Most gardeners understand the concept of companion planting for their vegetable and herb garden. There are various compatible plants and herbs that grow well together in a group or in pairs. However, there’s a science for companion planting, and many herbs pair well with the vegetable plants, too.
Herbs have strong fragrances that can drive pests away from the crops. Plus, they can bring in good insects to eat the other bugs.
Learning which herbs pair best together is the first step. That way, you know exactly what to plant together so that all the herbs do well and you save space.
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The 10 Herbs Grow Well Together in the Same Container and Pots
It’s important to know which herbs grow well together in the same pot or container. That way, you can start learning how to plant things. Plus, herbs are very beginner-friendly, so you can aspire to getting that green thumb.
Most of these herbs flourish, even if you make a mistake. However, you can’t just buy a large planter and grow them all at once. You’ve got to know which ones pair well together!
Though many herbs do well together, they have to require the same needs. For example, some herbs need more sunshine and less water or more shade and more water. Grouping herbs based on their needs is a surefire way to be successful.
1. Basil
Basil is an excellent companion to various plants and herbs. These can include chili plants, oregano, rosemary, and parsley. It can also repel those harmful insects that do damage to the plants and keep mosquitoes away. Therefore, many herbs and plants can benefit when it’s planted close to them.
However, you should keep basil away from sage and rue. Plus, putting basil in with tomatoes could enhance the flavor of the tomatoes and the basil!
Typically, basil needs plenty of heat and sun to grow. You should make sure it gets about eight hours of sun each day. Plus, the soil needs to be full of nutrients and moisture, but it must also drain well.
2. Cilantro
Cilantro is often called Mexican Parsley, and it thrives primarily during the cooler season. Therefore, it pairs well with lavender, basil, dill, and mint.
However, it needs to stay away from the fennel. Both of these plants are very competitive when they’re planted next to each other. Therefore, either or both plants could dry up or die if they’re too close.
Generally, cilantro requires light shade, but it likes full sunlight. It also requires well-drained and moist soil conditions. You shouldn’t grow cilantro plants together in the same pot, but you can have a cilantro plant in with various plants listed earlier.
3. Sage
Another herb that grows well with others is sage. While sage is very pretty as it grows, it is beneficial for the garden, too. It attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to help the other plants flourish.
Sage pairs extremely well with rosemary. However, it can also be planted in garden beds with cabbage, strawberries, tomatoes, and carrots.
You’re going to want sandy, well-drained, and loamy soil with a 6.0 pH level. The plant prefers to grow in medium or full sunlight. Also, it’s a drought-tolerant herb, so even if you let it wilt, it can still be perked up with some water.
4. Chives
Chives are a great partner plant for various vegetables and herbs. It can actually ward off aphids and other pests, enhancing the growth of your other plants.
Consider planting this herb in the same container as mint, rosemary, or dill. You can also add it to the beds of tomatoes and carrots to enhance their flavors.
To grow chives, you want to put the container in a space that gets full sunlight. The soil needs to have plenty of organic matter and should drain well.
5. Dill
Dill is a top herb for many reasons. Gardeners love to put it in their gardens because it attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs, honey bees, and butterflies. It can also discourage pests, such as cabbage loopers, aphids, and spider mites.
Consider planting dill next to basil and cilantro. They can also be planted next to onions, cucumbers, lettuce, and corn. However, dill needs to stay away from lavender, peppers, and carrots.
Many new gardeners start with dill because it grows well in poor conditions. However, it really likes sandy and loamy soil that’s well-drained. Consider a soil temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21°C) for best results.
6. Mint
There is a huge misconception about mint and pairing with other herbs. Most gardeners claim that they can’t have mint in their gardens or in pots with other plants because it creeps.
However, it works well next to cilantro, basil, and dill. Plus, you can keep it in the garden to ward off aphids and other pests because they don’t like the aroma. In a garden, pair it with kale, cabbage, and radishes.
There are various mint varieties, but they all prefer good drainage and light soil. It enjoys a moist site, and it likes some shade. However, it’s best to check the instructions on the variety you choose, as these can vary.
7. Coriander
Coriander shares many of the same properties as parsley because it’s quite easy to grow. Plus, it attracts various beneficial insects.
However, coriander enjoys a well-lit and humid environment, though it struggles when in direct sunlight. Therefore, it’s a bit odd to pair it with other things. Still, you can put it with parsley or dill.
Generally, coriander likes light shade and prefers to stay out of direct sunlight. You also require well-drained soil for it to flourish.
8. Tarragon
Tarragon is a nurse plant, so its presence enhances the flavors of whatever is planted next to it. You can actually pair it with almost anything. The smell is going to drive away pests in the garden.
If you plan to grow it in a container, put it with cilantro and basil. They all love extra moisture and full sunlight.
Typically, people pair tarragon with eggplant in the garden. Pests seem to love gnawing on the eggplant, but they dislike the smell of tarragon. However, you can also use tarragon as a divider in the garden if you like.
When growing tarragon, make sure the conditions aren’t too wet. Since it is resistant to drought, it almost prefers areas with less water. You also need sandy, light soil that drains well for best results.
9. Oregano
Oregano is a pretty low-maintenance plant. You can pair it with any other herb that likes the same conditions. Most gardeners believe that oregano and basil work well together.
They can both repel harmful insects. However, the plant likes partial or full sunlight. Only water it when the soil is quite dry.
You should plant oregano in well-drained and light soil. It can do well in partly shady conditions. However, you’re going to have a better flavor if you give it a full day of sun.
10. Rosemary
Shockingly, rosemary doesn’t get along all that well with other herbs. However, it does pair well with sage and can be grown next to many vegetables in the garden.
In fact, the best companions are broccoli and rosemary. The herb wards off insects and protects the broccoli. Plus, the broccoli enriches the soil so that rosemary thrives.
Some people also have success growing rosemary and thyme together because both plants like it dry. However, they do require slightly different soil mixtures, so it could be hard to keep both herbs alive.
Remember, rosemary starts growing slowly that first year, but it can grow faster the second year. Consider putting it in light soil that drains well with full sunlight. The soil needs to have a pH of 6 or 7.
What Herbs Should Not be Planted Together?
Ultimately, most herbs are forgiving enough to grow next to each other. However, you don’t want to pot them and find that they fight each other for nutrients. That might require you to start over or try to repot them later.
Fennel is one of the herbs that shouldn’t be planted with any other herbs. Many regular vegetables don’t like to be around it either. Most of the time, the other herbs don’t grow well, but they can also take on a bitter flavor.
Though we do mention that mint pairs well with a few things, there are other herbs that need to stay far away from it. For example, thyme and lavender can both be problematic. Mint is naturally a creeper, so its vines go everywhere.
To avoid this, consider a variety that doesn’t vine as much. However, it does pair well with many garden vegetables, such as cauliflower. Therefore, you may want to put it out in the garden or keep it close to cilantro and dill.
Conclusion
Now that you know which herbs grow well together in the same pot or container, you can start planting. Herbs are typically the go-to plant for beginners because they’re forgiving. It’s important to understand what herb you’re dealing with and what conditions it requires.
A quick search can help you, but many times, it is listed on the label. Therefore, read everything about the plant before transplanting it into the pot. Also, make sure the container is large enough to house both herbs.
That way, you aren’t going to risk one or both of them dying. Each plant requires sufficient space for its root ball. Happy planting!
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