Companion Planting

Companion planting is the name given to the gardening theory that some plants will flourish when planted near particular species and will do badly in the presence of others. This is especially true of herbs as the following list shows. With the exception of fennel, most herbs planted in or near vegetables beds will have a beneficial effect. Try planting herbs at the conrners of beds to ward off flies and various insects and to attract bees.

Basil	Does not grow well near rue, but will benefit most vegetables
Borage	Will encourage strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes
Chamomile	Helps wheat, onions and cabbage
Chevril	Grows well with radishes (the radishes growing closest to the chevril will have a hotter taste)
Chives	Improve the health of apple trees and increase the size of carrots, but will not help beans
Cilantro	Slows down the formation of fennel seed
Dill	Encourage the growth of cabbages and corn, but not carrots
Fennel	Has a bad effect on tomatoes, turnips and dwarf beans, but will improve lettuce and leeks
Horseradish	Grows well with potatoes and makes them more resistant to disease
Hyssop	Attracts cabbage butterfly away from cabbages and will increase the growth of grapes if planted near a grapevine, but has a detremental effect on radishes
Marigold	Improves the growth of tomatoes and deters flies
Nasturtium	Keeps brocoli and apple trees free from arphids; also helps radishes
Parsley	Benefits roses and tomatoes
Peppermint	Protects cabbages from cabbage butterfly
Rosemary	Deters carrot fly; rosemary and sage benefit each other
Sage	Grows well with rosemary, but does not encourage the growth of cucumbers
Southernwood	Helps fruit trees
Summer Savory	Benefits green beans and onions
Tansy	Keeps flies away from peach trees
Thyme	Discourage cabbage root fly
Valerian	Helps most vegetables
Winter Savory	Slows down the germination of some seeds
Yarrow	Helps most vegetables