower.

4. Cilantro

Another plant known to attract beneficial insects is cilantro. This flavorful herb attracts ladybugs as well as parasitic wasps which feed on aphids and other lettuce-loving pests. Cilantro also has some pest-deterrent properties of its own as an aromatic herb. Both cilantro and lettuce are cool-season crops, so they have similar growing requirements.

5. Garlic

Like carrots, garlic has deep roots that help break up and aerate the soil for surrounding plants like lettuce. It also grows largely below ground, leaving plenty of space on the surface for you to sow your lettuce seeds. You can harvest your lettuce throughout the growing season, waiting until the garlic matures in late summer or fall to dig up the bulbs.

While garlic is appealing to human senses, many pests and some lettuce-loving mammals (like rabbits and deer) find it repellent. Garlic is particularly good at deterring aphids and beetles that could damage your lettuce.

6. Nasturtium

If you’re looking to add some color to your garden, nasturtium is a great companion for lettuce. Trailing varieties can be planted as ground cover near your lettuce to help retain soil moisture while mounding varieties can provide shade for nearby plants. Perhaps more importantly, nasturtium flowers attract predatory mites that will feed on pests like aphids and beetles.

7. Peas

Peas are nitrogen fixers, which means they’re able to absorb nitrogen from the air and transfer it to the soil. Since nitrogen is an essential nutrient for lettuce, this pairing can be quite beneficial. Both peas and lettuce are cool-season crops, and they’re great candidates for succession planting throughout the late summer and early fall.

Tip: Try growing your peas over a trellis to maximize use of your garden space. The trellis will make it easier for you to harvest your peas and, if you grow your lettuce directly below it, the plant will provide much-needed shade.

8. Radishes

Planting radishes with your lettuce is a great way to break up compacted soil to make room for healthy root growth. Radishes also act as a trap crop, luring pests like aphids and flea beetles away from nearby lettuce. Meanwhile, the roots growing underground remain unharmed. In fact, planting lettuce near radishes can help make your radishes more tender and flavorful.

9. Rosemary

Like other aromatic herbs, rosemary’s strong scent helps deter pests that might harm your lettuce. In particular, rosemary is effective in deterring slugs, snails, and various flies. Rosemary can help deter by masking the scent of your lettuce with its pungent aroma as well, making it harder for pests to find your lettuce. You can also grow rosemary as a protective barrier around your lettuce—lettuce-loving mammals like rabbits and deer find the woody stems unappealing.

10. Strawberries

One of the strongest plant pairings for lettuce, strawberries have a similar harvest schedule to lettuce. Plus, they produce flowers that attract beneficial insects to help manage the pests that tend to target lettuce. Because strawberries grow fairly low, bushy lettuce growths may even help hide the red berries to keep them from attracting hungry animals to your garden.

5 Problematic Plants for Lettuce

As a companion plant itself, lettuce can improve soil health for other plants through moisture retention and weed suppression. If you want your whole garden to be healthy, however, it’s wise to avoid placing lettuce near these five plants:

1. Brassicas

Brassicas like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale are heavy feeders. And, because they require similar nutrients to lettuce, they can easily outcompete your leafy greens and lead to stunted growth. Some brassicas even release compounds into the soil that can be harmful to other plants like lettuce.

2. Celery

Both celery and lettuce have similar requirements for fertile, well-drained soil. Unfortunately, they also tend to draw the same kind of pests—especially aphids and whiteflies. Planting celery near your lettuce could lead to pest transfer, putting both plants at increased risk.

3. Fennel

Fennel is a problematic companion for many plants, including lettuce. The main issue is that fennel secretes a chemical called anethole into the soil which other plants absorb through their roots. Too much of this chemical could stunt the growth of your lettuce crop.

4. Mustard Greens

Though mustard greens may look similar to certain varieties of lettuce, they belong to the brassica family. As such, they’re a problematic pairing for lettuce due to the same reasons listed above. To dive a little deeper, however, mustard greens exhibit similar growth patterns to lettuce. Planting them near each other could lead to competition for nutrients or one could crowd out the other.

5. Parsley

Like mustard greens, parsley may compete with lettuce plants for similar nutrients. Parsley also exhibits similar leafy growth to lettuce which could lead to crowding in your garden. Finally, some experienced gardeners say planting parsley near lettuce causes the lettuce to bolt prematurely (which ruins it for eating). It’s unclear whether there’s a direct connection, but stress related to nutrient competition and overcrowding can cause lettuce to bolt.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to successful gardening, a little planning goes a long way. You don’t even need to have a lot of space to work with, as long as you use it wisely. Lettuce works just as well in a large garden plot as a raised bed or large pot, as long as the soil is nutrient-rich and well-drained. And adding the right companion plants can improve your yield!

Want to try your hand at container gardening with lettuce? Check out our collection of planters and beds to get started.