The Best Herbs to Plant Together

Planning out your garden can take a fair amount of time and research. Sure, you could just plant some veggies in the soil and see what happens, but not all plants play well together. Some plants help each other thrive while others refuse to share nutrients or produce growth-inhibiting chemicals. That is where careful thought around the best herbs to plant together and companion planting can be beneficial.

By planting complementary herbs alongside your fruits and veggies, you can help your garden reach its full potential.

What does companion planting mean?

Companion planting refers to the idea that some plants have properties that help other plants around them. For example, the scent of certain herbs may deter unwanted pests from entering your garden while others can draw in desirable insects such as bees.

The original triad of companion plants were corn, beans, and squash. The squash provides shade that discourages the growth of weeds while the beans add nitrogen to the soil and the corn stalks provide a place for the beans to grow vertically. Over the years, many other plants have been found to grow well together. The presence of certain herbs, in particular, can really benefit the veggies in your garden.

A review of the best herbs to plant together

Basil

Basil is a versatile herb that can actually help enhance the flavor of other herbs in your garden. Its scent may be pleasing to humans, but it can also cause mosquitoes and flies to stay away– a huge perk while you are doing work in the garden. As far as veggies go, basil is best paired with nightshades such as tomatoes and peppers.

One of the best reasons to consider basil as a companion herb is that it is incredibly simple to grow. It needs weekly watering, perhaps more if the weather is extra hot. If you notice the basil starting to go to seed, you can pinch off the seeding flowers and provide your plant with a bit of extra shade during the daytime hours.

Catnip

If you have cats, odds are you have heard of and perhaps even used catnip before. It turns out, it’s not just beneficial for cats, but for your garden, as well. Catnip can repel destructive beetles, aphids, cabbage moths, and other insects, as well as mice and voles. It does particularly well with cabbage, potatoes, squash, broccoli, and cauliflower.

If you decide to grow catnip in your garden, you may want to plant it around the perimeter. Otherwise, you may find your garden has become the new hangout spot for all the cats in your neighborhood. It is best to plant catnip in full sunlight and to make sure the area has adequate drainage.

Cilantro (or Coriander)

If you’re looking for an herb to bring in beneficial bugs such as bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and others, consider adding a few cilantro plants. Cilantro grows well with other herbs such as basil, mint, and dill, as well as veggies such as tomatoes, onion, and jalapenos.

While you can certainly plant cilantro for use in the kitchen, it is most useful as an insect attractant when it is in the flower phase. In this phase, cilantro produces flowers that drop seeds. The flowers die off, and new cilantro plants begin to grow. You may have several cycles of cilantro plants throughout the gardening season.

Chamomile

There are multiple benefits to planting chamomile in your garden. It helps improve the taste of neighboring herbs including basil and mint, attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybugs and hoverflies, and inhibits the growth of fungus in certain other plants. Tomatoes, potatoes, brussels sprouts, beans, and onions can all benefit from the presence of chamomile.

Chamomile can grow in a variety of different climates and conditions. It does best in shady areas and doesn’t require much water to grow, either, making it perfect for areas that are prone to drought. You only need to water your chamomile plants during periods of extended dryness– otherwise, the occasional rainfall is more than enough to keep chamomile happy and thriving.

Chives

Chives are definitely one of the best herbs to plant together with other species; it can benefit almost any plant in your garden. This plant’s purple flowers can draw in bees while its distinctive scent repels aphids and Japanese beetles. While it can be grown with anything, it does exceptionally well with dill, carrots, tomatoes, roses, and grapes. It is also useful to plant chives around apple trees as it can lead to healthier apples.

Chives are generally a cold-weather crop and should be planted early on in the season. It’s worthwhile to note that chives are exceptionally good at spreading their seeds, so you don’t need to plant very many. The odds are good that your crop will increase each year on its own.

Dill

There are many plants that can benefit from the presence of dill in your garden. Cabbage, brussels sprouts, and broccoli, for example, all tend to attract cabbage worms, which dill helps repel. Dill also wards off spider mites which can be beneficial for cucumbers. As far as herbs go, dill pairs well with chives and lemon thyme.

There are also some plants that don’t mix well with dill. Tomatoes, for example, may do well with immature dill, but after the herb is fully grown it produces chemicals that can stunt the growth of your tomato plants. Dill also can draw in insects that are harmful to plants such as lettuce, basil, and corn.

Garlic

Garlic is not only a kitchen staple, but it’s also highly useful to have around the garden. While garlic does well with most other plants, it may be especially beneficial for strawberries, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and raspberries. Garlic helps ward off harmful insects while also contributing to nutrients in the soil.

When companion planting with garlic, note that this herb tends to grow during a different season than the other veggies in your garden. The benefits of garlic are usually seen when you plant garlic one season, harvest it, and then plant your fruits or veggies in the same spot the following spring.

Mint

With its distinctive taste and smell, it’s no wonder that mint can ward off a variety of different pests. It helps mask the smell of other plants in your garden, leading to fewer beetles and harmful flies. Leafy plants such as kale, carrots, and cauliflower all stand to benefit from the presence of mint, as do root veggies such as onions.

Mint should be planted later on in the spring, after the final frost of the year. After planting the herb, be sure to keep the soil moist by watering it regularly. Mint does not do well in dry conditions.

Oregano

If you’ve ever made pasta sauce or pizza, you have no doubt used oregano in your kitchen. It can be equally useful in the garden. Oregano helps ward off unwanted garden pests, leading to healthier crops all around. It does very well with cabbage, tomatoes, rhubarb, grapes, and cauliflower. Other herbs, such as basil, chives, rosemary, and thyme, can also benefit from the presence of oregano.

You can plant oregano in the spring after the frost season is over, as well as early in the fall, several weeks before the first frost. Beyond weekly watering, oregano doesn’t require much special care, either.

In Conclusion

Companion planting with herbs enhances the look of your garden and can contribute to the health of other nearby plants. By doing a bit of research and being mindful of the herbs to plant together, you can set your garden up for success.