Companion Herbs

Beneficial companion herbs can solve several gardening problems gardeners deal with on a regular basis.

Companion gardening can provide a natural pest control for many of your favorite plants and vegetables.

Besides being a great natural garden pest control, herb companion plants can also attract beneficial garden insects that will help in pollinating other plants in your garden.

Companion herbs are very popular with organic gardeners because they can be used as an organic garden pest control.

Now that I've explained several benefits of herb companion plants, you probably want to know what they are and how to grow them.

Herb companion plants are ordinary herbs that when planted with other plants and vegetables, can aid in their development and growth.

The Best Companion Herbs

While herbs can make great companion plants for your fruits and vegetables, there are some that may have negative effects on them. Make sure you are familiar with what pairs well together.

There are hundreds if not thousands of different varieties of herbs that can be used as companion plants, so I've only listed what I consider the best.

Angelica - This is a great herb for attracting beneficial insects that prey on a variety of garden pests.

Borage - A great herb companion for strawberries, this herb also will attract bees for pollination.

Chamomile - This herb is known as "the plants physician" due to it improving the health, flowers, and yield of other plants. Chamomile is a great companion for onions and cabbage.

Chervil - Chervil is thought to give radishes a little more kick and also protect lettuce from aphids and slugs.

Chives - Prevents scab on apples, black spot on roses and helps deter carrot rootfly.

Coriander - Coriander is known to protect plants from aphids and carrot fly.

Dill - While this is a good herb to plant near lettuce and cabbage, do not plant near fennel due to the possibility of cross pollination.

Fennel - The flowers will attract beneficial insects that will eat other pests. It can affect the growth of tomatoes, coriander and beans, so never plant fennel near them.

Hyssop - Attracts bees for pollination and is thought to be very beneficial to grapevines. It also repels the cabbage white butterfly.

Lovage - This is number one when it comes to companion herbs. It gets along with almost everything in the garden.

Marjoram - Marjoram attracts bees and usually gets along with most everything in the garden.

Nasturtium - Not only does it attract blackfly to itself, nasturtium prevents aphids, squash bugs, whitefly and woolly aphids.

Sage - Generally beneficial to most vegetables, sage also repels cabbage white butterfly.

Summer Savory - Often used as a herb companion for beans, it also repels the Mexican bean beetle.

Thyme - Thyme's strongly scented foliage will stimulate other plants around it. It also attracts bees and is thought to repel the flea beetle and cabbage white butterfly.

Getting the most out of your vegetable garden can be the difference in planting a few companion herbs to help assist in the growth and development of your other plants.