Companion plants bring a wide range of benefits to indoor and outdoor cultivation projects. By adopting a polyculture environment, home growers can take advantage of the biodiversity our comprehensive variety of companion plants provides. While the exact characteristics of each companion plant will vary from species to species, growers have found companion plants to be effective in supporting the following:
Repelling insects and small creatures (aphids, mosquitoes, caterpillars, spider mites, flies, mice, ticks, whitefly, lygus bug, beetles, and leafhoppers), improving water retention, enhancing soil quality, and boosting plant growth.
Why You'll Love It
Everything You Need To Plant Fearlessly:
- Organic, 100% natural, and non-GMO seeds, backed by our guaranteed-to-grow promise.
- Easy-to-follow, helpful growing instructions and we're here to provide additional help if you need it.
What's Included:
-
Alfalfa
- Chamomile
- Chervil
- Red Clover
- Marigold
- White Clover
- Mint
- Lavender
- Cilantro
- Yarrow
- Dill
- Sunflower
- Lemon Balm
- Sweet Basil
- Borage
What You Need To Know:
Alfalfa:
Easy to grow and effective at improving the soil, alfalfa serves as a reliable and attractive companion plant. A cover crop that adds nutrients to the soil and fixes nitrogen. Alfalfa also increases water penetration in the growing medium, keeping the root system hydrated and boosting the turgidity of your plants. Otherwise known as Medicago sativa, this deep-rooted perennial will add amazing structure to your soil.
Chamomile:
- Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date
A flower with antifungal properties that also helps to boost essential oil production. Pretty, aromatic, and functional. Why wouldn’t you want this stunning flower growing alongside your plants? Being extremely easy to grow, chamomile will bounce back in the same spot year after year to fulfill its companion plant duties.
Chervil:
An herb is known to trap Aphids. Chervil serves as an excellent culinary herb and also helps to keep damaging insects at bay. Aphids are attracted to the mild aniseed scent, which distracts them from messing with your weed.
Red Clover:
It's a common cover crop and nitrogen fixer. This perennial and bushy plant also works with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil to pull in high quantities of the element from the atmosphere. Get ready for strong, healthy, and large plants.
Marigold:
Marigold—Calendula officinalis—produces gorgeous bright-orange flowers and aromatic leaves. These blossoms work to mesmerize aphids and divert them away from your crop. This fast-growing plant grows either as an annual or biennial and thrives all season until the first hard frost lands its blow. Marigold will tolerate poor soil but prefers well-draining soil of chalky, loamy, or sandy consistency.
White Clover:
White clover provides a pest-resistant living mulch that locks in moisture and boosts nitrogen levels in the soil. The creeping perennial will work its way across the surface of garden beds without any guidance.
Lavender:
Richly aromatic flowers and gorgeous shades of purple—lavender will light up your garden beds. These eye-catching shrubs act like botanical traffic lights that divert pest insects away from your precious weed. What’s more, they’ll also bring in large numbers of friendly pollinators.
Yarrow:
- Sow 8 weeks before the last frost date
Yarrow produces gorgeous canopies of densely packed white flowers. Sure, it makes a great companion plant, but its looks alone are a superb reason to include this specimen in your garden. Anecdotal gardening reports state that yarrow helps to boost the essential oil production of nearby plants. Although the product of gardening folklore, if true, the plant may bring out the full potential of your crop's genetics. Yarrow also attracts an army of predatory insects with an appetite for aphids, such as ladybugs and aphid lions.
Dill:
Dill equals delicious, and its seeds and leaves are used in many dishes. Seriously. You’ll recognize the aniseed-like taste from chicken recipes, soups, salads, and pickles. Plus, its aromatic properties help ward off garden pests, protecting your plants from certain caterpillars and spider mites throughout the growing season.
Sunflower:
They’ll help protect your tomato or cucumber plants against aphids, whiteflies, slugs, and snails by drawing their attention away.
Lemon Balm:
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) will return to your garden every single year. The hardy and versatile herb survives underground during winter frosts and bounces back with full force in spring. This herbal powerhouse and member of the mint family will draw pollinator species into your garden to look after your vegetables. The plant also keeps mosquitoes away, making gardening a much more pleasant experience.
Sweet Basil:
People often smell basil before they see it. Perhaps the best aromatic herb, sweet basil adds immense flavor to salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes. The plant fills the air with a powerful aroma that drives away would-be pests like aphids and asparagus beetles. It’ll also attract various pollinator species that will boost the biodiversity of your garden.
Borage:
 Borage provides a rich source of nutrients to humans and plants alike. The beautiful blue and nectar-rich blossoms will help your local bee population thrive. At the end of the season, use chopped plants as mulch or add them to the compost. High levels of calcium and potassium will help your plants thrive.
