Good companion plants to grow with lettuce include a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that either benefit lettuce by repelling pests, improving growth, or utilizing different soil levels to maximize space. Some of the best companions are:

• Carrots and Beets : These root vegetables grow underground while lettuce has shallow roots, so they don’t compete for space and can be planted close together

• Onions, Garlic, and Chives : These alliums help repel aphids and other pests that commonly affect lettuce

• Peas and Beans : Legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen and grow well alongside lettuce

• Strawberries : They grow well near lettuce and can benefit from the shade lettuce provides

• Cucumbers and Tomatoes : These can be good companions, with tomatoes providing some shade and cucumbers growing vertically, saving space

• Herbs like Cilantro, Marjoram, Chamomile, and Summer Savory : These aromatic herbs can enhance lettuce flavor and deter pests

• Flowers such as Marigold and Calendula : Marigolds repel many pests, and calendula can attract slugs away from lettuce

Plants to avoid next to lettuce include celery, potatoes, lovage, sage, and other members of the cabbage family, as they can compete for nutrients or attract pests harmful to lettuce

. Lettuce is a light feeder and fast grower, making it a good gap filler between larger or heavier-feeding plants. It thrives when intercropped with medium- or high-yielding plants, and crop rotation is less critical but still recommended to prevent disease buildup

. In summary, ideal plants to grow with lettuce are those that:

• Grow at different soil depths (e.g., root crops)
• Repel pests (e.g., alliums, marigolds)
• Provide shade or benefit from lettuce’s fast growth
• Don’t compete heavily for nutrients

Examples: carrots, beets, onions, garlic, peas, beans, strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro, marigold, and calendula