Companion Planting: Guacamole Starter Kit Edition

If you’re an avocado aficionado, homemade guacamole is likely a non-negotiable staple in your diet. But running to the grocery store every week to make sure you have all the right ingredients can get old.

What if you had access to fresh avocados, garlic, cilantro, and more right in your own backyard? Growing a garden using the companion planting method – where crops are planted in strategic proximity to each other to help save space and improve growth – could be your secret to a killer DIY guacamole bar.

Avocados

Obviously, Avocados from Mexico are available all year long and you should never hesitate to pick some up from your local store. However, if you’d like to try growing your own, here’s one way to do it.

Avocados are the superfood stars of your garden, so you’ll want to use plenty of TLC when planting the green fruit. The toothpick approach for getting started is popular for its simplicity, but you’ll need to ensure that the avocados get plenty of light and water in the initial stages. Ultimately, you should plant them in a 3-by-3-foot hole in soil that gets plenty of sunlight.

Tomatoes

Good guacamole needs a splash of red. Tomatoes grow best in warmer months, and you’ll want to plant them deep. If you plant with cages, the individual plants should be 3 feet apart (2 if using stakes). These beauties need plenty of sunlight and moist soil, making them a perfect companion to avocado trees.

Garlic

Garlic is essential for giving your guacamole the right kick, and it’s fairly easy to grow. The herb requires compost and well-drained soil, so when companion planting, position it far from the tomatoes. It’s ready to harvest when the leaves have turned brown, but be sure to let the garlic dry for a few weeks before using.

Chiles

To add some heat, you’ll need chiles on hand. Use chile pepper seeds in a raised portion of your garden and space them about a foot apart, near the tomatoes. Keep them mulched and watered.

Cilantro

Your guacamole bar won’t be the same without cilantro, so don’t overlook these little guys. They need full sun (light shade will also do) and moist soil, and the seeds should be planted about a half a foot apart. Compost helps them grow, so situate them next to the garlic. Cilantro grows very quickly and the leaves can be cut anytime, so go ahead and use generously in your guac.

Limes require their own trees, so they won’t make a home in your companion-planting garden. But keep some on hand to finish your homegrown guacamole right. Mix all of the ingredients together, top with lime juice, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.