Spring is a season of experimentation—and in gardening, trying new plant combinations can mean the difference between a bountiful harvest and a frustrating flop. In Episode 254 of Just Grow Something, I shared the eight interplanting experiments I conducted this spring—and what I learned from each.

The guiding principle behind my garden layout? “High, low, fast, slow.” This strategy involves pairing tall plants with shorter ones, and fast growers with slower-maturing crops, to make the most of space, sunlight, and nutrients.

Here’s a breakdown of what worked, what didn’t, and what’s getting tweaked for next season.

The lettuce with the peas before the transplant of tomatoes.

1. Lettuce + Sugar Snap Peas + Tomatoes (In-Ground Bed)

Success Level: High
Lettuce was planted opposite peas on a trellis, with tomatoes added as lettuces were harvested. The peas provided afternoon shade for the lettuce, extending its harvest and preventing bitterness. Tomatoes took longer to establish but benefitted from the soil once peas were removed and nitrogen released.
Next Time: Space trellises wider to give tomatoes more early sun.

2. Bok Choy + Green Onions + Spinach (In-Ground Bed)

Success Level: Moderate
Bok choy and green onions are a familiar pair, but adding spinach introduced challenges. Spinach was overshadowed and planted too closely.
Next Time: Thin spinach better or transplant it earlier for a head start.

3. Collards + Mint + Cucumbers (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Strong
Mint acted as a living mulch and companion to collards, deterring pests and reducing weed pressure. Collards thrived, and cucumbers were added later to climb up a north-end trellis.
Next Time: Monitor mint closely—it can overrun space quickly.

4. Kale + Mint + Cucumbers (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Excellent
Kale’s “palm tree” harvest method created space for mint and future cucumber vines. Minimal insect pressure and strong yields.
Next Time: Nothing yet—watching how cucumbers coexist over time.

5. Lettuce + Green Onions + Mint (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Good, with caution
Mint slightly suppressed green onion growth if left unmanaged. Otherwise, the combination yielded clean, insect-free lettuce.
Next Time: More aggressive mint trimming to support onions.

The kale from this bed just kept on coming!

6. Beets + Kale + Cucumbers (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Outstanding
This trio thrived. Kale allowed airflow and light for beets. Beets were harvested in waves, and cucumbers are starting to fill in. Biggest kale and beet harvest I’ve ever had. Have high hopes for the cukes.
Next Time: Possibly transplant cucumbers instead of direct sow for a stronger start.

7. Kohlrabi + Beets (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Needs improvement
Kohlrabi grew faster and shaded beets, stunting their growth. Once kohlrabi was harvested, beets rebounded.
Next Time: Delay kohlrabi planting or adjust placement for better light access.

8. Green Beans + Dill (Raised Bed)

Success Level: Promising
Dill was sown around bush beans to deter pests like grasshoppers. Results: healthy, flowering beans with minimal predation.
Next Time: Consider testing with other aromatic herbs, too.

Takeaways for Gardeners:

Strategic Shading can extend the lifespan of cool-weather crops.
Living Mulch (like mint) helps with weed suppression but requires management.
Relay Planting keeps beds productive all season long.
High/Low, Fast/Slow is a smart, scalable framework.
Not everything will work perfectly—but every result is useful.

Bottom line: “Experimentation always leads to education.”

Whether you’re new to companion planting or a seasoned interplanter, use these combinations as a starting point to get more from every inch of your garden.

👉 Listen to the full episode here: Spring Interplanting Strategies: What worked and what didn’t - Ep. 254

Maximizing Spring Harvests with Interplanting: 8 Garden Pairings That Worked (and One That Didn’t)