Here in Texas, early Spring is knocking at our door. We’re winding down the cool season crops and looking at planting our warm season selections. At the Markets, almost everyone is asking for Basil… note: it’s not ready yet. The nights are staying too cool, in my opinion, to have new basil plants in the garden. So, there are tiny, tiny plants in the greenhouse, on the heat mat, which will be ready in a few weeks.
Even though, for us, time for planting is almost upon us, for much of the U.S. and parts of North Texas as well, gardens are still in the planning stage. So, while you’re looking at how to best use your garden space, whether in the next few weeks or a couple of months from now, don’t forget to plan for herbs along side your vegetables.
HERBS ATTRACT INSECT PREDATORS!
Herbs are great companion plants for vegetables and flowers, as well. Besides adding visual interest, herbs attract beneficial insects which help control the ones which come to eat your garden. For maximum effectiveness, inter plant your herbs and vegetables, rather than having single variety rows of crops. If you are a row gardener, plant some herbs in between your vegetable plants in each row. If you use the square foot plan or raised beds, just add some of the beneficial herbs to your beds wherever they fit in. Container gardeners can add herb plants along with vegetables in containers as well. Plant them near the edge of the container so they get maximum sun and don’t become shaded by a big tomato or squash!
HERBS ATTRACT INSECT POLLINATORS!
Many herbs, especially the ones with umbel-type flower heads- dill, parsley, fennel, cilantro- are great at attracting pollinators. These bees, butterflies and tiny flies pollinate the flowers of your vegetable plants so you have better yields. In past gardens, if your plants have produced a lot of flowers but few vegetables, pollination could be an issue. Especially if you garden in an urban area, you might need to give your plants extra help in pollination by planting herbs attractive to insects.
Continue reading for charts with specifics for companion planting.
COMPANION PLANTING CHART- HERBS
| Plant Type | Compatible For Companion Planting | Incompatible |
| Angelica | Dill | |
| Anise | Coriander | |
| Basil | Tomatoes | |
| Bee Balm | Tomatoes, Peppers | |
| Borage | Tomato, Squash, Strawberries | |
| Caraway | Peas | Fennel |
| Catnip | Turnips, Eggplants, Peppers | |
| Chives | Tomatoes, Carrots, Grapes, Roses | Peas, Beans |
| Cilantro / Coriander | Beans, Spinach, Peas | Fennel |
| Dill | Onions, Lettuce, Cucumbers | Carrots, Cabbage, Tomatoes |
| Fennel | plant by itself if possible. | Cilantro |
| Garlic | Roses, Cabbage, Raspberries, Tomatoes, Eggplant | Peas, Beans |
| Horseradish | Potatoes | |
| Lemon Balm | Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Turnips, Rutabagas | |
| Mint | Cabbage, Tomatoes | |
| Parsley | Tomato, Corn, Asparagus | |
| Rosemary | Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Sage | |
| Sage | Cabbage, Tomatoes | |
| Mint | Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots | Cucumbers, Beans |
| Savory | Beans, Cabbage, Onions | |
| Thyme | Cabbage, Eggplants, Potatoes, Tomatoes |
Here is a list of herbs and which insects they repel: Companion Planting- Herbs
Here is another list of herb companions that includes cooking tips and other herb information: Companion Planting
Herbs aren’t the only plants that make good companions. Many flowers help attract beneficial insects as well as repel pests.
COMPANION PLANTING CHART – FLOWERS
| Plant Type | Compatible For Companion Planting | Incompatible |
|---|---|---|
| Marigold | Potatoes, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant | Beans |
| Nasturtiums | Beans, Peppers, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkins | |
| Sunflowers | Melon, Pumpkin, Squash |
Companion Plants can even help with your fruit-growing efforts:
COMPANION PLANTING CHART – FRUIT
| Plant Type | Compatible For Companion Planting | Incompatible |
|---|---|---|
| Blackberries | Dill, Carrots | |
| Grapes | Blackberries, Beans, Peas | Radish, Cabbage |
| Melon (Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Watermelon) | Sunflower, Radishes, Beets, Corn | Potatoes |
| Strawberries | Borage, Peach Trees | Possibly Cabbage |
VEGETABLE COMPANIONS
Another reason to practice companion planting is because plants that are complimentary to each other will help each variety grow better and produce a heavier crop. This is especially true of vegetable companions.
Companion planting vegetables is nicely achieved in raised beds or square foot plans because you have separate, individual planting beds. Use the chart below to plan your beds with herbs, flowers and vegetable companions to best suit the varieties you are growing this year.
