Latest posts by Larry Meyers (see all)

Thyme companion plants, are similar to sage companion plants, include plants that thrive in the same conditions necessary to grow healthy thyme, such as little water. Aside from similar growing conditions, a good companion plant should not choke the thyme or compete with the thyme for nutrients.

How to Grow Thyme Companion Plants

Rather, good companion plants should complement the thyme in nutrients, and seeking pollinators. Read on to know the best plants to accompany thyme with.

👩🏻‍🎓 Scientific Reference

“Companion planting often combines plants that balance each other’s needs.”University of California Riverside Extension

List of Thyme Companion Plants

Companion planting is done with the belief that certain plants grow in synergy with a particular crop, to improve growth, and in many recent studies, to ward off pests naturally, this is why it is beneficial to plant the selected options next to your thyme plant.

1. Rosemary

When dealing with Rosemary companion plants, the first on the list is usually Thyme.

Blossoming Rosemary Plants

– Characteristics

Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis, is a shrub that grows excellently in the mediterranean region, the same as thyme. Asides from closely resembling thyme in shape and growing conditions, several chemicals released by Rosemary make it an excellent option to drive away aphids, a pest that disturbs thyme

– Benefits 

Indigenous, both rosemary and thyme grow as mediterranean herbs, making them excellent companions. If you already have the perfect conditions to grow thyme, adding Rosemary is an easy addition. All that’s needed is adequate spacing, and nothing more.

In addition to growing in the same conditions favorable to Thyme, Rosemary secretes chemicals that repel several species of aphids, species that potentially damage the health of Thyme. Alpha-pinene, for instance, is a chemical produced from Rosemary’s oily texture is what actively drives aphids by making the plants in the surrounding area unattractive.

The Rosemary herb is a great addition to herb gardens as an ornamental crop. The oil produced is a great hair stimulant for hair growth and repels not only aphids but also certain insects that homeowners may find disturbing.

The Rosemary herb, boosts the immune system and acts as a good source of vitamins, calcium, and even iron.  For those who love cooking, Rosemary adds a beautiful flavor to dishes.

– Growth Requirement

When you are growing this herb, you must take into consideration that it needs to placed in a very well draining soil, that’s fertile. On the other hand, it needs to be planted in full sun to thrive. As when it comes to watering, you must water it whenever the soil feels dry.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/544583779955641830/

2. Savory 

Savory, Satureja hortensis, is primarily a hardy annual culinary plant. It loves sunlight and can tolerate partial shade. Savory is planted alongside Thyme because of its taste in complimenting dishes that contain thyme.

Fresh Winter Savory Plants

– Benefits

The combination of three-butenyl released by Savory and four-pentenyl isothiocyanate released by Thyme effectively mask the scents that attract pests. Surprisingly, on their own, each of these chemicals does not repel pests, but combined, they hide your plants effectively from aphids that ravage Thyme herbs.

– Common Properties

Well-drained soil and full sunlight is a habitat that Savory thrives in, a habitat that equally favors Thyme. Savory makes an easy addition to an already flourishing Thyme garden by growing in the same region and thriving under the same conditions.

– Characteristics

For garden owners who aren’t decided on farming a certain plant for a long period, savory is the best pick as a companion plant for Thyme. They bloom during the year and can easily be replaced with another plant if wanted the following year.

– Growth Requirements

Remember that when you are growing this plant, you need to place in a well-draining soil, that  is rich in organic matter.

At the same time, you must know that this plant can thrive whether it is in a moist or a dry condition, however the moisture level should not be very high, or else it will be in a critical and weak condition. Overall, you must also plant it in a sunny area where it will receive proper amount of sun.

– Medical Benefits

Gardens are planted for several reasons. One reason for certain gardeners is to have medicinal plants at the ready. In addition to the many medical benefits of thyme, especially oral health, savory increases help with treating intestinal disorders, and in treating premature ejaculation. 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/390405861424272216/

3. Potatoes

Potatoes are tuber crops that thrive in average gardens. While potatoes often thrive without pests or infections, sometimes fungi plague these wonderful plants, leading to low yield and, ultimately, an unhappy crop. This is where thyme comes in.

Farming Potatoes Plants in Field

– Growth Requirements

They do not require much fertilizer and grow excellently as cover crops. They make good creeping Thyme companion plants. Remember that you should water your crops about an inch every week, and place them in full sun, as they would grow ideally.

