Bee foraging on Borage

Herbs that Help:

Companion planting is another tool in the Organic Gardeners arsenal of natural ingredients that protect your plants from pest attack. Mixing and matching plants helps them to synergise and complement each other, it is a practice I have a lot of faith in and adhere to routinely.

Herbs help in two ways, one they repel certain pests protecting particular plants and two they are good neighbours, helping to create the right “vibes” for successful growing. You don’t need one for each plant, just scatter them through the Garden close to the relevant plants they are meant to help.

I enjoy growing Herbs for their flavoursome Herbal Teas. They are not only nice to drink but also useful Natural Medicines. Picking the leaves regularly helps to keep the more vigorous Herbs under control. Some are self-seeding, such as Borage so you only have to plant it once.

Below is a list of the more common Herbs their benefits and the plants they help in your Organic Vegetable Garden.

Basil:

Asparagus, Peppers, Tomatoes.

Borage:

Everything but especially Cabbage, Cucumbers and Tomatoes, if you only have one Herb Companion plant in your Garden make it this one. It repels insects but brings bees into the garden to pollinate your plants. A Herbal Tea made from its leaves will dispense with a fever in no time flat.

Chamomile:

Cabbage, Cucumber. The flowering heads make a nice relaxing Tea.

Chives:

Brassica’s, Carrots, Tomatoes. Garlic Chives are best at repelling Insects. Avoid Beans and Peas.

Garlic:

Roses, Celery, Cucumbers, Lettuce. When you harvest the bulbs save some for a Pest repellent spray.

Avoid Beans, Cabbages and Peas.

Peppermint:

Brassicas. It spreads prolifically so pick for Herbal tea regularly to control vigour.

Rosemary:

Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage.

Sage:

Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Rosemary. Harvest the leaves, simmer in water for an hour then spray brew to repel Insects around the Home.

Thyme:

Brassicas.

Be Happy,

Barry.

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