Fresh herbs from our own cultivation are a pleasurable experience, the level of which already bought spices and herbs do not even come close. Having your own garden is not a mandatory requirement, because herbal plants can be cultivated in many places, such as in a herb spiral, in the flower box on the balcony or at the kitchen window. Not only do they bring variety to the family menu, they also spread an aromatic scent and sometimes bloom so wonderfully that they even represent a visual enrichment in the ornamental garden. Planting, caring for and harvesting is not difficult if detailed planning is made in advance, because not all herbs harmonize with each other when they are side by side.
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Why do some herbs go well together and others don’t?
As a rule, no monoculture is practiced in the hobby garden, i.e. only one specific type of vegetable, flower or herb is grown. Rather, it is a colorful mess that is planted here with great attention to detail; a method called mixed culture. If the full-time farmer is forced to include the economic aspect when cultivating his fields, the hobby gardener has the freedom to concentrate entirely on the natural needs of the plants and his very individual design wishes. Consequently, the domestic herb bed is also a typical representative of the mixed culture. If the types of herbs fit together, the following advantages come into play:
- The secretions of the roots complement each other.
- The outgassing of one variety protects against disease in the other variety.
- Beneficial insects that are attracted to one type of herb will devour the pests on the neighboring species.
- In mixed cultures, soil fatigue does not develop so quickly.
If, on the other hand, the garden lover places herbs next to each other that do not go together, this has the following consequences:
- The plants inhibit each other’s growth.
- One type of herb dominates and suppresses the other types.
- The earth is quickly drained due to one-sided stress.
In addition, herbs that do not get along with themselves can be planted each year in a new place that was previously occupied by a different variety. This is especially true for thyme, dill, parsley, and oregano.
These herbs go well together
In principle, annual herbs and biennial or perennial herbs should not be planted next to each other. It is better if each category keeps to itself, because the perennial varieties do not like it when they have a different neighbor every year. At the same time, experienced gardeners know that annual herb varieties thrive better if they get a new location next year.
Annual herbs :
- Basilikum (Ocimum basilicum)
- Bockshornklee (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
- Summer savory (Satureja hortensis)
- Boretsch (Borago officinalis)
- Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- Gartenkresse (Identification)
- Large nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Echte Kamille (Matricaria chamomilla)
- Kerbel (Anthriscus cerefolium)
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
- Kreuzkümmel (Cuminum cyminum)
- Paracresse (Acmella oleracea) Jambú
- Pimpinellen (Pimpinella)
- Arugula / Garten-Mustard (Eruca sativa)
- Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) (not frost hardy and is therefore mostly cultivated as an annual plant)
Basil has developed into a real jack of all trades among herbs. It is not only used as a seasoning in many dishes, but also protects its annual neighbors in beds or flower boxes from whiteflies and mildew. Experienced gardeners like to surround themselves with basil on the balcony and terrace, because the plant also drives away annoying flies and mosquitoes.
The following herbs go so well together that they can even be planted next to each other in a pot:
- Dill, garden cress, borage, chervil
Biennial and perennial herbs :
- wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
- Bärwurz (My athamantic)
- Beifuss (Artemisia vulgaris)
- Winter savory (Satureja montana)
- Blutampfer (Rumex sanguineus)
- Brunnenkresse (Nasturtium officinale)
- Winterkresse (Barbarea vulgaris) Barbarakraut
- Currykraut (Helichrysum italicum)
- Estragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
- Fenchel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Huflattich (Tussilago farfara)
- Kalmus (Acorus calamus)
- Kümmel (Carum carvi)
- Knoblauch (Allium sativum)
- Spoonwort (Cochlearia officinalis)
- Majoran (Origanum majorana)
- Mint (Mentha)
- Balm (Melissa officinalis) Lemon balm
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Safran (Crocus sativus)
- Common sage / kitchen sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Sauerampfer (Rumex acetosa)
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Spitzwegerich (Plantago lanceolata)
- Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
- Schnittsellerie (Apium graveolens)
- Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) Süßkraut
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- True Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Waldmeister (Galium odoratum)
Some of the herbs mentioned are not only used in the kitchen, but are also considered medicinal herbs. Thyme was named Medicinal Plant of the Year in 2001, sage in 2003 and lavender in 2008.
Among the perennial types of herbs, the following harmonize particularly well with each other:
- Chives, thyme, sage, tarragon and lemon balm
- Sage, oregano, savory
- Lemon balm always promotes its neighboring herbs.
These herbs prefer to stand alone because they need a lot of space around them:
- Eberraute (Artemisia abrotanum)
- True Engelwurz (Angelica archangelica)
- Clove Tree (Syzygium aromaticum)
- Kurkuma (Curcuma longa) Safranwurzel
- Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
- Lovickum / Maggikraut (Levisticum officinale)
- Real Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
- Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
- Ysop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Zitronengras (Cymbopogon citratus)
The expansive herbs are ideally planted in a bucket or in the ornamental garden next to plants that they match and that do not overgrow them. Lavender harmonises perfectly with roses and wormwood protects currants from diseases.