– Companion Benefits

Because of the antifungal repellant that thyme possesses, the opportunistic fungi that plague potatoes can’t even come close.

When dealing with companion planting, synergy is the key ingredient. If you’re not keen on chemical pesticides, thyme is your friend as a natural biological fungicide.

– Benefits

Potatoes are explorative creeping plants by nature. This means they’ll effectively cover the ground, potentially reducing the amount of weeding you need to do in your garden.

Given the height and nature of thyme, the potatoes don’t just keep weeds away. They also do not disturb your thyme and add nutrients.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/607211962275279498/

4. Shallots

The shallot is a botanical variant of onions. The skin has several colors that range from golden brown to gray and rose red. The off-white flesh is generally tinted with green or magenta. Shallots, like garlic, grow in clusters of offsets with a head comprised of many cloves. 

Planting Shallots into Soil

For cooks, they are great companions to grow in a kitchen garden with Thyme. If you’re also looking for a healthy way to cover the ground when planting Thyme, consider using Shallots. Here’s a deeper look into why and how to grow them:

– Companion Benefits

Shallots have an onion-like taste and aroma. In thyme companion planting with shallots together in your yard, the aroma rubs off on each other, adding fragrance when used to cook.

– Benefits

Shallots have high antioxidant content and help blood sugar levels, circulation, seasonal allergies, and heart and bone health. In addition, they aid in the fight against infections and the maintenance of weight.

Shallots are used in cooking because they taste similar to regular onions but have a milder flavor.

– Growing Requirements

Shallots should be grown under the sun and in wet but well-drained soil. However, during the dry weather, water them and maintain a weed-free space. Harvest Shallots when the foliage begins to die. 

In addition, avoid getting the leaves too wet while watering to help prevent fungal diseases like white onion rot, as this will degenerate your plant.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/386183736801884933/

5. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are delicious berries that grow as perennials in their natural environment, but are usually farmed as annuals. Tomato plants are dicotyledons and develop in the form of a succession of branching stems with a terminal bud that accomplishes real growth.

Red Organic Tomatoes Plants

– Benefits

Tomatoes have an abundant source of the antioxidant lycopene, that is been related to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They’re also high in vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.

Ripe tomatoes have a strong taste and are a staple in pizza and pasta sauces. A great addition for any Pasta chef!

– Growing Requirements

Note that tomatoes grow in an effective way, and they prosper if they find the right environment in a big quantity, hence, to produce tomatoes, you’ll need rich, fertile soil or peat-free potting compost.

While thyme does well in the open, tomatoes require indirect but full sunlight and should be protected from direct rainfall. However, once the plants begin to blossom, water them frequently and feed them weekly with a high-potash fertilizer.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28991991342305402/

6. Strawberries

Strawberry is a popular fruit because of its distinctive scent, vibrant red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberries are loved for their scent, juice, taste, and bright red color.

Strawberries Plants Ready to be Harvest

When grown together with Thyme, weeds become bygones.

– Benefits

Thyme and strawberries make a fantastic weed-control combo. By employing Strawberries, you save up on herbicides. Strawberries ward off worms and other marauders from harming strawberries. They also assist in keeping the soil wet by providing ground cover.

– Growing Requirements

Strawberries like rich, well-drained, somewhat acidic soil and thrive in full sun, but they may tolerate partial shade. Alpine strawberries grow well in the shadow. Planting in frost-prone areas may destroy the blooms, while planting in exposed areas makes it difficult for pollinating insects to reach the blossoms.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1047790669529867535/

7. Eggplants

Eggplants contain phenolic chemicals that function as antioxidants.

Hanging Eggplants in Farming Plants

– Features

Purple eggplant is a spongy species of the nightshade family. In a temperate climate, eggplant is a fragile, tropical perennial plant that is sometimes grown as a sensitive or half-hardy annual. The stem is often spiky. The flower range in color from white to purple, with a five-lobed corolla and golden stamens.

– Companion Benefits

Eggplants are drought-resistant and make wonderful thyme companion plants. Although eggplants attract enough pollinators on their own, thyme plants may be cultivated alongside eggplants to improve pollination and increase total productivity.

– Growing Requirements

Eggplant grows best in well-drained sandy loam or loam soil with a high organic matter content, however the soil can be slightly acidic to almost neutral with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. In addition, it also needs a sunny spot to grow it and thrive.

