The Power of Companion Planting Helping Schools and Early Childhood Centres Grow Stronger Gardens
If your school or early childhood centre is already growing vegetables with your tamariki—ka pai! You’re not only teaching them valuable life skills but also helping them understand where food comes from and how nature works together. But as any gardener knows, vegetable gardens don’t just grow on their own. They need care, attention, and a bit of smart planning—especially when it comes to dealing with pests.
One of the most effective and natural ways to protect your vegetable garden is through companion planting—growing certain plants near your veggies to deter pests, improve growth, or attract helpful insects. It’s a simple, chemical-free way to keep your garden thriving while giving your students another great hands-on learning opportunity.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together in a way that helps them all grow better. Some plants act like natural bodyguards for your vegetables by keeping away pests. Others help improve the soil or attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Great Companion Plants for Your School Garden
Here are a few tried-and-true plants you can grow alongside your vegetables in your school garden:
🌼 Marigolds
Marigolds are a classic choice for deterring pests. They release a strong scent that repels aphids, whiteflies, and even nematodes. Plant them around your tomatoes, beans, or lettuce.
🌿 Basil
Basil not only goes great with tomatoes on a plate—it also helps tomatoes grow stronger and keeps away flies and mosquitoes. It’s perfect to include in your From Seed to Plate lessons.
🌱 Chives and Spring Onions
These are easy for kids to plant and care for. They help deter aphids and improve the flavour of carrots when planted nearby.
🍃 Nasturtiums
These colourful, edible flowers attract aphids away from your vegetables, especially beans and cabbages. They also attract pollinators and add a burst of colour to your garden beds.
🌸 Lavender
Lavender’s strong scent confuses pests and keeps them away from carrots and leeks. It also brings bees to help with pollination.
🌽 Corn + Beans + Pumpkins
The “Three Sisters” method—an idea borrowed from Indigenous North American traditions—works beautifully: corn provides a trellis for beans, beans fix nitrogen in the soil for all three, and pumpkins shade the ground to keep weeds down.
A Living Classroom
Your school garden is more than a place to grow food—it’s a living classroom. By introducing companion planting, you can:
- Integrate science, sustainability, and environmental education
- Explore traditional planting methods from Māori and other cultures
- Teach students how to observe and record the impact of different plant combinations
- Promote teamwork and shared responsibility
If you’re part of our School Farming Community, you’ll already have access to our free From Seed to Plate guide and the Environmental Education Resource Pack, which support hands-on learning across the curriculum. These resources are perfect for deepening your students’ understanding of plant life cycles, ecosystems, and sustainable growing practices.
Get Involved or Grow Your Impact
Not yet part of our School Farming Community? You’re welcome to join us and get started with support, resources, and a network of other schools doing amazing mahi in their gardens. Whether you’re in a small rural kura or a busy urban centre, this initiative helps tamariki connect with their environment, their food, and each other.
🌱 Check it out and get started here: School Farming Community
Let’s keep our gardens growing strong—naturally, sustainably, and together.