It's best to plant the basil now. But in order for the delicious culinary herb to thrive, you should avoid a few typical mistakes - such as choosing the wrong plant neighbor.
Whether in a pot on the balcony or in a bed in the garden – basil is one of the most popular culinary herbs to plant yourself at home. If you do everything right, you will have the herb with its deliciously fresh taste for months. But if you're not careful and crammed basil with the wrong plant neighbors, your enjoyment could be short-lived.
Which herbs should not be placed next to each other?
It's not just these gardening tasks that you should do in April - the spring month is also a good time to plant basil. Many people get the herb at some point, as the lush green plant can be found in every supermarket all year round. They also like to stand together with the other delicious herbs for seasoning. You can quickly come up with the idea of simply tucking the basil on the right and the parsley on the left under your arm, going home with them and using them there in the same way.
But that is exactly a mistake, reports LUDWIGSHAFEN24. Because basil and parsley have completely different needs. As a Mediterranean herb, basil likes it warm, sunny and dry. The native parsley, on the other hand, needs more shade and lots of water. If you plant them next to each other, you can never make both of them happy. One will always suffer in the end.
Lemon balm
thyme
dill
marjoram
mint
sage
What can I plant with basil?
With the right neighbors, basil can not only shine and taste good, but can also do good for the bed and balcony. It repels whiteflies and protects against mildew. And as a rule, basil is an herb that is very compatible with other plants. However, you should be careful about what you put next to it. What are the healthiest herbs for us are not necessarily the best for our other plants.
In some characteristics, like should be planted together with like. This applies, for example, to the location, but also to annual or perennial herbs. The classic basil from the supermarket is an annual herb. This list shows which herbs are particularly good to plant next to basil:
oregano
rosemary
fennel
coriander
Table shows: Which herbs can be planted together?
But while location requirements and lifespan should be as similar as possible, herbs that are planted together should also differ. Which is good, because mixed culture is a must for every healthy garden. It protects the plants from pests and diseases, attracts beneficial insects and also looks beautiful. That's why this table shows which popular culinary herbs you can plant together:
mint |
Coriander, lemon balm |
oregano |
Basil, savory, rosemary, sage, chives |
Parsley |
Savory, chamomile, marjoram, thyme |
rosemary |
Basil, coriander, oregano, sage, thyme |
chives |
Dill, chamomile, lemon balm, oregano, thyme |
This also ensures that the plants do not have to compete too hard for nutrients in the soil. Herbs that grow differently are also beneficial. While some smaller plants are protected by higher-growing neighbors, others leave each other enough space for their roots. If you like it Mediterranean in your garden, you can also plant arugula - you should keep these things in mind. (paw)