Furthermore, note that you must water it once or twice about an inch or two, also, this depends on the temperature, on summer days, watering it twice would be wise.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/223772675226535203/

8. Roses

A rose is a woody perennial blooming plant and an easy pick when looking for thyme companion flowers. 

Roses Plant with Beautiful Red Rose

– Features

Their blooms vary in size and form, but are generally enormous and spectacular, with colors ranging from white to yellows and reds. Roses have taken on cultural importance in a variety of countries.

Different species readily hybridize, which has resulted in the formation of a diverse variety of garden roses.

– Companion Benefits

Roses are an excellent companion plant for thyme since they complement the plant’s shallow root systems. Furthermore, thyme plants are typically grown alongside roses to help protect them from harmful insects like scales and aphids.

Although roses are usually a joy to see, they are only sometimes simple to maintain owing to their susceptibility to pests such as aphids and rose scales.

– Growing Requirements

Roses need direct sunshine to flourish and to bloom very well, which means that a minimum of four hours of direct sunshine is suggested for optimal results. In addition, the soil that it needs to live in should be a very well draining one, that is between 6.5 to 7 on the pH, which means very slight acidic to almost neutral. 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/740560732489033058/

9. Cabbage

When considering thyme companion plants, vegetables make an exceptional choice, Overall, you must note that cabbage offers a great companion as it has mutual properties as thyme.

Cabbage Plants in a Row

– Companion Benefits

Cabbage is a biennial plant that grows in a variety of Brassica varieties. According to research, cabbage crops intercropped with thyme are particularly efficient against insects and hence make excellent companion plants. On the other hand, thyme plants often release strong odors that pests cannot tolerate, which will aid in the protection of cabbage crops.

Thyme pairs well with several plants in the Brassicas family, which includes the cabbage and even with the mustard families.

– Growing Requirements

Cabbages thrive in a sunny location where it will absorb the bright light for almost eight hours a day to thrive. In addition, it will also thrive with wet, alkaline soil that has been amended with lots of well-rotted organic matter, like garden compost.

If you suspect your soil is acidic, do a pH test and, if required, apply lime to the soil to give it some further boost. Lastly, You must water your cabbage crops one inch a week.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/328692472816188655/

10. Lavender

Lavender is the common name for a genus of blooming plants in the mint family. Annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial plants and shrub-like perennials, subshrubs, or tiny shrubs are included in the genus.

Purple Lavender Plants in the Garden

The genus has a wide range of leaf shapes. Some regularly cultivated species are simple others are pinnately toothed or pinnate, occasionally double pinnate and dissected.

– Companion Benefits

Thyme and lavender are excellent companion plants since they share similar growth requirements, such as sunshine and water. To attract pollinators, plant thyme and lavender together, as they would welcome bees, wasps, and butterflies to your garden as they attract the pollen of your plants. Lavender’s growth needs are extremely similar to those of thyme. 

It has a variety of beneficial properties that are advantageous when you plant it next to your thyme plant. For instance, aside from the pollinators, they repel a number of pests from laying their eggs and damaging your plant, and this is due to the aroma they release.

– Growing Requirements

Lavender is a Mediterranean plant (in demand if not usually in geographical origin) that requires plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. It will not thrive in gloomy, moist, or excessively cold circumstances for long. It favors poor, dry, or moderately rich soil and chalky or alkaline soils.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/105201341287823896/

Conclusion

Thyme is a Herb mostly used for culinary purposes. Some people have had the worst thyme experience when they try Companion planting, so they shy from it.

By following the simple tips outlined above, companion planting becomes a breeze.  As mentioned in the article, here are some key points to take note of:

  • When growing Thyme, they thrive in well-drained soil with full sunlight and little to no pest infestations. While with thyme, bad companion plants exist, the best companions are those that grow in similar conditions and cohabit effortlessly, like Oregano companion plants!
  • Companion plants you can plant with Thymes include Potatoes, Shallots, Tomatoes, vegetables like salad burnet, and close relatives like the lemon thyme.
  • Although all the plants are good Companions, You can also pick the ones that have the same Growing Requirements as Thyme to make it easy to manage and cultivate together and also the ones to avoid.
  •  Also, Planting these Companion plants gives your Garden a mix of different plants with different Life cycles, which makes harvesting crops throughout the year easy alongside your Thymes plants.

After knowing these details about the Good companion plants of thyme and the Bad Companions, deciding what to plant with your thyme just got easier. Which of them are you trying?

References

5/5 - (17 votes)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR