Guide to Beneficial Companion Herbs And Plants
The herbs listed below make excellent companion plants for your garden, keep in mind you will have to consult the guide following to determine the appropriate planning as these same plants that benefit one species may be detrimental to another.
• Alfalfa – For thousands of years alfalfa has been used in fields that have been allowed to grow fallow to help replace the nitrogen depleted by years of tomato, corn or other crops. The field is planted with alfalfa, allowed to grow wild and plowed under the following season. In addition to supplying the soil with nitrogen, alfalfa also increases the levels of iron, phosphorous and potassium. It makes great ground cover to distract pests looking for the “green” they need to see to land on.
• Anise – This herb, popular with chefs worldwide, gives off a scent that attracts the species of wasp that preys on the aphid. Aphids, with the same senses as their natural enemy the wasp, can smell the anise and will generally stay clear of areas where the herb is prevalent. The scent will also “mask” the scent of nearby veggies which will effectively hide them from other predatory insects.
• Basil – The scent repels many insects bent on feasting in your garden like thrips. It is also used to repel insects that feast on you, the mosquito and even flies avoid basil.
• Bay – Bay leafs are used to flavor meats, but will also repel weevils and moths that plant eggs in your veggies. Crushed, dried bay leafs can be mixed into the soil to keep these bugs at bay.
• Borage – At the same time that borage plants are attracting the pollinating bees and wasps that prey on destructive insects, it is also deterring tomato hornworms and cabbage worms. In addition to attracting the right bugs and repelling the wrong ones, the borage also helps increase the disease resistance of your plants. Even after the borage plant has died, it can be cut up for mulch and still retains much of its pest fighting properties.
• Buckwheat – Acts as fantastic fertilizer even while growing. Some call it “green manure”. Buckwheat attracts hover flies, wasps, lady beetles and more. A field planted with both alfalfa and buckwheat will break up the tough top layers and make it more tillable.
• Caraway – Attracts the same insects that alfalfa and buckwheat attract and can be used to flavor foods.
• Catnip – Although not a herb that humans eat (some people like catnip tea), catnip repels aphids, squash bugs, ants and weevils. It may attract neighborhood cats though, so keep that in mind.
• Chamomile – Another tea plant that acts as a positive host plant for hover flies and wasps that prey on aphids.
• Chervil – Chervil deters another type of garden pest that can and does devastate crops of lettuce, cabbage and other leafy vegetables, the slug. Slugs leave slime trails that act as a beacon to other slugs toward your garden.
• Chives – Chives repel aphids, Japanese beetles and others. They can also help reduce diseases in the garden, but they take as many as three years to grow to the point of being able to do that.
• Coriander – Break off a leaf from the coriander plant and you have one of the prime ingredients in many Italian dishes, cilantro. The seeds of the plant are also used in cooking. Coriander repels aphids, spider mites and the potato beetle.
• Dill – The same herb used in pickling can repel squash bugs and aphids at the same time it is attracting hover flies and wasps that prey on aphids. One caution, dill is a favorite food of the enemy of tomato plants, the tomato horn worm. Make sure you keep the dill away from the tomato plants!
• Fennel – This is one herb to keep out of your garden soil. It has detrimental allelopathic properties that can kill some vegetable plants. It does however attract those beneficial insects that keep your garden safe from predatory bugs. As a plus, fennel makes a good flea repellent as well.
• Horseradish – For help in increasing the disease resistance of your plants, horseradish may be the answer. The root of the horseradish plant is crushed and placed in spray bottles as an effective insect deterrent and prevention of detrimental fungi.
• Kelp – Kelp is actually a herb! It repels aphids, slugs and Japanese beetles. Kelp can also be used as mulch or as a spray directly on the affected plants.
• Lemon Balm – the scent of the lemon balm will successfully repel mosquitoes and squash bugs. The lemon scent is what is used to keep mice away from homes as well. Plant enough of this and you won’t have to worry about a rodent infestation.
• Marjoram – Planting marjoram near your vegetables doesn’t deter insects, disease or fungus, it will aid in improving the flavor of those vegetables and herbs, though.
• Mint – Many forms of mint will attract predatory wasps. They also help in the fruiting for tomatoes and peppers. The menthol in the leaves and stems is an effective repellent for moths, ants, flea beetles, and aphids. If you want to attract earthworms to help improve the vermiculture nature of your garden, they are attracted to the mint and will spend a lot of time there. Mint is also a good scent used to repel rodents. The drawback to mint is that it can take over a garden given enough time.
• Mustard Plants – Is often used as a cover crop to help reduce erosion and add nitrogen to the soil. They also help to control nematodes. They are used in regularly used in vineyards as a cover crop
• Oregano – This herb repels the cabbage butterflies and cucumber beetles. The beneficial aspects of oregano aid in the growth of many vegetables including cabbage and cauliflower.
• Parsley – When steeped in hot water, parsley can help discourage the asparagus beetles from attacking your crop of asparagus. The scent attracts hover flies and wasps.
• Rosemary – Rosemary repels moths, beetles and flies. They also aid in the growth of beans and carrots.
• Sage – When sage flowers, the good insects find it irresistible and will continue to visit your garden. Before it flowers it is a good repellent of cabbage moths, beetles, and more.
• Summer Savory – An herb that attracts honey bees to the flowers and repels moths, beetles, weevils and aphids. It can also improve the flavor of beans and onions.
• Tarragon – Tarragon repels almost every bad insect there is and has no ill effect on vegetable plants. It improves the flavor of most vegetables and helps them grow as well.
• Thyme – Thyme can either be used as a ground cover or on trellises surrounding the garden. Cabbage worms do not like the scent of any variety of thyme.
• Yarrow – The pungent odor of the yarrow herb attracts ladybugs and predatory wasps and helps enhance the flavor of many fruit and vegetables when planted near them.