Organic Gardening with Herbs for Companion Planting
Certain plants help each other thrive. This is a brief list of herbs that can be planted as companion plants in your veggie patch and near fruit trees to encourage growth, deter pests, and even improve your soil.
Herbs As Companion Plants
For Tomatoes
Basil
Lemon Balm
Borage
Lovage
Garlic
Parsley
For Cabbage
- Horeradish – reples spud bugs, but keep it under control
- Hyssop
- Chamomile
- Mint (but keep it away from parsley
- Rosemary
- Dill (but not near fennel)
- Thyme
For Grapes
- Hyssop
- Oregano
- Gernaiums
Cole Crops (collard, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower),
- Oregano
- Sage
Fruit Trees
- Garlic
- Tansy
Basil – Apart from being delicious with chicken, it also works well as a companion plant. Plant in a ratio of three basil plants for every tomato. It repels flies and mosquitoes.
Borage – works well with strawberries, tomatoes and squash. Borage will also attract bees – which aids pollination.
Chamomile – Plant with onion and cabbage.
Dill – Plant near cabbage, lettuce, corn, and cucumber. Don’t plant near fennel to avoid cross pollination.
Garlic - Plant near fruit trees and tomatoes. Repels red spider mites. Great insecticide steeped in water – see “Natural and Organic Pest Control.
Geranium – Plant near corn and grapes. Red spider mites steer clear of oil of geranium. Plant it near grapes and corn to repel cabbage worm too.
Keep rosemary away from your spuds, but it is good near beans, sage and carrots
Chives – As a spray it kills powdery mildew and can be uses with carrots and apple trees.
In addition, marjoram, tarragon and lovage are good for most plants
Nasturtium is a great insect repellent and can be used with cole crops, fruit trees, and radishes.
Oregano – loves cole crops and grape vines. Acts as an insect repellent for cucumber beetle.
Parsley – great with tomatoes, carrots, chives, and asparagus but not mint.
Rosemary – Loves beans, carrots, cabbage and sage but not potatoes.
Rue - It is effective near strawberries and fig trees but never near basil. Plant it wherever you don’t want cats to go.
Sage – avoid planting near cucumbers but good near rosemary, carrots and cabbage.
Herb Gardening to Enrich Your Soil
Valerian - Good in compost heaps and good for earthworms.
Caraway – Breaks down heavy soils because of its long roots.
Elderberry – Helps break down soil and compost. Dig it out and check out the black gold around its roots – rich topsoil.
Lupins – helps prevent blackspot on roses – use as a mulch
Comfrey – This herb is often used in compost and as organic fertilizer made into a compost tea. A great soil enricher.
