Companion Plants for Your Favorite Herbs

Companion planting is the age-old practice of planting plants that “like” each other close together and separating those that “dislike” each other. Some gardeners swear by this method; others dismiss it completely.

There are several books on the subject and scientists are constantly debating on whether companion planting works and if it does why? Friends that follow this method swear the plants grow faster are protected from disease and harmful insects.

While I know companion planting will not totally eliminate harmful insects from the garden, it will slow them down. If one prefers not to use chemical pesticides in the garden, companion planting will provide some protection from the little critters.

Here are the herbs and their favorite vegetables and flowers to help your garden grow better:

Basil: Likes tomatoes both in the garden and on the table. Helps repel flies and mosquitoes. Basil and rue dislike each other so plant away from each other.

Bee balm: Likes tomatoes and attracts bees so plant near fruit trees, berries, squash, cucumbers, melons, and other fruits and vegetables that need pollination.

Borage: Likes tomatoes, squash and strawberries and repels tomato worm.

Chives: Plant close to carrots to help improve both the growth and the flavor.

Chervil: Plant early spring with radishes.

Dill: Loves cabbage and helps resist disease in cabbage. Plant away from carrots.

Garlic: Roses love garlic as do raspberries. Repels Japanese beetles. I use a garlic “tea” as a spray in the garden to warm off Japanese beetles.

Hyssop: Likes cabbage and grapes. Dislikes radishes. Repels cabbage moths.

Marigolds: I love marigolds planted in the vegetable garden. Interspersed between the vegetables these stinky blooms repel the Mexican bean beetle, nematodes and many other insects.

Mint: Be careful with this one. Mint is invasive…very invasive, so if using mint in the garden plant it in a pot to keep it from taking over. Mint likes tomatoes and cabbage and is known to repel the white cabbage moth.

Nasturtiums: So pretty in the garden and the flowers are great in salads. Likes radishes and cabbage, while chasing away aphids, squash bugs and striped pumpkin beetles.

Calendula: Like its more modern-day cousin, plant this old fashion marigold throughout the garden. The plant is especially fond of tomatoes and is known to repel asparagus beetles, tomato worms and other pest.

Rosemary: Likes carrots, beans, and cabbage. Chases cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies.

Summer savory: Likes beans and onions both in the garden and on the plate. Repels bean beetles.

Thyme: Loves cabbage and is good planted throughout the garden. Is known for deterring cabbage worms.