Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
AsteraceaeCompanion plants for lettuce
The best companion plants for lettuce are cucumbers, beans, beets, carrots and okra. Celery and parsley are best kept away. Of the 26 plants we have data on, 18 are good neighbours, 2 are bad ones and 6 are contested. 18 of these verdicts rest on field trials or research papers; the rest come from traditional companion-planting charts.
- 18 good
- 2 to avoid
- 6 contested
- 18 tested in trials or papers
Neighbours of lettuce at a glance
Inner rings are backed by trials or papers, outer rings by charts only. Pick a plant to see its sources.
The interactive map needs JavaScript. Every plant on it is listed below with its evidence.
Good companion plants for lettuce
Biggest harvest gain first, then the plants tested without a yield count. Each row links to the full evidence for the pair.
| Plant | What trials found with lettuce | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Carrot |
78% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Recommend |
 Beet |
58% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Recommend |
 Bean |
48% more harvest from the same space | Field trial2 studies | Recommend |
 Cucumber |
Fewer pests35% more harvest from the same space | Field trial5 studies | Recommend |
 Fava bean |
28% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
 Pea |
19% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
 Eggplant |
16% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
 Squash & pumpkin |
10% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
 Okra |
9% more harvest from the same space | Field trial1 study | Recommend |
 Swiss chard |
Bigger combined harvest | Greenhouse or pot trial1 study | Not listed |
 Spinach |
Bigger combined harvest | Greenhouse or pot trial1 study | Not listed |
 Mint |
Helpful plant chemistry | Greenhouse or pot trial1 study | Not listed |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
Recommended by garden charts, not tested yet
We found no trial or paper on these pairs with lettuce. They may still work; nobody has measured it.
What not to plant with lettuce
| Plant | What trials found with lettuce | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Celery |
No trial found | Not tested | Advise against |
 Parsley |
No trial found | Not tested | Advise against |
Contested pairings
The sources disagree, or the charts say one thing and the trials another. Open a pair before you plant it.
| Plant | What trials found with lettuce | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Radish |
78% more harvest from the same spaceCompetes for light and water | Field trial4 studies | Recommend |
 Tomato |
49% more harvest from the same space | Field trial4 studies | Not listed |
 Cabbage |
39% more harvest from the same spaceMixed results on growth | Field trial8 studies | Advise against |
 Broccoli |
Mixed results on competition for light and water | Field trial3 studies | Recommend |
 Cauliflower |
Bigger combined harvestMixed results on pests | Field trial2 studies | Not listed |
 Pepper |
Mixed results on harvest | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
Sources
37 sources behind the verdicts on this page. 18 chart entries cite no source and are marked as tradition only.
Show all 37 sources
Spearmint enhances lettuce biomass and provides microbes to co-cultured lettuce in a decoupled aquaponic system (Atique F · 2024 · Research Square)
Inoculation with extreme endophytes improves performance and nutritional quality in crop species grown under exoplanetary conditions. (Molina-Montenegro MA · 2023 · Frontiers in plant science)
Intercropping affects the physiology and cadmium absorption of pakchoi, lettuce, and radish seedlings. (Liang L · 2023 · Environmental science and pollution research international)
Effects of intercropping on Se accumulation and growth of pakchoi, lettuce and radish. (Tang W · 2023 · International journal of phytoremediation)
Relative Susceptibility of Brassicas to Cabbage Maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) Infestation. (Joseph SV. · 2023 · Insects)
Flower Strips Increase Land Efficiency Use in Associated Crops: Broccoli-Lettuce (Marcillo-Paguay CA · 2023 · Preprints.org)
Experimental dataset of the impact assessment of vegetable intercropping on agroeconomic performances, pests and beneficials, and soil resources. (Perrin B · 2023 · Data in brief)
Land Equivalent Ratio in the Intercropping of Cucumber with Lettuce as a Function of Cucumber Population Density (Teixeira Ribas · 2020)
YIELD OF INTERCROPPED LETTUCE AND CUCUMBER AS A FUNCTION OF POPULATION DENSITY AND CROPPING SEASON X1 - PRODUTIVIDADE DO CONSÓRCIO DE ALFACE E PEPINO EM FUNÇÃO DA DENSIDADE POPULACIONAL E ÉPOCA DE CULTIVO (Cecílio Filho · 2019)
Green manure and spatial arrangement in the sustainability improvement of lettuce-beet intercrops (Silva · 2018)
Mixed cropping of vegetables to improve organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in small farmer systems (Reynafarje · 2016)
Effect of differential N and S competition in inter- and sole cropping of brassica species and lettuce on glucosinolate concentration (Stavridou · 2012)
Economic analysis of cucumber and lettuce intercropping under greenhouse in the winter-spring. (Rezende BL · 2011 · Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias)
Effect of intercropping on the performance of some summer vegetable crops grown under different row arrangements (Hadidi · 2011 · Lucrări ştiinţifice)
Effect of intercropping on the performance of some summer vegetable crops grown under different row arrangements (Hadidi · 2011)
Effects of broccoli-crispy salad intercropping on yield and quality under greenhouse conditions (Demir · 2011)
Agronomic efficiency of intercropping tomato and lettuce (Cecílio Filho · 2011)
Evaluation of yield advantage indexes in carrot-lettuce intercropping systems (Bezerra Neto · 2010 · Interciencia)
Economic analysis of the intercropping of lettuce and tomato in different seasons under protected cultivation (Cecílio Filho · 2010)
Flower flies (Syrphidae) and other biological control agents for aphids in vegetable crops (Bugg · 2008 · [[University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources]])
Lettuce and radish productivity in intercropping systems as influenced by starting time and row spacings (Cecílio Filho · 2007)
Relay cropping cauliflower with lettuce as a means to manage first-generation cabbage maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) and minimize cauliflower yield loss. (Parsons CK · 2007 · Journal of economic entomology)
Increasing Productivity with Intercropping Systems in Cabbage Production (Guvenc I · 2006 · Journal of sustainable agriculture)
Productivity, Quality and Profit of Sole or Intercropped Green Beau (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Abou-Hussein Sd · 2005)
Intercropping with eggplant for proper utilisation of interspace under greenhouse conditions (Güvenç · 2005)
Intercropping based on cauliflower: More productive, profitable and highly sustainable (Yildirim · 2005)
Influência das épocas de cultivo e do estabelecimento do consórcio na produção de tomate e alface consorciados X1 - Influence of planting and intercropping establishment time on production of the cultures intercropping of tomato and lettuce (Rezende · 2005)
Preference of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to four vegetable hosts (Yang Zhongxia · 2004 · Acat Entomologica Sinica)
Intercropping in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under greenhouse conditions (Yildirim · 2004)
Produtividade de cenoura e alface em sistema de consorciação (Caetano · 1999)
The Effects of Crop Combination and Row Arrangement in the lntercropping of Lettuce, Favabean and Pea on Weed Biomass and Diversity and on Crop Yields (Sharaiha · 1992)
Companion Plants (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
Companion planting: A method for sustainable pest control (Riesselman · Iowa State University)
What grows well with your lettuce?
Share what worked next to your lettuce and what did not, or ask other growers a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.