Companion planting is a common practice among gardeners. The most common popular method of companion planting is the Three Sisters method of putting squash, beans, and corn together. In the instance of the Three Sisters, the plants play a very functional role for each-other. The corn provides a stalk for the beans to grow as well as shade for the squash. The beans bring nitrogen to the soil to benefit both the corn and the squash. And the squash brings ground cover that helps retain moisture and keep away predators. These symbiotic plant relationships are what lead me to gardening with essential oils....
In other instances, companion plants benefit each other through their natural essences. For example, basil grows great with tomatoes - part of the reason for this is the essential oils found in basil repel insects that would otherwise want to eat your tomatoes! The essential oils found naturally in plants provide wonderful protective properties for each other. Pest repellent, anti fungal, and pollinator attracting properties can be found in essential oils.
Gardening with Essential Oils - Companion Plants
Using essential oils directly in your garden can allow you to transition away from harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I found this list of companion plants and essential oils from the Paleo Mama and added some information of my own. I thought this information would be beneficial in your garden - please let us know in the comments if you know of other companion plants we can use with essential oils.
You can purchase medicinal quality essential oils from the Homestead Guru by clicking here.
| Vegetables | Essential Oil |
| Asparagus | Basil |
| Green Beans | Lavender, Basil |
| Beets Broccoli | Rosemary, Thyme Basil, Thyme |
| Cabbage | Peppermint, Thyme, Clary Sage |
| Carrots | Sage |
| Cauliflower | Sage |
| Cucumbers | Sage |
| Eggplant Leeks | Peppermint, Spearmint, Thyme Celery, Hyssop |
| Lettuce | Cilantro,Thyme |
| Onion | Chamomile, Peppermint |
| Peas | Geranium |
| Potatoes | Basil, Sage |
| Pumpkins Radishes | Oregano Parsley |
| Tomatoes | Basil |
| Fruits | Essential Oil |
| Apples | Lavender |
| Grapes Tree (fruiting) | Lavender, Hyssop Marjoram, Melissa |
Attracting Pollinators with Essential Oils
But wait, there's more to gardening with essential oils! You can actually use essential oils to attract beneficial pollinators to your garden! Bees and butterflies are naturally attracted by the scent of certain flowers. I have learned the hard way wearing Wild Orange essential oils outside during the spring months, the bees would not leave me alone!!!! We can use these oils in our garden to attract the insects that help our plants to flourish.
| Pollinator | Essential Oil |
| Bees | orange blossom, lavender, hyssop, marjoram, helichrysum, basil, sage, rosemary |
| Butterflies | lavender, fennel, helichrysum |
Much love,
@catherinebleish
Sounds like a great time! :)
Great tips and definitely will try. Can you grow the herb next to the vegetable plant to get the same effect?
Basil and tomato!? Can anyone say caprese salad?
This is the best style of planting for personal production I have found especially in a food forest or permaculture. Little more work up front but so much easier to manage then standard garden row planting. Very nice article.
Great post! There are many ways to improve crops without the poison they dump on every thing we eat. My prob like so many is poverty if I had some were to grow my own food and have chickens and goats but to buy oils would be costly I would have to first make a profit. And have plenty to give away to other financially challenged people :) SHALOM ALEICHEM
Thanks for this healthy post. Now I have a good list of essential oils. It's good to know Onion is included which happens to be one of my favorite.
Great ideas.
We skipped gardening this year. We are getting our house ready for the market. Once we buy a homestead, we plan to companion garden, as well as utilize EO's for pest control.
Thanks for the info!