Herb Companions: Perfect Pairings for Garden and Kitchen

Discover the art of companion planting with herbs. The classic example: basil thrives alongside tomatoes! Herbs also make wonderful companions in your culinary creations.

Here's a guide to common herbs, their garden companions, and their best kitchen pairings.

Basil
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes. Repels flies and mosquitoes.
In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, pesto, sauces, and salad dressings.

Chives
In the garden: Plant with carrots.
In the kitchen: Related to onions, chives enliven vegetable dishes, dressings, casseroles, rice, eggs, cheese dishes, sauces, gravies, and dips.

Dill
In the garden: Plant with cabbages. Keep away from carrots.
In the kitchen: Use seeds for pickles and to add aroma to strong vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and turnips. Use fresh with green beans, potato dishes, cheese, soups, salads, seafood, and sauces.

Mint
In the garden: Plant near cabbage and tomatoes. Deters white cabbage moth.
In the kitchen: Common in Middle Eastern dishes. Use with roast lamb or fish, and in salads, jellies, or teas.

Oregano
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Of Italian origin, its zesty, strong flavor enhances any tomato dish. Try with summer squash, potatoes, mushroom dishes, beans, or in a lamb marinade.

Parsley
In the garden: Plant near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes.
In the kitchen: Use fresh in soups, sauces, and salads. Reduces the need for salt in soups. Fry as a side dish with meat or fish. The perfect garnish.

Rosemary
In the garden: Plant near cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. Deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use for poultry, lamb, tomato dishes, stews, soups, and vegetables. Try finely chopped in breads and custards.

Sage
In the garden: Plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots; away from cucumbers. Deters cabbage moth and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use in cheese dishes, stuffings, soups, pickles, with beans and peas, and in salads. Excellent for salt-free cooking.

Tarragon
In the garden: Good companion to most vegetables.
In the kitchen: Great with meat, eggs, poultry, seafood, and in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.

Thyme
In the garden: Plant near cabbage. Deters cabbage worm.
In the kitchen: Use in casseroles, stews, soups, ragouts, and with eggs, potatoes, fish, and green vegetables.

More Herbs & Their Uses

Anise
In the garden: Plant with coriander, which promotes its germination and growth.
In the kitchen: Use in cookies, cakes, fruit fillings, breads, or with cottage cheese, shellfish, and spaghetti.

Borage
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes, squash, and strawberries. Deters tomato worm.
In the kitchen: Use leaves in salads; flowers in soups and stews.

Caraway
In the garden: Plant here and there to loosen soil.
In the kitchen: Use in rye breads, cheese dips, soups, applesauce, salads, coleslaw, and over pork or sauerkraut.

Chervil
In the garden: Plant with radishes.
In the kitchen: Use with soups, salads, sauces, eggs, fish, veal, lamb, and pork.

Fennel
In the garden: Plant away from other herbs and vegetables.
In the kitchen: Flavor pastries, confectionery, sweet pickles, sausages, tomato dishes, soups, vinegars, and oils. Adds warmth to curries.

Garlic
In the garden: Plant near roses and raspberries. Deters Japanese beetles.
In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, garlic bread, soups, dips, sauces, marinades, or with meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables.

Lovage
In the garden: Plant here and there to improve health and flavor of neighboring plants.
In the kitchen: Great for soups, stews, and salad dressings. Pairs well with potatoes. Seeds can be used on breads and biscuits.

Marjoram
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Excellent in almost any savory meat, fish, dairy, or vegetable dish. Add near the end of cooking.

Summer Savory
In the garden: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor.
In the kitchen: Popular in soups, stews, stuffings, and with fish, chicken, green beans, and eggs.