Basil: 16 Good Neighbors

What comes together on the table is often a good combination in the garden bed. There are various herbs and vegetables that the fragrant basil does well with. The following article explains which good neighbors there are.

herb bed

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) originally comes from the Mediterranean region and therefore likes it sunny and warm. So all herbs that prefer a similar location to basil are well suited as neighbors. These include:

All these herbs need a lot of sun and little shade and can also cope well with a day or two of drought. In addition, oregano and basil belong to one genus. Oregano is the wild herb, Ocimum basilicum the cultivated one.

Note: You should create a mixed culture, especially in a herb bed. Because these plants often support each other. Various herbs attract beneficial insects, which see the pests as food on other plants.

Vegetable patch

In a vegetable patch, basil is a good neighbor, especially for the vegetables that like it sunny and light. You should also pay attention to which dishes basil goes well with. Tomatoes are not only a good complement to the herb on the table, but also in the bed. The following vegetables are well suited for a neighborhood:

It is also useful to cultivate all the vegetables and herbs that are also combined in the kitchen together in one bed. This makes it easier to harvest for the specific dishes and preparations.

Tip: If basil is planted next to the cucumbers, the vegetable plant is less susceptible to mildew infestation, because the herb can also protect against this.

flower bed

Especially in a bed with flowering plants, Ocimum basilicum can do a good job against pests and diseases. Here it is not cultivated because of the commonality with the kitchen or as a mixed herb culture between the individual flowers, but to protect them from pests and mildew. The following plants will therefore benefit from interplanting with basil:

  • Roses (Pink)
  • Geranien (Pelargonium)
  • Petunie (Petunia)
  • Eisenkraut (Verbena)
  • Strauchmargeriten (Argyranthemum)

The tasty Mediterranean herb is generally compatible with all flowering plants that like it just as sunny and warm. It is therefore also an eye-catcher in the flowering bed and can be planted between plants, even if it is not intended to protect against pests.

Note: Roses in particular often suffer from powdery mildew in an environment that is too humid, for example due to too much rain in the summer months. If basil is in the immediate vicinity of the rose bed as a neighbor, mildew can be contained or even prevented.

frequently asked Questions

Many types of vegetables are easily attacked by whiteflies. However, these pests avoid the smell that the herb gives off. If this is now distributed between the individual vegetable plants in the bed, then there will be no infestation by the whitefly in the first place. Cabbage whites are also deterred by the aromatic smell.

Not only different herbs among themselves, but also herbs in a vegetable or flower bed can bring you many advantages in your garden. Different plants release different substances from their metabolism into the soil, which other plants in turn need as nutrients.

This is not only the case, for example, when some plants prefer a sunny spot, but the other plants cultivated in the same place want shade. Even if both plant species attract the same pests, the growth of all cultures on a bed can be inhibited because pest nests can form.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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