So you want to start an herb garden. Do you know which plants you should put in it?
Something new gardeners may not have considered is that, like humans, not all plants play nicely together. Sometimes it’s as simple as one requires more water or sun than another. However, sometimes it can get a little more complicated–did you know that common mint shouldn’t grow in the same pot as peppermint?
Plants that grow well in the same container are called companion plants. More than just having similar environmental needs, companion plants actually help each other flourish, grow and taste wonderful.
If you’re ready to start your own herb garden, here’s everything you need to know about picking the right plants to put in it.
Companion planting is a way of planting herbs that involve selecting varietals that are beneficial to each other. This could mean that they enhance each other’s flavor or growth, or they protect each other from pests. It can also mean selecting types of herbs that require similar water and direct sunlight levels or soil makeup.
We recommend companion planting as a standard garden practice, whether you are just growing herbs via container gardening or looking for ways to protect and enhance your larger vegetable garden bed.
The following list of perennial herbs can all be grown as companion plants, though some may not be good companions for each other. If you are planning out an herb garden, here are your options:
A versatile and delicious herb, basil can be planted with parsley, cilantro, and tarragon.
Known in parts of the world as coriander, cilantro is a great companion to parsley, basil, and tarragon.
There’s no lavender better than home-grown lavender. Delicious as a fresh herb and even better dried, it’s a must-have in your herb garden. Try growing it with rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, and marjoram.
Lemon thyme has a bright, citrus note, unlike its cousin thyme. It does well with other lemony herbs, such as lemon verbena and lemon balm.
Starting off your morning with fresh lemon verbena leaves in hot water is an unbeatable treat. Good companions include lemon thyme and lemon balm.
Though less known than some others on this list, marjoram definitely has a place in your herb garden. Its medicinal properties have been utilized for centuries, and its pleasing aromatic flavor enhances both cocktails and entrées. Try planting it with rosemary, oregano, sage, lavender and thyme.
An Italian staple. A good companion for rosemary, marjoram, sage, lavender, and thyme.
Your everyday herb. Plant it in one pot with basil, cilantro, and tarragon.
Rosemary can be tricky with some herbs, but it plays nicely with marjoram, oregano, sage, lavender, and thyme.
The flavors of the holidays, grown fresh in your garden. Try it with rosemary, marjoram, oregano, lavender, and thyme.
A staple of French cooking, tarragon has an anise-like flavor that subtly enhances poultry, salads, and sauces. Plant it with basil, parsley, and cilantro.
The classic savory herb. Plant with rosemary, marjoram, sage, oregano, and lavender.
While each plant above works well as a companion plant, each isn’t a good companion to all. There are several categories of herbs to stick with when container gardening. You should not plant any plants that fall in any two of the categories below:
Your moisture-loving herbs need lots of rain, damp and moist soil to thrive. While some can be planted with dry environment varietals, they do best planted among themselves (with one notable exception!).
This category includes:
Dry environment herbs love full sun and drier climates. Plant together in dry soil and place the container in a place with lots of sunlight. They, too, do best when planted with other dry environment herbs.
This category includes:
Lemony herbs are in their own category, but for the most part, they plant nicely with others. The only companion plant to avoid is parsley. Otherwise, you can plant with other varietals that have similar soil and sun needs.
This category includes:
Minty herbs are tricky. They don’t plant well with other minty herbs and are only good companions to a select group of herbs. You can only plant mint with basil, oregano, cilantro, and dill. They cannot be planted with parsley, rosemary, or other mint varieties.
This category includes:
If you stick within the categories outlined above, there is no reason not the expect a lovely herb harvest. That said, there are always thing that can increase your likelihood of success. Here are some of our favorite gardening tips for growing your best herbs.
The container for your container garden can be the difference between a bountiful harvest and a disappointing one. You are looking for a large, sturdy vessel with good drainage and plenty of space for growth.
Gardenuity’s Grow Bags are portable, breathable, and stylish. They are specially designed to last throughout the growing season. Get yours now, and take a step towards a beautiful herb harvest.
Most herbs should be planted between four and six inches apart. If you are starting with seeds, bury them about two inches deep. If you are starting with saplings, bury the root system completely.
With so many different herbs available, it can be difficult to choose which ones you want to grow at home. Here are some of our favorite combinations to get you started.
Mint fits well with the moisture-loving Mediterranean herbs. Make sure your container gets plenty of water and not a lot of full sunlight.
This is your best option for drier and sunnier climates. Make sure the soil stays moist, but it’s OK if you miss a day or two of watering.
Lemon Verbena is prone to spider mites, which are deterred by dill and cilantro. It’s the perfect trio.
When it comes time to harvest herbs, the methodology is pretty much the same across varieties. Here’s how you’ll know it’s go-time and what to do when it happens.
It’s time to harvest your herbs when the plant has enough growth and foliage that taking a little bit of it won’t spell certain death. The sprout should be several inches tall or long, with medium to large healthy green leaves, and it should consist of four to five growing sprigs.
Although it’s tempting to just grab what you need, it’s better to harvest herbs by the sprig, not by the leaf. Do not pull the sprigs, as you risk damaging the root system. Take a pair of sharp shears or scissors and cut the stem of the sprig about two inches above the top of the soil.
Only harvest your herbs plants when they are dry, either just after the morning dew has evaporated or at dusk after a rainless day. For culinary herbs, you will want to harvest them before they begin to flower. Once flowering occurs, energy is transferred away from the leaves, which begin to lose flavor. Try to pinch off any flowers that start to bud in order to prevent them altogether.
If you want to make delicious food, you’ve got to use herbs. Here are some of our best herb recipes that celebrate the bounty of your harvest.
Basil is easy to cultivate and an excellent companion plant to a variety of herbs, keeping pests such as aphids away while attracting pollinators to the herb garden. Try planting basil with chives, oregano, and chamomile. The four together will encourage each others’ essential oils and promote a better-tasting harvest.
Basil and parsley have similar sun and watering requirements, making them excellent companion plants.
Chervil and dill are a dynamic duo, driving away pests that may feast on developing plants. You should not plant dill with certain vegetables, such as peppers, carrots, mature tomatoes, or fennel.
Basil should not be planted with rosemary, fennel, or cucumbers.
Chives grow well with almost anything. It does really well with other alliums such as garlic, onions, and scallions.
Many culinary herbs thrive in containers. Some of our favorites include mint, chives, basil, marjoram, tarragon, cilantro, and parsley.
Ready to start your own herb garden with the perfect companion plants? Gardenuity can take the guesswork out of the equation. We have a herb garden kit with herb pairs that are a match made in heaven!
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