These herbs are planted side by side in the vegetable patch
Ambitious hobby gardeners who cultivate a vegetable garden do not do without an individual herb bed. Since humic, nutrient-rich compost soil prevails here in a mainly semi-shady location, the following herbs go together:
- wild garlic
- watercress
- Estragon
- fennel
- Parsely
- peppermint
- chives
- lemon balm
In the part of the garden that is in full sun and has loose, lean potting soil, the following herbs do particularly well:
- 2 marjoram
- 2 Oregano
- 1 rosemary
- 1 sage
Lovers of Italian cuisine will be spoiled for choice when planning this bed, even if they like to prepare dishes seasoned with thyme, because this herb does not get along with marjoram at all.
Above all, these herbs are visually in harmony with each other
A lush harvest is not always the top priority for the garden lover when planning the herb garden. Especially when the herbs are cultivated on the balcony, terrace or by the window, their aesthetic appearance is important. The following herbs in particular go very well together in this regard because they are also of high ornamental value:
Winterkresse – Barbarakraut – (Barbarea vulgaris)
- Growth height 30 cm to 60 cm
- bright yellow corolla
- Flowering time May to June
wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
- Growth height 15 cm to 50 cm
- dense, white flowers
- Flowering time April to June
Blutampfer (Rumex sanguineus)
- Growth height 20 cm to 60 cm
- green leaves with deep red veins
- red-brown flowers
- Flowering time May to June
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- Growth height 30 cm to 75 cm
- star-shaped yellow flowers
- long flowering from May to August
Large nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- beautiful creeping and climbing plant
- Growth height 15 cm to 30 cm
- climbs up to 300 cm high
- yellow, orange or red flowers
Ingwer-Minze (Mentha gentilis ‘Variegata’)
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- yellow-green variegated leaves
- light purple flowers
- Flowering time July to September
- hardy
Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
- Growth height up to 100 cm
- beautiful purple-colored inflorescences
- Flowering time May to June
- perfume-like scent
Paracresse (Acmella oleracea) Jambú
- Growth height up to 30 cm
- spherical flowers with a red center
- Flowering time May to September
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Growth height 10 cm to 30 cm
- spherical purple or blue flowers
- Flowering time June to July
Scented Cushion Thyme (Thymus hybrid ‘Scented Cushion’)
- Growth height 10 cm to 15 cm
- lush pink flowers
- Flowering period June to August
- lovely scent
White Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Albus’)
- Growth height up to 5 cm
- beautiful ground cover
- white flowers
- Flowering period June to August
Small spice thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘Compactus’)
- Growth height 10 cm to 20 cm
- light purple flowers
- Flowering time June to July
- the ideal balcony plant
Blauer Ysop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Growth height 40 cm to 60 cm
- deep blue flowers
- Flowering time July to August
- also suitable as a cut flower
- popular butterfly pasture
Limonenysop (Agastache mexicana ‚Sangria‘)
- Growth height 80 cm to 120 cm
- bright red-purple flowers
- long flowering period from July to October
The herbs presented not only provide the chef de cuisine with fresh supplies for delicious dishes throughout spring and summer, but also adorn the balcony, terrace and bed with a bloom that makes you forget conventional summer flowers.
These herbs go well together in a herb spiral
They are becoming increasingly popular, the herb spirals for the hobby garden. Even in the smallest of spaces, the three-dimensional, decoratively curved bed offers enough space to plant herbs with different location requirements. Four climate zones are created in which the following herbs can be planted side by side:
Water zone with mini pond and moist-wet substrate
- Brunnenkresse (Nasturtium officinale)
- Kalmus (Acorus calamus)
- Wasserminze- Mentha aquatica
Moist zone with humus-rich, nutrient-rich substrate
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Kerbel (Anthriscus cerefolium)
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Boretsch (Borago officinalis)
- Sauerampfer (Rumex acetosa)
Normal zone with penumbra
- Basilikum (Ocimum basilicum)
- Blutampfer (Rumex sanguineus)
- Kümmel (Carum carvi)
- Melisse (Melissa officinalis)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Pimpinelle (Pimpinella)
- Ysop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Mediterranean zone with poor, dry soil and full sunshine
- True Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Common sage / kitchen sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
- Small spice thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘Compactus’)
- Summer savory (Satureja hortensis)
If the herb spiral is made of natural stones, the spaces in between can also be planted with herbs, such as small wild thyme. Here, too, wormwood remains a loner, because the root excretions damage the other herbs. However, there is nothing wrong with planting woodruff in the shady area at the foot of the herb spiral. When it comes to the question of which herbs can be planted side by side in a herb spiral, the garden lover again encounters the thyme-marjoram conflict, as both species prefer the conditions of the Mediterranean zone.
Conclusion
Having your own herb garden is very popular. Aromatic herbs can be grown not only in the vegetable patch, but also in the flower box, in the herb spiral or in the bucket. The best care, however, brings little or no harvest if the herb varieties do not harmonize with each other. Therefore, when planning the planting, attention should be paid to ensuring that the herbs that are planted next to each other also fit together. Annual varieties ideally keep to themselves, just like biennial and perennial perennials. In different constellations, they complement each other so perfectly that the plants promote each other’s growth and protect against diseases and pests. For this reason, it is worth creating a plan that takes these aspects into account, even for the smallest herb garden.
