The Ultimate Raised Bed Companion Planting Guide: Tomatoes, Squash, and Cucumbers

Companion planting is the ultimate gardening hack. By placing the right plants next to each other, you create a self-sustaining ecosystem where neighbors deter pests, boost soil nutrients, and improve flavor.

If you have three raised beds, you have the perfect setup to maximize your harvest. Here is how to organize your three-bed system for maximum yield and minimum pest problems.

Bed 1: The Tomato Haven 🍅🌼🌿

The Lineup: Tomatoes, Marigolds, Citronella

This bed focuses on heavy-producing nightshades and powerful pest deterrents. Tomatoes are the stars here, while their companions act as a living shield.

• Tomatoes: These heavy feeders love deep, rich soil. Give them sturdy cages or trellises to keep them upright.
• Marigolds: Plant these at the base of your tomatoes. Marigolds release chemical compounds into the soil that repel destructive root-knot nematodes and deter whiteflies.
• Citronella: The strong, citrus scent of citronella masks the smell of your tomato plants, confusing flying pests like aphids, thrips, and hornworm moths.

---

Bed 2: The Sweet & Savory Patch 🍓🟡🌼

The Lineup: Strawberries, Yellow Squash, Marigolds, Citronella

This bed combines sprawling ground cover with a massive summer producer. Squash bugs are a major threat, but this specific companion lineup keeps them at bay.

• Yellow Squash: Squash needs a lot of room. Plant it in the center or a corner where its massive leaves can shade the soil, keeping the ground cool and moist.
• Strawberries: These thrive as a sweet ground cover around the edges of the bed. They enjoy the partial shade provided by the massive squash leaves during hot afternoons.
• Marigolds & Citronella: This is your defense squad. Yellow squash is highly susceptible to squash bugs and vine borers. The intense aroma of marigolds and citronella creates a scent barrier that keeps these devastating pests far away.

---

Bed 3: The Crisp & Fresh Mix 🥒🌱🌼

The Lineup: Cucumbers, Green Beans, Cilantro, Marigolds

This bed utilizes vertical space and subterranean teamwork to build a high-yielding, fresh salad bed.

• Cucumbers: Set up a trellis at the back of this bed. Training cucumbers to grow vertically saves massive amounts of space and keeps the fruit clean.
• Green Beans: These are nitrogen-fixers. They pull nitrogen from the air and pump it into the soil, feeding the hungry cucumber vines.
• Cilantro: Let a few cilantro plants go to flower. The umbrellas of tiny blossoms attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and ladybugs, which eat cucumber pests.
• Marigolds: A reliable border plant to deter beetles and add a splash of bright color.

---

3 Tips for Raised Bed Success

1. Watch the Shade: Always place your tallest plants (like trellised cucumbers and tomatoes) on the north side of the beds so they do not block the sun from shorter plants like strawberries and cilantro.
2. Water Deeply: Squash and cucumbers are mostly water. Ensure your beds get deep watering at the soil level rather than splashing the leaves, which causes powdery mildew.
3. Mulch Heavily: Use straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and keep low-hanging fruit like strawberries and squash off the bare dirt.

Start Your Companion Planting Journey Today!

Creating a thriving backyard ecosystem doesn’t require chemical pesticides or years of professional landscaping experience. By implementing this simple 3-bed raised garden layout, you can tap into the natural power of companion planting to grow healthier veggies, deter destructive pests, and maximize your seasonal yield. Grab your trowel, map out your 4x4 grids, and get ready for your most productive garden harvest yet!

Check Your Shelves: FDA Expands Pet Food Recall Over Dangerous Vitamin Deficiencies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expanded voluntary recall of select pet food products due to potentially dangerous vitamin deficiencies. On June 8, 2026, Utah-based manufacturer Go Raw LLC added an additional lot of its Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried pet food to a prior recall after discovering the food may contain critically low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1). This expansion builds upon initial recalls from February 2026 that affected chicken-based Quest Cat Food products. Because a prolonged lack of thiamine can trigger severe, life-threatening health issues, pet parents nationwide are being urged to check their pantries immediately.

What Products are Affected?

The newest addition to the recall list involves freeze-dried food formulated for both dogs and cats. The manufacturer notes that the affected inventory has largely cleared distribution channels, but bags may still exist in consumer homes.

According to the FDA Safety Announcement, you should look out for the following packaging details:

• Brand: Steve’s Real Food
• Recipe: Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried
• Size: 1.25 lb. beige, zip-locked bags with a maroon stripe
• Lot Code: C26022
• UPC: 6-91730-16402-7
• Best-By Date: January 22, 2028

This specific lot was distributed to retail stores across 20 U.S. states. This follows the company's previous recall of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Frozen (2 lb. bags), which prompted Go Raw LLC to temporarily pause all Quest product sales until nutritional consistency could be guaranteed.

Why Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Matters

Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism and central nervous system function in animals. Neither dogs nor cats can produce thiamine naturally, meaning they rely entirely on balanced commercial diets or targeted supplementation to stay healthy.

While a deficiency impacts both species, cats are highly vulnerable to low thiamine levels. Felines have a much higher daily dietary requirement for Vitamin B1 than dogs and a very limited biological ability to compensate when their food drops below baseline nutritional standards.

Symptoms of Thiamine Deficiency to Watch For

If a pet eats a thiamine-deficient diet over weeks or months, the physical effects will progressively worsen. If you notice any of these warning signs, stop feeding the food and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Early Warning Signs

• Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat
• Frequent vomiting
• Excessive drooling or salivation
• Gradual weight loss

Advanced Neurological Symptoms

• Difficulty walking or unsteady, wobbly movement
• Frequent circling behavior
• Involuntary lifting or bending of the head toward the floor
• Changes in vision or dilated pupils
• Seizures

Left untreated, advanced thiamine deficiency can be fatal. Fortunately, if caught early by a professional, the condition is highly treatable with thiamine injections or oral supplements.

Action Steps for Pet Owners

If you discover that you own a bag from the recalled lot, take the following steps:

1. Stop Feeding: Do not give any remaining portions of the food to your pets.
2. Dispose or Return: Throw the food away securely where stray animals cannot access it, or return the empty packaging to your place of purchase for a full refund.
3. Sanitize: Clean and wash your pet's bowls, measuring scoops, and food storage bins thoroughly.
4. Contact Support: You can contact Go Raw LLC directly via email at cs@gorawllc.com or by calling 801-432-7478 with specific questions regarding the reimbursement process.

To stay ahead of future safety alerts, you can routinely check the FDA Pet Food Recall Directory to monitor updates across all major pet food brands.