Maybe you’ve heard of companion planting? For traditional, in-ground gardeners, it can be essential. Over the years, gardeners have learned the best herbs to plant together, depending on similar needs of sun, water, and soil. It’s both a science and an art, and I find it fascinating to see in practice.
For example, I recently visited a public garden and noticed a patch of nasturtiums along the edge of a community plot. You could assume they were planted just for their vibrant flowers, but those familiar with companion planting would recognize nasturtiums as natural pest repellents. Their placement was almost certainly intentional, strategically protecting the crops inside. Examples like this are common in traditional gardening, where knowledge of plant pairings is used to keep crops healthy.
So, what does this mean for balcony container gardeners?
Honestly, companion planting isn’t nearly as critical in small container gardens. I mostly grow herbs on my balcony, and with a few key exceptions, most herbs grow well together. One advantage of container gardening is how easy it is to separate incompatible plants. That said, if you’re sharing a container, it’s still important to know which herbs don’t play well together. Here’s a quick guide to help avoid problematic pairings.
The basic idea is this: avoid planting herbs together if one might hinder the growth of the other. This can happen in a few ways. First, consider the height and spread of each plant. You don’t want a tall herb shading out a shorter one. For instance, this year I planted a dill seedling next to a sorrel seedling in a vertical tiered planter. I had forgotten how tall dill gets. Eventually it towered over the sorrel, nearly four times its height. I’m not sure if the sorrel’s growth was stunted, but I’ll definitely plant herbs with similar growth habits together in the future.
Also, pay attention to each herb’s needs—especially when sharing a container. Keep herbs that prefer moist soil, like parsley, cilantro, tarragon, and chives, separate from those that thrive in drier conditions, like thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, and oregano. Similarly, match herbs with similar sunlight requirements to avoid over- or under-exposure.
Good Herb Combos for Containers
- Basil, Oregano, and Chives – compatible in needs and growth.
- Thyme, Rosemary, and Sage – all drought-tolerant.
- Parsley and Cilantro – both like more moisture and cooler temps.
Root behavior in companion gardening
Another important consideration is root behavior. Some herbs have aggressive root systems that can outcompete their neighbors. The most notorious offender? Mint. If you don’t already know: never plant mint in the same container as anything else! Mint’s roots spread rapidly, taking over the pot and choking out other plants. Mint is easy to grow and one of my kitchen favorites—but it always gets its own dedicated container in my balcony garden. Perilla, a staple of my balcony crops, always gets its own large container as well.
In a perfect world, every herb would have its own pot. But most of us are working with limited space, so that’s not always possible. While it may be tempting to cluster your favorite herbs for convenience, giving them a little room and consideration goes a long way toward a healthy and productive garden.
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