In a small garden it can be a challenge to grow companion crops without getting too near to an uncomplimentary crop. There doesn’t need to be a great distance between uncomplimentary crops to protect one crop from the other. Try and put a complimentary or a neutral variety between uncomplimentary ones and that will be fine.
COMPANION PLANTING CHART – VEGETABLES
| Plant Type | Compatible For Companion Planting | Incompatible |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Tomato, Parsley, Basil, Lettuce | |
| Beans, Bush | Potato, Celery, Cucumbers, Corn, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Carrots | Onions, Fennel, Sage |
| Beans, Pole | Corn, Summer Savory, Radish, Tomato | Onion, Beets, Kohlrabi, Garlic, Chives, Sage |
| Beets | Bush beans, Lettuce, Onions, Kohlrabi, Cabbage, Mint, Carrots | Pole beans, Mustard |
| Broccoli | Marigold, Sage, Beets, Nasturtium, Lettuce | Tomato |
| Brussels Sprouts | Aromatic Herbs, Carrot, Dill | Tomato |
| Cabbage | Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs, Beets, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard | Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pole beans, Dill |
| Cabbage, Chinese | Celery, Onions, Potatoes | Carrots |
| Carrots | Lettuce, Radish, Onions, Tomatoes, Peas, Rosemary, Sage, Leeks, Beans | Dill, Anise |
| Cauliflower | Sage, Thyme, Mint | Grapes |
| Celeriac | Leeks, Tomato, Beans, Cabbage | |
| Celery | Onions, Tomato, Cabbage, Bush Beans, Nasturtium, Leeks | |
| Chard | Potatoes | |
| Corn | Pumpkins, Sunflower, Peas, Beans, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Squash | Tomatoes |
| Cucumbers | Corn, Peas, Radishes, Beans, Sunflowers, Cabbage | Potatoes, Sage |
| Eggplant | Beans, Marigold, Lettuce | |
| Garlic | Roses, Cabbage, Raspberries, Tomatoes, Eggplant | Peas, Beans |
| Kohlrabi | Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower | Tomatoes, Beans, Strawberries |
| Leeks | Carrots, Onions, Celery | Peas, Beans |
| Lettuce | Onions, Strawberries, Beans, Carrots, Radishes, Peas, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Broccoli. Tomatoes | |
| Okra | Marigolds, Eggplant, Peppers | |
| Onions (& family including, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) | Lettuce, Beets, Carrots, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Summer Savory | Peas, Beans, Sage |
| Parsnip | Peas, Beans | |
| Peas | Carrots, Cucumbers, Corn, Turnips, Radishes, Beans, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Aromatic Herbs | Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Shallots, Gladiolus |
| Peppers | Tomato, Basil, Parsley, Petunias, Carrots, Onions, Okra, Marigolds, Cilantro, Catnip, Tansy, Nasturtium | Fennel, Kohlrabi, Beans |
| Potatoes | Beans, Corn, Cabbage Family, Marigolds, Horseradish, Lettuce, Radishes, Scallions | Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Squash, Tomato, Cucumber, Sunflower, Chard, Raspberries |
| Pumpkins | Corn, Marigold, Beans, Sunflowers | Potato, Raspberries |
| Radishes | Beets, Carrots, Spinach, Parsnips, Cucumbers, Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Kohlrabi, Nasturtium, Peas | Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Turnips, Hyssop, Grapes |
| Rutabaga | Mint, Sage, Thyme, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage | Grapes, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Pole beans, Dill Spinach Celery, Eggplants, Cabbage, Peas, Onions, Brussels Sprouts, Peppers |
| Squash | Beans, Radishes, Cucumbers, Corn, Nasturtium, Mint, Aromatic Herbs | Potatoes, possibly Tomatoes |
| Tomatoes | Carrots, Onions, Nasturtium, Asparagus, Cucumber, Aromatic Herbs (Parsley, Dill, Lovage, etc.), Spinach, Basil | Cabbage, Cauliflower, Fennel, Potatoes, Black Walnut, possibly Squash |
| Turnip | Peas, Brussels Sprouts, Beans | Potatoes |
There is lots of information on-line and in various garden publications regarding companion planting.
One of the most fun and reliable resources is a set of 2 books written by Louise Riotte. Carrots Love Tomatoes and Roses Love Garlic. These books were written in the 1970’s and republished at the time of Ms. Riotte’s death in 1998. They are as relevant now as when they were written.
The books are filled with the spirit of a woman who loved to garden and found wonder and excitement each time she was in her garden. I highly recommend them if you don’t already have them. Our library in Hallettsville has copies of them, and yours might, too, if you’d like to take a look at them.
Companion Planting can improve your gardening efforts, so why not give it a try this year? I wish you all a bountiful harvest, the most colorful flowers and the most savory and succulent herbs!
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.