Be taught all about companion planting with herbs! Discover out which herbs and greens develop effectively collectively, which herbs to plant collectively, and which herbs go along with which meals. Plus, see the way to make a culinary herb wreath! Listed here are our favourite culinary herbs for the backyard—and the kitchen.
Check out our vegetable companion planting guide as well!
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Taste: Flavors of cloves, mint, and cinnamon.
Within the backyard: Thought to repel whiteflies, mosquitoes, spider mites, and aphids. Plant basil with tomatoes, peppers, purslane, and lettuce.
Grows effectively with: Oregano and parsley.
Within the kitchen: Basil combines effectively with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchini. Works effectively in salads (tuna, greens, potato, egg). Additionally fantastic in pestos, salad dressings, and herb butter. Strive basil on bread with recent tomatoes and mayo.
Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Taste: Has a recent, spicy, balsamic aroma.
Within the backyard: Plant with beans.
Grows effectively with: Rosemary, sage, thyme, and parsley.
Within the kitchen: Provides deep, wealthy taste when added to the start of soups and stews. Good with braised meats, slow-cooked dishes, dried beans, marinades, dried fruit, and eggs.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Taste: Oniony, however extra delicate than onion itself.
Within the backyard: Plant with carrots, tomatoes, and sunflowers. Believed to repel aphids, beetles, cabbageworms, slugs, and carrot flies.
Grows effectively with: Dill, marjoram, parsley, and tarragon.
Within the kitchen: Chives enliven vegetable dishes, hen, potatoes, eggs, and cheese dishes. Use in vinegars, butters, and oils. Scatter over salads and soups.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Taste: Taste, when recent, is anise-like and lemony. Seeds odor just like caraway, with a pointy style.
Within the backyard: Plant with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, in addition to with cabbages and different brassicas. Avoid cilantro, which it should cross-pollinate with. It really works effectively as a entice crop for tomato hornworms and aphids.
Grows effectively with: Chives, lemon balm, lemon thyme, and lovage.
Within the kitchen: Use dill seed for pickling and likewise so as to add aroma and style to robust vegetable dishes like cauliflower, onions, cabbage, and turnips. Seeds may be added to casseroles, lamb, fish, and sauces. Use recent with inexperienced beans, potato dishes, cheese, soups, casseroles, meat dishes, pasta, and eggs.
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Taste: Heat and barely spicy
Within the backyard: Good companion to most greens and fragrant herbs, like oregano, lavender, and rosemary. Additionally a very good companion to kiwifruit vines.
Grows effectively with: Basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, and lavender.
Within the kitchen: Glorious in nearly any fish, poultry, eggs, cheese (like mozzarella), or vegetable dish that isn’t candy. Provides heat and spice to beans, beets, eggplants, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, summer season squash, and tomatoes. Add close to the top of cooking.
Mints (Mentha spp.)
Taste: Menthol and fruit.
Within the backyard: Plant close to tomatoes, brassicas, and peas. Deters white cabbage moths, aphids, and flea beetles.
Grows effectively with: Oregano. NOT parsley. (Be aware: It’s finest to plant mint close to a companion plant or in its personal pot or mattress, because it’s a really vigorous spreader!)
Within the kitchen: It is not uncommon in Center Japanese dishes. Use with roast lamb, fish, or poultry and in salads, jellies, or teas. Additionally provides zing to peas, cucumbers, potatoes, eggplants, garlic, lettuces, carrots, beets, summer season squashes, chili, legumes, tomatoes, fruits, ginger, and chocolate.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Taste: Sturdy, zesty, peppery, and spicy.
Within the backyard: Good companion to all greens, particularly these most prone to sap-sucking bugs like aphids. Plant close to peppers, eggplant, squash, beans, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, turnips, and strawberries.
Grows effectively with: Basil, chives, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, and thyme.
Within the kitchen: Good in any tomato dish. Use in soups, casseroles, sauces, stews, stuffing, eggs, chili, and pizza. Strive oregano with summer squash and potatoes, eggplant, peppers, combined greens, and onions. Add to a marinade for lamb, sport, or beef.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Taste: Tastes tangy and evenly peppery.
Within the backyard: Plant close to asparagus, carrots, chives, and tomatoes. It attracts helpful bugs like parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and damselflies.
Grows effectively with: Basil, chives, dill, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, and thyme.
