What herbs can be grown with basil? This question highlights several main herbs to plant with basil. I’ll also explain other important herbs to consider for planting with it. If you’re growing herbs for cooking then it’s important to think about the growing conditions required for each herb. Most gardeners start out growing herbs from seeds rather than plants bought in pots.
There are several main growing herbs to plant with basil which are worth considering for growing in your own garden. However, don’t be tempted to just plant any old herb for companion herb garden; remember that each has special requirements depending on what you want to get from your herb. For instance, one of the main differences between parsley and basil is that while basil needs relatively little maintenance, parsley needs to be kept under control by regular washing with fresh water. The same applies for dill which must also be kept under control and has to be harvested often.
In addition to the herbs to plant with basil there are some other considerations for a successful gardening and growing of herbs. One of the key elements to consider is soil health, particularly clay soil health. It’s also important to choose herbs with similar watering requirements.
Planting herbs with basil therefore, requires careful consideration and planning. First, if you are growing basil you’ll need to take into consideration its primary growing season; most herbs, especially basil, bloom at various times throughout the year. Therefore it’s important to choose herbs that don’t have a hard time rising and maintaining their leaves. Some herbs grow fairly tall and thus need more frequent watering but other herbs grow much shorter and don’t require as much water. As with any plant, the best choice will depend on your particular garden needs and how much maintenance you plan to devote to them.
As a tip for those who are new to herb gardening, companion planting is an important way to incorporate several herbs together. This is particularly useful if you have a number of plants that grow well together such as basil, mint, sage, chives, or sweet marjoram. Companion planting will give your basil the chance to interact with some of your other plants. You may for instance, plant mint beside chives to enhance the flavor of both herbs. This strategy however should be done after learning about the overall health of your basil plants first.
When it comes to growing herbs with basil, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. Firstly, it’s important to choose herbs that complement each other, so for example if you are growing herbs that have a tangy taste to them, you might plant mint along side them. On the other hand, if you want your basil plants to grow up faster and healthier, you may want to consider growing basil along with onions, parsley, or cilantro. On top of that you can also group herbs together by growing herbs together in one container and then putting each of them inside a separate pot.
One of the most common mistakes novice gardeners make when growing herbs is over watering them. Watering your herbs too much is not a good thing especially if you have young plants. The best watering method is to water your herb’s just enough to bring them to the soil health condition but not overly-water them. Contrary to what most people believe, you do not need to water your herbs continuously. Instead you only need to water them every couple of days to maintain their tenderness.
Another characteristic of herbs to plant with basil is making sure they get the right amount of sunlight. Sunlight is essential for the health of your basil plants and your other herbs as well. A common problem with growing herbs is that one or two of your plants may end up with leaf diseases, especially if you are not giving them enough sun or you are planting them into shady areas. On top of that, insects such as caterpillars and aphids will also love to feed on your basil plants, so in order to prevent this from happening you should place your herbs on an elevated location where they will have plenty of sunlight.