Have you ever wondered about what herbs can be planted together? Luckily, there are many!
Fresh herbs not only enhance the flavor of any food, they also help nourish our body from inside. Fortunately, it’s easy to grow many herbs at home both indoors and outdoors.
But not everyone has enough space to grow herbs separately. In that case, you can group together some herbs, and this is called companion planting! Companion planting repels pests and enhances growth and herb flavors. It also offers variety to your kitchen and garden.
Although companion planting has several benefits, it’s important to pair these herbs as per compatibility, irrigation needs, and other requirements. If not done right, these pairings can inhibit the growth and fertility of the plant.
So, what are the herbs that grow well together? Let’s find out:
Prerequisites for Growing Herbs Together
Before you harvest the herbs together, make sure you know about all the key requirements for its growth and maintenance. These prerequisites for growing herbs together are:
- Adequate Sunlight
- Sufficient drainage
- Regular watering
- Quality soil
- Winter protection
What Herbs Can be Planted Together?
Herbs that thrive in similar or nearly similar conditions can be planted together and will grow well together. You can try out the below herb pairing for a blooming herb garden:
Rosemary
Companion herbs: Oregano, sage, thyme
Rosemary, along with the companion herbs listed above, is called Mediterranean herbs. These herbs are lovely aromatics that can improve the flavors of your steaks, soups, salads, and stews.
It’s best to grow these herbs in raised beds to provide extra soil depth. This strategy offers more topsoil, better drainage, and a quick warm-up during the spring.
Also, its natural environment requires poor and stony subsoil. So, creating such an environment would provide added support for their better growth.
Basil
’Companion herbs: Parsley, cilantro, tarragon
Basil, cilantro, tarragon, and parsley are moisture-loving herbs. So, when planted together, they make a perfect pair. These herbs are widely used for medicinal, flavoring, and fragrance purposes. That’s why they are used in meats and soups.
Being a moisture-loving group, these herbs require moist soil and adequate sunlight. Their water requirements are also similar, so you wouldn’t have to struggle much with any separate maintenance.
Mint
Companion herbs: Peppermint, spearmint, orange mint, catmint, lemon balm
As mint is an invasive plant species, it isn’t worth combining them with other herbs. But, you can grow different varieties of mint together.
Remember that you will require some space to harvest all the mint varieties together. The rule of thumb is to plant/grow the mint varieties at least two inches apart (in moist soil) to prevent any cross-pollination. Either that or you can plant them at the opposite ends of the garden.
Mints make a refreshing garnish and can be used in salads, side dishes, and sauces.
Lemon Verbena
Companion herbs: Lemon thyme
The pair of lemon verbena and lemon thyme can produce a divine aroma in your garden. Both herbs are extremely compatible with each other.
The lemon thyme keeps the moisture retained within the soil, which is useful for the growth of lemon verbena. In addition, the lemon-scented herbs can spread throughout the pot edges for a wider layout.
You can use lemon verbena and lemon thyme in rich roasts, jams, or even citrusy desserts.
Sage
Companion herbs: Rosemary, lemon thyme, lavender, lemon verbena, oregano, tarragon, parsley
Known for its medicinal benefits and culinary use, sage can be paired with several herbs. It is a perennial and has the same soil requirements as rosemary, so they are worth growing together.
Likewise, sage thrives in conditions favored by lavender and thyme. It can sustain in hot climates, with sandy, well-drained soil and less access to water.
The pair of sage and thyme is also useful to make your garden pest and bug-free. While sage keeps carrot flies and cabbage moths away, bruising thyme can repel pesky pests.
Lavender
Companion herbs: Parsley, chamomile, marjoram, basil, oregano, sage
Lavender makes a great pair with herbs like basil and oregano. That’s because both basil and oregano work to improve the vitality and growth of the lavender. Also, they repel flies and aphids to better protect the plant.
You can also grow chamomile and lavender near each other, but make sure to separate the container. That’s because they both have separate soil preferences.
Herb/Plants Pairings to Avoid
Remember this! Not all plants or herbs make good bedfellows. While the above-listed herbs can be grown together, here are the pairings that you should avoid:
- Keep your plants away from fennel and wormwood. Fennel can impact the flavors and growth of the plants, while wormwood has damaging effects. So, it’s better to harvest them in isolation rather than in a group.
- Do not pair rue with basil and sage, as it can inhibit their growth. The same is also applicable to cabbage.
- Sage shouldn’t be harvested with cucumber and onion as it can stunt their growth.
- Dills can be beneficial for cabbage and lettuce, but they can damage tomatoes. So, avoid growing them together.
- Alliums (like garlic and shallots) can inhibit the growth of legumes (beans and peas). So, they shouldn’t be grown together.
Final Words
Hopefully, now you know what herbs can be planted together. Make sure you use the right container and potting mix, as it supports better herb growth. Happy harvesting!