Within the kitchen: Use recent parsley in soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and salads. It lessens the necessity for salt in soups. Very good with meat and potatoes. You’ll be able to fry parsley as a aspect dish with meat or fish. It’s, in fact, the right garnish.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Taste: Piney and lemony.
Within the backyard: Plant close to brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and so forth.), collards, beans, garlic, and carrots. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, Japanese beetles, and carrot flies.
Grows effectively with: Bay, basil, chives, lavender, lemon verbena, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, tarragon, and thyme.
Within the kitchen: Use with poultry, lamb, venison, tomato sauces, stews, soups, and greens. Strive it finely chopped in breads and custards for a savory tinge. Tastes wonderful on steamed purple potatoes or peas.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Taste: Earthy and daring. Use sparingly.
Within the backyard: Plant close to brassicas, carrots, lettuce, and beans. Deters cabbage moth and carrot fly.
Grows effectively with: Lavender, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, lovage, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory thyme, and tarragon.
Within the kitchen: Sausage, poultry, stuffing, lamb, and breads. Use in cheese dishes, stuffings, soups, pickles, with beans and peas, and in salads. Glorious for salt-free cooking.
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Taste: Heat and spicy.
Within the backyard: Good companion to most greens, significantly eggplant.
Grows effectively with: Chives, lemon balm, lemon thyme, parsley, rosemary, and sage.
Within the kitchen: Nice with meat, eggs, poultry, seafood, and greens comparable to beans, beets, carrots, peas, and summer season squashes. Additionally utilized in basic French sauces, vinegars, mustards, and dressings.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Taste: Pungent and spicy.
Within the backyard: Plant close to cabbage and different brassicas, in addition to strawberries. Deters cabbageworm, whiteflies, and cabbage maggots.
Grows effectively with: Bay, basil chives, dill, lavender, lemon verbena, lovage, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and savory.
Within the kitchen: Use in hen broth or stuffing marinades for meat or fish, lamb, veal, soups, and egg dishes. Additionally nice in tomato or wine-based sauces and works effectively in oils and butters.
Extra Frequent Herbs & Companions
Anise
Within the backyard: Plant with coriander, which promotes its germination and development.
Within the kitchen: Use in cookies, desserts, fruit fillings, and bread or with cottage cheese, shellfish, and spaghetti dishes.
Borage
Within the backyard: Plant with tomatoes, squash, and strawberries. Deters tomato hornworm.
Within the kitchen: Use leaves in salads and flowers in soups and stews.
Caraway
Within the backyard: Plant right here and there. Loosens soil.
Within the kitchen: Use in rye breads, cheese dips and rarebits, soups, applesauce, salads, coleslaw, and over pork or sauerkraut.
Chervil
Within the backyard: Plant with radishes.
Within the kitchen: Use with soups, salads, sauces, eggs, fish, veal, lamb, and pork.
Fennel
Within the backyard: Plant away from different herbs and greens.
Within the kitchen: Use to taste pastries, confectionery, candy pickles, sausages, tomato dishes, soups, and to taste vinegars and oils. Provides heat and sweetness to curries.
Garlic
Within the backyard: Plant close to roses and raspberries. Deters Japanese beetle.
Within the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, garlic bread, soups, dips, sauces, marinades, or with meats, poultry, fish, and greens.
Lavender
Within the backyard: Edging cabbage and cauliflower patches with lavender is one technique to repel dangerous bugs like moths. Plant close to fruit bushes to draw pollinators but additionally repel codling moths on apple bushes.
Natural buddies: Basil and oregano are fashionable companions.
Within the kitchen: Whereas edible, it’s used sparingly in cookies. It added a pleasant taste and pop of colour to scones, shortbread, and biscuits.
Lovage
Within the backyard: Plant right here and there to enhance the well being and taste of different vegetation.
Within the kitchen: It’s an amazing flavoring for soups, stews, and salad dressings. Goes effectively with potatoes. The seeds can be utilized on breads and biscuits.
Summer time Savory
Within the backyard: Plant with beans and onions to enhance development and taste.
Within the kitchen: Common in soups, stews, stuffings, and with fish, hen, inexperienced beans, and eggs.
Make a Culinary Herb Wreath
Make a culinary herb wreath! It really works as a stunning ornament, or let it dry within the kitchen and snip off a sprig for cooking!
Do you utilize herbs as companion vegetation? Inform us your favourite mixtures within the feedback beneath!
