Despite mint’s inclination to take over, you can interplant other vegetables, flowers, and herbs with mint. Some good companion plants for mint include: brassicas, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, oregano, and marigolds, to name a few.
What plant grows well with mint?
Companion Plants to Grow With Mint
- Oregano and marigolds. In combination with mint, pungent, spicy oregano and marigold spread an aromatic forcefield across any vegetable garden, attracting pollinators and deterring pests.
- Carrots.
- Cabbage, cauliflower, and kale.
- Tomatoes and eggplants.
- Peas and beans.
What should you not plant with lettuce?
Not all plants are great companions for your garden, with some actually deterring the growth of others. Those that should not be grown among lettuce include cabbage, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, romanesco, and mustards.
Is mint harmful to other plants?
Mint spreads quickly because it sends out both runners and aggressive roots. Mint kills other garden plants by stealing moisture from the top inch of soil, starving its neighbors. Plant tall-growing and deep-rooted plants to prevent mint from taking over vegetable gardens and herb beds.
What should you not plant near mint?
Avoid planting lavender, rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme near mint. Some other bad mint companions include basil, chamomile, and parsley, along with most common herbs. Also, because mint can be invasive, you should not plant mint directly in the ground unless it’s free to roam.
Should I plant mint in my vegetable garden?
Plant mint in spring after the last frost. This fast-growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. It’s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden (even if you’re planting in the ground).
What grows well next to lettuce?
Lettuce – Good companions for beets, Brassicas, carrot, celery, chervil, cucumbers, dill, garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, and strawberries.
What herbs can grow with lettuce?
Chives and garlic, in particular, are good neighbors because they naturally repel aphids, a common problem for lettuce. Similarly marigolds, one of the big powerhouses of pest repellers, can be planted near lettuce to help keep the bugs away.
Can I plant basil with lettuce?
Lettuce Companion Herbs
Basil – Friendly in the garden, basil can be a great companion for many different crops. Aromatic basil helps to improve flavor of crops like lettuce and tomatoes, making this an all-star plant companion combo!
Will mint take over your garden?
Like cilantro and basil, mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow; however, its roots, which are called “runners,” are incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go. Mint will overtake a flower bed or garden in no time if you’re not careful.
Where should I plant mint in my garden?
Plant mint in full sun or part shade. It can adapt to just about any type of soil but develops the best foliage in moist, well-drained soil that has been enriched with compost. Keep the area around mint free of weeds.
What does mint do to soil?
Mint Attracts Beneficial Insects (& Repels the Bad Ones)
The smell of the mint plant will also repel houseflies, cabbage moths, ants, aphids, squash bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, and even mice.
Does mint like full sun?
Mint will grow either in full sun or part shade, though it definitely benefits from afternoon shade in the hottest regions. It also adapts readily to a variety of soils, but the ideal is moist, well-drained, and rich with organic matter.
Can I plant mint with cucumbers?
Avoid mints as well, as they are overly aggressive in garden beds and can infringe on both the space for cucumbers, as well as its nutrients. Contain mints in a pretty pot instead. Pests that enjoy cucumbers also find melons tasty. To protect both crops, plant them away from one another.
Is mint a good ground cover?
If you are interested in planting groundcover to stabilize the soil, mint might just fit the bill. Because mint forms runners, it is an excellent plant for use in areas that need soil stabilization. The densely matted runners will help prevent erosion and sediment runoff.
Does mint get rid of mosquitoes?
Mint is an excellent nontoxic option for keeping mosquitoes, flies and even ants away. The more pungent the aroma, the less bugs you’ll have.
Do rats eat mint plants?
Mint plants have an aroma similar to menthol, which rodents don’t like, and it tends to repel them. Plant mint indoors and outdoors in areas where you have seen mice or rats to keep them away without the use of chemicals or traps.
How do you plant mint so it doesn’t spread?
The best way to control mint is to limit the spread of the plant’s roots by planting it first in a pot, then sinking the pot into the ground or into the soil within a larger container. Every few weeks, give the pot a quarter turn to keep the roots from escaping through the drainage holes.
What should you not plant next to each other?
Other commonly believed plant incompatibilities include the following plants to avoid near one another:
- Mint and onions where asparagus is growing.
- Pole beans and mustard near beets.
- Anise and dill neighboring carrots.
- Cucumber, pumpkin, radish, sunflower, squash, or tomatoes close to potato hills.
What grows well with romaine lettuce?
Romaine and other types of lettuce grow quite well when planted with radishes, but will also thrive in the company of cucumbers, strawberries and carrots. When choosing companion plants for romaine, watch out for plants that don’t go well with each other, even though both are good for your lettuce.
Can I plant basil and mint together?
Mint and basil are great companion plants to grow next to each other in separate growing spaces as mint can repel pests like aphids and beetles that would damage tender basil leaves. Growing mint and basil together is a rewarding process and a great introduction to companion gardening.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.