Top 5 Herbs to grow in your vegetable garden
When I was a child, I grew up in my mother’s herb garden. It was a magical place. Plants of various sizes, colors and textures. Each offering us something different in their roots, leaves or flowers. Delicate plants or spikey stems, vining leafy things or tiny creeping beds of flowers. It all worked together to confound the senses in a delightful way. She would collect various parts of different plants and then either create some delicious culinary concoction or hang them up in a dark corner of the kitchen to dry.
She had this lattice work on the far end and it was a patchwork of herb bunches drying at any given time. I know this is all science, but the process is magical.
She helped instill not only the work ethic I have today, but the skill to create the same magic for my children. They can pluck a rosemary branch and chew on it, or roll sage between their fingers, or just enjoy the colorful beauty of the drying bunches in the pantry. I highly recommend incorporating herbs in your garden not just for their sensory experience or companion planting benefits, but each herb is packed full of benefits for our body. And it is soo easy to do!
But why grow them? Growing herbs in your perennial garden, raised beds or containers is incredibly good for your body. Many have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, others contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and essential oils. They offer appetizing culinary delights, teasing the palate when fresh and providing incredible flavor and richer vitamins and antioxidants than their dried counterparts. Consuming fresh herbs, which you can do all year round from your own home, can make for a healthier body. But fresh herbs also make for a healthier garden.
Most herbs are irresistible for pollinators and beneficial insects, which means they can help deter pests in the garden. Many are perennial and easy to propagate through cuttings or root division which means you don’t have to start them every year when you’re worrying about the annual veg and herb.
As I mentioned when I was a child, the sensory experience they offer is unparalleled in the garden. Just waving your hand through the shrub as you walk by, releases the scent and uplifts the mood. But it’s not just smelling and feeling the herbs ,the diversity of color offered with each variety is beautiful to the eyes. Purple basil, tri-colored sage, pink hyssop, the range of color is complementary to any veggie basket or cottage garden. This group of edibles is on the whole one of the easiest groups to grow.
But what do most herbs need to grow?
Most herbs only need rich, well draining healthy soil in a place where they get plenty of sun and not too much wind.
Establishing your transplants is key for them to develop into strong hardy plants. Be gentle and don’t compact the soil around the roots.
Be sure to choose the permanent locations of your perennial herbs carefully. Rosemary and sage will do very well with attention to their needs and will grow into a nice size shrub over the years.
Be sure to not over crowd your herbs as many like to spread like thyme
Don’t forget to prune. Some annuals like Basil, enjoy pruning as long as you don’t take more than ⅓ the plant. And by pruning in the right way you can help your annual to become nice and bushy providing you with much more than you thought you could get from just one plant.
If you are growing in containers, all herbs like well drained soil so be sure to have good drainage in any container you use.
So now that you’ve got an herb garden, the two most common questions I get are: how do you harvest the herbs and when? The best time to harvest herbs, in my unpopular opinion, is right before you consume them. If you are going to have sage with dinner, I leave it on the plant until evening when I will then harvest it. I don’t like harvesting something in the morning and then having it sit all day drying out. The most popular time is in the morning before it reaches the heat of the day as the heat can pull flavorful oils from the plant. When I’m consuming the same day, I don’t notice a significant difference in the flavor. But I do notice a difference in the texture. Which is why I harvest right before consumption.
Now if I process the herbs for storage or change their composition from the leafy herb to a ground one, then I harvest in the morning as I want the most flavor to stay with the herb through the process. You can preserve herbs in a variety of ways depending on the intended use and your own personal preference. I enjoy Drying and Freezing.
Drying is where you gather the herbs into small bunches, tying them together and hanging them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Once the herbs are completely dry and brittle, you remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container in a cool dark place. Then use as you’d like!
Freezing is when you wash the herbs and pat them dry with a paper towel. Then chop or mince well before placing them into ice cube trays. You then fill each compartment with water or oil and freeze until solid. Once the cubes are frozen, store them in a labeled container in the freezer. I enjoy doing this with butter too and freezing my herbed butters.
