Many gardeners know all about companion planting - how some plants 'like' being around other plants and benefit from being planted next to each other. This can be either by attracting beneficial insects, regulating pests and repelling harmful insects, or providing nutrients or simply as climbing support. Here is a list of handy companion plants - a good reference guide for which plants are happy bedfellows.

• Alliums (leeks, onions, garlic, shallots and chives) help nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes), brassicas (cabbage and broccoli) and carrots, and are helped by carrots. So always plant your onions and carrots next to each other!

• Asparagus helps tomatoes, and is helped by dill, coriander, parsley, basil and tomatoes - so planting asparagus and tomatoes next to each other will ensure a happy vegetable bed.

• Basil helps tomatoes, peppers, asparagus and oreganum, and is helped by chamomile and anise. Basil also attracts butterflies, which makes it the most desirable of all the herbs!
  

• Coriander helps spinach, and is helped by beans and peas.
  

• And then there are all the helpful flowers, that not only brighten up a veggie patch but also help their neighbours.
  

• Marigolds help most plants, especially tomatoes and peppers, broccoli and cabbage, and cucumbers.
  

• Sunflowers help corn and tomatoes.
  

• Nasturtiums help many plants, especially melons, cucmbers, beans, tomatoes and good old broccoli and cabbage.

For an exhaustive list of which plant should be planted next to each other, read this list.