Herbs are the life of some meals and can take even the blandest of meals to a whole new level. You can decide to get your herbs from the store but there is only so much you can get from the store, and what do you do about that unplanned meal? In this feed we will get to know what herbs can be planted together? and benefits of their Companionship.
This is why growing your herb garden is essential.
Herbs are easy to care for and can be a great warm-up if you plan to cultivate other plants. Herbs are so versatile that a lack of yard space cannot stop them from growing. They can be grown in containers both indoors and outdoors, which can be a great space saver for people with limited space.
Growing several herbs together will save you space and provide you with several choices to try in your meals. But how do you pair these herbs?
Although a lot of herbs can grow together, there are principles guiding them. Before I show you which herbs you can grow together, let’s see what companion planting means and its peculiarities when it comes to herb-to-herb companionship.
What is Companion Planting?
Thousands of years ago, some plants in the wild began to notice some favorable growing conditions when close to some other plants. These favorable conditions include shade and protection, more nutrients, protection against pests and diseases, and many others. When this happened, those plants started growing together, and that simply is companion planting.
In companion planting, the plants being paired together are beneficial to each other or one plant while the other is unaffected.
For herb-to-herb companion planting, the herbs planted together help each other grow better. Some of these herbs help repel pests, while others act as ground cover or structural support to other herbs.
The benefits of pairing herbs are numerous. Read on to see some of these benefits and the herbs that provide them.
Herbs That Can Be Planted Together
Growing herbs together is dependent on their growing condition. Soil buddies stick together.
Herbs that love a damp soil will need to be planted with other herbs with the same damp soil requirements. Same with sun requirements, water, and space required to grow. The aim is for the herbs to thrive and not to be fighting for nutrients.
1. Mediterranean Herbs that can be Planted together
Herbs from the Mediterranean regions do well when planted together. They typically love dry sandy soil, and they are usually upright growing plants.
Grouping herbs by regions helps you pair herbs that grow in the same area, which usually means they have the same soil and weather requirements.
Example of herbs
- Oregano
- Sage
- Lavender
- Rosemary
2. Moisture-Loving Companion Herbs
While the Mediterranean herbs and moisture-loving herbs like to grow in sandy soil, the moisture-loving herb needs damp soil with more water to thrive.
This set of herbs love the full sun, so growing them indoors may be a problem. Pairing them on the other hand, will allow you to provide the water and sun requirement they all need.
If you stay in an area with plenty of sunlight and also provide water, then you should consider companion planting damp-loving herbs.
Example of Herbs
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Tarragon
3. Slow-Growing Herbs
This group of herbs takes a longer time to mature; they can be biennial or perennial. Herbs that take longer to grow typically need more soil in their containers because their roots are more prominent and go deeper into the ground. So, they need a bigger container filled with more potting soil.
Why do you need to pair deep container-loving plants?
Simply put, you need to pair them so they can grow simultaneously, reducing the possibility of the struggle for nutrients by the smaller plant, disturbing the soil when harvesting one, competition for space, among several reasons.
Pair biennial plants together in your garden for easier maintenance. Bear in mind that it’ll take a longer time to start enjoying this group of herbs, but the wait would be worth it, trust me.
Example of Plants
- Chives
- Parsley
- Rosemary
4. Mint
I know you might be wondering why mint has a separate category. This is because they exhibit specific characteristics that are unconducive to other herb species.
The mint family is full of creeping herbs that can choke out other herb species and, therefore, should be grown alone. Mints are vigorous growing perennials that prefer moist, well-draining soil.
This vibrant herb is best suited in a window box rather than a pot, as the pot might limit its runners. Keep this herb from other herbs as they can choke and kill other herbs. You can plant them with other members of the mint family.
Example of Plants
Members of the mint family
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Apple/pineapple mint
- Corsican mint
Specific Herbs That Can Grow in One Pot with Other Herbs
Here is a list of herbs you can grow in a container in your garden. All these herbs are good companion plants to some herbs.
- Cilantro: This is a cool-season herb that will grow well when paired with basil, lavender, and dill. They, however, will not thrive when planted near fennel as they are both competitive.
- Sage: The sage plant attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden and will thrive when planted with rosemary.
- Basil: Basil repels many herb pests and is a good companion for lots of herbs. You can companion plant them with parsley, rosemary, and oregano.
- Dill: This is another beneficial herb that attracts pollinators like the sage plant and repels pests like the basil plant. They chase away pests like spider mites and aphids that usually attack herbs. Their most productive companions are cilantro and basil.
- Coriander: This is an herb with almost the same properties as the parsley herb, making both good companions. You can also plant the coriander herb with dill. Coriander also attracts beneficial insect pollinators to your garden.
Finally
Herbs will always be a popular plant in gardens due to their easy to grow nature and their importance to the flavor of our meals. They also release fragrance when in the garden which makes our yard smell majestic.
I’ve given you some Ideas on what herbs can be planted together?; for a better garden and more delicious meals.
