Companion Planting with Herbs

 

Herbs are an essential part of many gardens; they are beneficial in many ways and for many reasons. Herbs have many useful medicinal, culinary and household uses, and they should be present in every garden. Many people plant their herbs in a separate garden from their vegetables, and I am a victim of this practice myself, but I have recently learned that herbs are great companion plants in many vegetable and flower gardens. This article will discuss the benefits of herbs in your garden, and what plants are harmful and helpful.

Companion planting has been studied for several years, and this method has proven to enhance any garden extremely. This method of combining plants can help repel pests, attract insects that are helpful, add nutrients to the soil, and help aid in climate control. If you add herbs to your gardens I guarantee it will help your garden become stronger, healthier, and more productive. Here is a list of herbs and the plants that they enhance.

Anise - Coriander

Basil - Pepper and tomato

Beebalm- Tomato

Chamomile- Cucumber, onion, and most herbs

Chives- Carrot, grape, rose, and tomato

Dill- Cabbage, onion, and lettuce

Garlic- Rose

Larkspur- Bean and cabbage

Lovage- Bean

Marigold- Potato, rose, and tomato

Mint- Cabbage and tomato

Mustards- Bean, grape, and fruit trees

Oregano- Bean

Rosemary- Bean

Ruse- Fig

Sage- Cabbage, carrot, strawberry, tomato, marjoram

Tarragon- Most vegetables

Thyme- Eggplant, potato, and tomato

Ever notice that some plants just do not do well near each other? There are also herbs that have harmful effects on other plants, and these combinations should be observed as well if you want your garden to be healthy. Here is a list of enemy herbs.

Anise- Carrot

Chives- Bean and pea

Coriander- Fennel

Dill- Carrot and tomato

Fennel- Bean, pepper, and tomato

Garlic- Bean and pea

Larkspur- Beet

Mustard-Turnip

Onion- bean, pea, and sage

Rue- Basil, cabbage, and sage

Sage- Onion

Tansy- Collard

Wormwood- Most vegetables

If you are like me one of your worst garden nightmares is insect infestations. It is terrible when you have a beautiful thriving garden, and all of a sudden you notice holes in your leaves and insects are running amuck on what you thought was your bounty. There are also many herbs that repel pests, and here is a list of herbs that serve this purpose.

Ant- peppermint and tansy

Aphid- Catnip, chives, garlic, mustard, and mint

Cabbage butterfly- Southernwood

Carrot fly- Leek, lettuce, rosemary, sage,

Cucumber beetle- catnip, marigold, nasturtium, rue

Japanese beetle- Catnip, chives, garlic, tansy

Mexican bean beetle- Marigold, rosemary, savories

Mouse- Wormwood

Mole- Castor bean, narcissus

Rabbit- garlic, marigold, onion

Slug and snail- Fennel, garlic, marigold

Spider mite- Coriander

Whitefly- Nasturtium, peppermint, thyme, wormwood

Companion planting with herbs brightens your garden up; it enhances the growth of your plants, and it helps protect your plants from pests. Try companion planting with herbs today!