Many plants, when grown next to other plants, improve the quality of those plants. They may make the nearby plants grow bigger and stronger, help improve their flavour or repel insects. Some plants provide shade for the others or help break up heavy soils with their root systems.
Companion planting means that, in some way, one plant is benefiting the plants that it is growing next to, or in the same way, actually stunting the growth of its neighbours and preventing them from thriving.
Herbs that help – all round good guys!
- Plant thyme in the corners of the veggie garden or use carpeting thyme for paths to attract bees to cross-pollinate.
- Grow garlic randomly around the garden (except near strawberries, peas beans & cabbages.) The cloves don’t have to be harvested and will come up year after year.
- Use marigolds as an edging plant to the veggie garden or scatter around the garden as insects don’t like the scent of the foliage and the plants help deter nematodes.
- Feverfew and southernwood have insect repellent properties and chamomile and yarrow help to improve the vigour of the plants around them so these plants make useful combination for a mixed border with more tender plants dotted within.