One of my favorite parts of gardening is getting to plan it all out. There’s something so satisfying about figuring out which plants thrive together, which ones need room to stretch out, and how to make the most of the space we have. I find joy in creating not just a functional garden, but one that feels alive — buzzing with bees, bursting with blooms, and full of produce we’ll actually use.

This year, we’re working with four raised beds (each 3 ft x 6 ft), along with a collection of 10-gallon and 20-gallon grow bags. Intentional companion planting has been a game-changer for us. Not only does it make the most of every inch of soil, but it also improves plant health, discourages pests, and adds beauty to the garden.

If you’re planning your own garden or just curious how to pair your plants more intentionally, I’m walking you through exactly what we planted where — and why.

The 10-Gallon Grow Bags: Bright Blooms + Compact Crops

Our 10-gallon grow bags are scattered along our patio and tucked into open corners around the raised beds. This size is ideal for plants that don’t need deep roots or a lot of room to spread out. Think herbs, flowers, and smaller veggie varieties.

Whether you’re short on garden space or just want to squeeze in a few extra blooms and snacks, these bags are a great way to grow more without the need for additional ground space.

Here’s what’s growing in our 10-gallon bags:

Carnival Sweet Peppers (2 per bag) – These vibrant little peppers thrive in the warmth retained by grow bags. They’re compact, colorful, and delicious — perfect for snacking or roasting.
Zinnias (4–5 per bag) – I love zinnias for their cheerful colors and endless blooms. They’re prolific, easy to grow, and a favorite for bees and butterflies. Plus, their cut-and-come-again nature keeps our vases full all season.
Cosmos (4–5 per bag) – These add an airy, whimsical feel to the garden. With their feathery foliage and soft blossoms, they pair beautifully with zinnias and are another pollinator favorite.
Snapdragons (3–4 per bag) – These cool-weather lovers bring vertical interest and a subtle fragrance to the mix. They also extend the season, since they keep blooming into the fall.
Sunflowers (1–2 per bag) – We tucked these at the back of the bags where they won’t shade the other plants. Their height adds drama, and their sunny faces just bring joy. They’re also pollinator magnets and can even act as natural trellises in some cases.

These combinations keep our patio bursting with color and movement, with the added benefit of edible harvests and beneficial insects buzzing around.

The 20-Gallon Grow Bags: Rooted and Roomy

Larger crops need deeper soil and more space to stretch — which is where our 20-gallon grow bags come in. These roomy containers are ideal for root vegetables and larger plants that like to sprawl or grow tall.

Here’s what we planted in the big bags:

Sweet Potatoes – These love warm weather and loose, well-draining soil. The flexible sides of grow bags are perfect for hilling and harvesting sweet potatoes, which grow in mounds. We gave them their own dedicated bags so they have plenty of space to spread out.
Red Potatoes (3–4 per bag) – We planted these deep and will continue to hill them up as they grow to encourage more tuber production. Grow bags make harvesting incredibly easy — just dump them out!
Petite Mixed Potatoes (3–4 per bag) – A mix of colors and sizes that we plan to roast later in the season. Their bag is already lush with green growth.
Brandywine Tomatoes + Basil & Sweetie Tomatoes + Basil – This classic companion pairing is both practical and productive. Basil helps repel tomato hornworms and other pests, and many gardeners swear it even improves tomato flavor. These plants are thriving in the depth and drainage of the 20-gallon bags.

The 20-gallon bags give us a satisfying harvest without taking up space in the beds — and they’re mobile, too, so we can adjust placement if needed throughout the season.

The Raised Beds: A Blend of Structure and Wild Beauty

Our four raised beds are the heart of our garden. Each one is 3 ft x 6 ft — small enough to manage easily, but big enough to host a wide mix of plants. This year, we leaned heavily into companion planting, grouping plants that support each other in growth, pest resistance, and pollination.

Here’s how we laid them out:

Bed 1: Kale, Basil, Spinach, Onions, and Marigolds

This bed is like a leafy green sanctuary, with built-in protection against pests.

Kale + Spinach – Both leafy greens that thrive in similar conditions. They love cooler weather and partial shade from taller neighbors.
Onions – A natural pest deterrent, onions help protect the more vulnerable greens from aphids and other bugs that like to nibble.
Basil – Improves the flavor and vigor of its bedmates while also fending off insects like whiteflies and aphids.
Marigolds – One of the best natural pest repellents you can plant. They discourage nematodes in the soil and add a punch of color to the bed.

Bed 2: Basil, Broccoli, Peppers, and Lavender

This one’s an aromatic mix of veggies and herbs that benefit from each other’s presence.

Broccoli + Peppers – A surprisingly good pair. Broccoli’s larger leaves provide a bit of shade, and they don’t compete much below the soil.
Basil – Here again as a garden workhorse, basil enhances pepper production and keeps pests like aphids and beetles at bay.
Lavender – Not only does it repel pests with its strong scent, but it attracts bees and butterflies, which are crucial for pollination.

Bed 3: Sweetie Tomatoes, Brandywine Tomatoes, Sunflowers, and Basil

This sunny bed is full of vibrant summer energy.

Tomatoes + Basil – You’ll see this pairing in multiple beds for good reason: they just work well together. Basil acts as both protector and flavor booster.
Sunflowers – These not only bring in pollinators but can also serve as natural stakes for sprawling tomato vines or climbers planted nearby.

The whole bed is a magnet for bees, which helps boost fruit production.

Bed 4: Brandywine Tomato, Sweetie Tomato, Marigolds, Basil, Radishes, Black Beans, and Carrots

Our most diverse bed is also one of the most fun to watch grow.

Radishes + Carrots – Great space-saving combo. Radishes grow quickly and can be harvested before the slower-growing carrots need the room.
Black Beans – These fix nitrogen in the soil, naturally feeding other plants around them, especially hungry ones like tomatoes.
Tomatoes + Basil + Marigolds – A classic trio for flavor, protection, and beauty.
Marigolds – Again, these serve as both pest control and pollinator attractors.

This bed demonstrates how different types of plants — root crops, fruiting veggies, legumes, and flowers — can thrive when thoughtfully grouped together.

Why Companion Planting Matters

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that gardening is more than just putting seeds in dirt. It’s about creating relationships between plants. When done well, companion planting can:

Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides
Boost plant health and flavor
Maximize yield in small spaces
Increase biodiversity and attract beneficial insects

Every plant has a role to play — some repel pests, some attract pollinators, some feed the soil, and others simply bring joy.

Final Thoughts

I love that our garden is both productive and beautiful. Every bloom, every root, and every leafy green has a purpose and a partner. The space feels alive, buzzing with bees, filled with color, and always offering something new to harvest or admire.

Whether you have a sprawling backyard or just a small patio, there’s always a way to garden with intention. I hope this gave you some ideas and inspiration for your own garden spaces. And remember — start where you are, use what you have, and plant with purpose.

Happy gardening!

By Leah Ann Grace

Why We Planted What Where: Our Garden Layout for the Season