Either way you decide to preserve your herbs, be sure to label and date to ensure freshness and quality. Preserved herbs can last several months to a year depending on the method. And it tastes soo much better than store bought.
Which herbs should I plant with what vegetables? Here are my top 5!
Cilantro
(Mar-May) (Sept-Nov) Needs Full sun Annual
Good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A
Lowers bad LDL Cholesterol while increasing good HDL Cholesterol
Aides in digestions
Relieves gas pains
Regulates energy
Cilantro is a versatile herb that can offer several benefits when used for companion planting in a vegetable garden. Here are some ways in which cilantro can be beneficial for companion planting:
Attracts beneficial insects: lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps can be attracted to cilantro. These insects can help control pest populations by preying on aphids, thrips, and other harmful insects.
Repels harmful insects: spider mites, aphids and potato beetles are repelled by cilantros strong scent as it is harmful to them. By planting cilantro near susceptible plants, you may be able to deter these pests and reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
Improved soil health: cilantro is a member of the Apiaceae family, which includes plants like carrots and celery. These plants have deep taproots that can help break up compacted soil and improve drainage.
Enhances flavor: cilantro has a unique flavor that can enhance the taste of certain vegetables, like peppers
When planting cilantro for companion planting purposes, it’s important to consider its growth habits and spacing requirements. It is also important to note that cilantro has a short lifespace and may need to be replanted periodically throughout the growing season to continue providing its benefits. Don’t be discouraged when it doesn’t grow well during our summer months here as it doesn’t like the hot temperatures we get June-Aug.
Parsley
(Mar-July) Part Shade/Sun
Bi-ennial
Helps with digestions
Stimulates the bowels
Helps control blood pressure
Detoxifies the body by flushing out fluid which supports the kidneys
Rich in Vitamin K which aides in bone health
Controls Blood sugar levels
It’s essential oils is used to treat gum disease
Parsley is a popular herb that can offer several benefits when used for companion planting in a vegetable garden. Here are some ways in which parsley can be beneficial for companion planting:
Attracts beneficial insects: hoverflies and predatory wasps are attracted to parsley. These insects can help control pest populations by preying on aphids, caterpillars and other harmful insects.
Repels harmful insects: carrot flies and asparagus beetles are repelled by parsley's strong smell. By planting parsley near certain plants you may help deter these pests and reduce the near for chemical pesticides.
Improves soil health: Parsley has a deep taproot that can help break up compacted soil.
Enhances flavor: parsley has a fresh, bright flavor that can enhance the taste of certain vegetables like tomatoes.
It is important to note that parsley has a biennial growth cycle, meaning that it will typically produce leaves in its first year and flowers and seeds in its second year. However, many people like to grow it as an annual and replant it each year.
Basil
(May- ) Full sun Annual
Can help treat anxiety
Helps ease headaches
Helps with lung and stomach related issues
Helps ease menstrual pain
Basil is one of the herbs that everyone asks about. It is soo popular and offers several great benefits as a companion plant in the vegetable garden. Here are some ways in which basil can be beneficial for companion planting:
Attracts beneficial insects: Basil flowers can attract insects like bees, butterflies and hoverflies. These insects can help pollinate plants and control pest populations by preying on harmful insects.
Repels harmful insects: Its strong aroma repels some of the most devastating insects for tomato plants. Such as the hornworm, but also repels mosquitoes and flies.
Improves flavor: it has a sweet aromatic flavor that can enhance the taste of many vegetables including tomatoes and peppers. By planting basil near them you may be able to improve their flavor and overall quality.
Improves growth: basil is also thought to improve the growth and health of certain plants like tomatoes and peppers. This is believed to be due to the volatile oils released by the basil plant that can act as a natural fungicide, helping to protect against soil-borne diseases.
