Herb companion planting: Boosting your garden's productivity

Growing herbs is a rewarding and healthy way to spice up your everyday meals. To help your herbs grow lusciously, pair them with other herbs. Herb companion planting allows the plants to deter pests, enhance pollination, and improve soil health around both the herbs.

As long as you pay attention to the herb families, the size of your chosen herbs, their heat tolerance and sun requirements, you can mix and match accordingly.

Herbs that can be planted together

Chives and Parsley

Some herbs, when grown together, can boost each other’s flavour. Planting chives near parsley is an example of this. They can improve the parsley’s overall taste, as chives offer a more pungent tang to parsley. The chives also help repel aphids and beetles, which will benefit your delicate parsley plants.

anastasiia-mitiushova-EaHSNWYYpBo-unsplash

Image Credit: Unsplash

Mint and Lemon balm

Both of these herbs are part of the mint family and can be considered invasive, with their roots known to spread and take over a garden. Therefore, planting them next to each other is recommended. They both tend to wilt in the hot sun, so keeping them well watered is beneficial for their growth.

Basil and Oregano

Basil herbs grow taller compared to the oregano. Oregano herbs tend to be bushy and spread out. These herbs balance each other nicely. Both will continuously sprout fresh leaves throughout their harvest season. The herbs both contribute to keeping pests away. Basil can help repel mosquitoes and aphids. Oregano also has a strong scent that keeps pests away. With similar growing requirements, they will happily sprout in your garden, providing you with fresh, lush herbs.

Thyme and Rosemary

Both Mediterranean plants thrive in dry, well-drained soil. Being planted together can help create a microclimate that helps suit their needs. They are both strongly-scented herbs and can greatly deter pesky pests from your prized plants. The herbs are also great options to use as a protective border herb.