How to Use Herbs for Companion Planting
Companion planting is an effective way to protect your garden from pests, flies and mosquitoes and promote healthy growth in your fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. You simply have to plant some herbs near your fruits or vegetables and besides repelling different bugs and worms, they will also enhance the flavour and number of fruits and vegetables.
While these herbs discourage pests and harmful bugs, they attract beneficial hoverflies and wasps, helping the pollination process. Some of the herbs that are often planted near fruit bearing plants to encourage growth and repel pests include Basil, Chamomile, Dill, Borage, Chive etc.
Instructions
-
1
Basil
Basil helps tomatoes, asparagus, peppers and other herbs like oregano to thrive well. Plant three basil plants next to a tomato plant and enjoy healthy, tasty and more abundant fruit. Besides enhancing your plants’ growth, basil also keeps mosquitoes and flies away from your kitchen and terrace. If you want a companion for your basil plant, look no further than chamomile and anise. -
2
Borage
Borage helps the growth of strawberries, and protects tomatoes and cabbage from worms, while attracting wasps and bees, which help in pollination. Besides improving the fertility of soil, it also helps neighbouring plants against pests and diseases. Plant a borage plant next to tomatoes and strawberries and enjoy a flavourful fruit. -
3
Chamomile
Chamomile increases essential oils in neighbouring herbs and helps onions, cabbage, cucumber and wheat to thrive. Besides repelling aphids and other pests, chamomile attracts flies and wasps, assisting cross pollination. -
4
Chives
Plant Chive near carrots, tomatoes, roses and apple trees. Young chive deters aphids from tomato and carrot plants, while a well grown chive plant (about three years of age) prevents apple skin and rose flower from getting black spots. This herb is also used to make a spray to treat powdery mildew disease. -
5
Dill
Dill makes a great companion to lettuce, cabbage, and cucumber. It also goes well with sweet corns and onions, since it keeps aphids, squash bugs and spider mites from attacking these plants. -
6
Cilantro/Coriander
Cilantro is a famous kitchen spice that is primarily used to add aroma to your recipes and garnish them. But it also makes a great companion to spinach, dill and anise since it acts as a deterrent to aphids and spider mites. If spider mites have taken over your garden, a tea made from coriander is the best treatment for them.