When planting basil for companion planting purposes, it’s important to consider its growth habits and spacing requirements. Basil can grow quite tall and bushy when pruned correctly so make sure to space it properly. Additionally, basil is a heat loving plant that requires full sun and warm temperatures to thrive. It can be very sensitive to overwatering and will benefit from well draining soil.
Chives
( Mar-Nov) Full Sun Perennial
Boots immune system
Lower Cholesterol Levels
May help to prevent some cancers
Chives share a lot of similar benefits in the garden as some of the other herbs but aren’t used nearly enough as they should be. Here are some ways in which chives can be beneficial when used as a companion plant in the vegetable garden:
Repels harmful insects: Chives have a very strong scent and being an Allium repels many harmful insects including aphids, carrot flies, and japanese beetles. By planting chives, you may be able to deter these pests and reduce the need for chemical pesiticides.
Attract beneficial insects: Chive flowers can attract beneficial insects like bees and hoverflies. These insects can help pollinate your plants and control the pest populations.
Improves soil health: Chiave are part of the Allium family, which includes plants like onions and garlic. These plants are known for their ability to improve soil health by suppressing the growth of certain soil borne diseases and pests.
Enhances flavor: Chives have a mild, onion-like flavor that can enhance the taste of many vegetables such as carrots. By planting chives near these vegetables, you may be able to improve their flavor and overall quality.
When planting chives for companion planting purposes, I suggest peppering them throughout your garden. They prefer well-draining soil and may benefit from the occasional fertilization. It’s also important to note that chives have a perennial growth cycle, meaning that they typically come back year after year, so label and choose their location accordingly.
Rosemary
( March- ) Full sun Perennial
Contains carnosic acid that fights cancer cells
Good for heart health
Relieves stress
Can enhance memory and concentration aromatically
Rosemary is a fragrant herb that offers several benefits when used as a companion plant in a vegetable garden. Here aer some ways in which rosemary can be beneficial for companion planting:
Repels harmful insects: rosemary has a strong scent that can repel certain harmful insects, including carrot flies, cabbage moths, and bean beetles.
Attracts beneficial insects: The flowers can attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies that can help pollinate plants and control pest populations.
Improves soil health: rosemary has deep roots that can help improve soil structure and drainage.
Enhances flavor: rosemary has a pungent, pine-like flavor that can enhance the taste of many vegetables such as tomatoes, beans and potatoes.
When planting rosemary for companion planting purposes, it’s important to consider its growth habits and spacing. Rosemary is a woody shrub that can grow quite tall and may shade out small plants if not spaced properly. Its important to note that it is a perennial plant and can life for several years if taken proper care. I highly suggest placing rosemary around your garden.
As I’m sure you can tell herbs in general are great for the garden for enhancing flavor and nutrition and companion planting purposes. But don’t forget the health benefits of having access to fresh herbs for cooking that provides a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are incredibly versatile and can be grown in your raised beds, in the ground, or in containers. Choose your location wisely as some perennial herbs you’ll have for years with proper care! You can’t go wrong with the added sensory experience not just with smell but the visual aesthetic that is enhanced by the added beauty and visual interest of various herbs’ attractive foliage and flowers that will complement your garden.
You can’t go wrong with the added sensory experience not just with smell but the visual aesthetic that is enhanced by the added beauty and visual interest of various herbs’ attractive foliage and flowers that will complement your garden.
And of course, by growing your own herbs you can help reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the need for transportation and packaging of store bought herbs.
Herbs add an additional element to your garden. I highly recommend placing them throughout the garden and around it. Herbs are easy to take care of and easy to implement to an existing space. If you need help incorporating herbs into your veggie garden, that’s exactly what a garden coach can do! Join my subscriber list today so you don’t miss out on any tips and tricks but also essential planting advice. Each month I showcase a different herb, it’s benefits, its growing conditions, and a tea recipe. Join today as you won’t want to miss it!
