7 Plants You Should Never Grow Next to Potatoes, According to Horticulturists These unruly neighbors can attract pests and stunt growth. Close Credit: Getty Images Potatoes are a wonderful vegetable that is easy to grow and has a wide range of culinary uses—whether it's baked, mashed, or fried. Of course, while potatoes are widely considered a beginner-friendly plant, they still come with certain caveats. One major consideration is that potatoes won't thrive when grown next to certain fruits and vegetables. In fact, these less-than-ideal neighbors can even attract pests or crowd out potatoes entirely. Here, we spoke to gardening experts about all the plants you should avoid growing next to these wonderful vegetables. Sara Rubens, certified garden coach and founder of Seed to Sanctuary Veronica Yurchak, extension specialist for commercial vegetable production at the University of Maryland Extension Ken Johnson, horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension How to Grow and Care for Potatoes—Including Martha's Favorite Planting Method 01 of 07 Tomato Credit: ZoiaKostina / GETTY IMAGES Virtually everyone loves tomatoes, but all of the experts we spoke to agree that they should be kept far away from your potato crop. The two are both solanaceous crops, says Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension—so they share the same pests and diseases, like blight. They could also "shade the plant too much," adds Johnson—a problem for potatoes, which need full sun to truly thrive. 02 of 07 Pepper Credit: Kwangmoozaa / GETTY IMAGES Peppers, like tomatoes, are part of the same family as potatoes, so they can compound pest and disease problems when grown nearby. "They also compete for nutrients," says Sara Rubens, certified garden coach and founder of Seed to Sanctuary. "They can invite shared pests like the Colorado potato beetle." The Best Companion Plants for Peppers, Plus Tips to Ensure a Flourishing Crop 03 of 07 Eggplant Credit: Yuliia Bilousova Eggplant is another member of the solanaceous family, and can be a troublesome neighbor for potatoes. Growing them together can "increase the risk of spreading pests and diseases more quickly through the field or garden," says Veronica Yurchak, specialist at the University of Maryland Extension. So while these vegetables are beautiful and delicious, it's a good idea to grow them away from your potatoes. 04 of 07 Cucumber Credit: StockSeller_ukr / Getty Images Potatoes need ample room in order to grow and thrive, and certain neighbors can really crowd them out, like cucumbers. "These sprawling plants compete heavily for space and nutrients," says Rubens. Instead, try growing cucumbers in a separate pot or container. 05 of 07 Pumpkin Credit: Khanh Bui / Getty Images Pumpkins are an autumnal staple, but they also take up a lot of real estate in your garden. This can be especially problematic when they're grown next to potatoes, which need that space to flourish. Their large leaves can also "shade out potato plants, reducing sunlight exposure," notes Rubens. 06 of 07 Asparagus Credit: Diana Taliun / Getty Images Asparagus has long-term root systems, says Rubens, so it's not the best pairing for potatoes. "[The roots] can be disrupted by the digging required to harvest potatoes," she notes. However, Johnson notes that growing them with "enough distance" in between wouldn't be a problem. How to Grow Asparagus and Keep It Thriving for Decades, According to Experts 07 of 07 Raspberry Credit: nitrub / Getty images Raspberries, like potatoes, are susceptible to fungal diseases, so growing the two plants together is a bad idea. Doing so can spell disaster not just for these particular fruits and vegetables, but for your larger garden too. Explore more: Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas