Growing herbs in your garden is the best way to ensure that your ingredients are fresh, and thyme is one of the most popular herbs in home gardens. Thyme enjoys sunny, dry conditions, so plant it with other plants that need the same growing conditions.
Let’s explore some plants that you can grow alongside your thyme.
1. Cabbages
Thyme promotes crop growth by keeping pests at bay. Cabbage worms, moths, and aphids are three of the worst pests to deal with when growing brassicas because they can entirely consume the crops’ leaves. Thyme repels many of these pests and attracts beneficial pollinators and predatory insects like ladybugs that can eat as many as 50 aphids daily.
2. Potato
Potatoes are susceptible to many pests and fungal diseases, reducing crop production or, in worst-case scenarios, destroying the crop. Planting thyme alongside these crops helps improve their flavor and improves the harvest. Pests will avoid your potatoes and vegetables since thyme is a sanctuary for insect predators like lacewings, ladybugs, and even hummingbirds.
3. Shallot
Shallots, unlike other alliums, are ineffective at pest deterrent. For this reason, it needs the help of another pest-deterring crop like thyme. Thyme has no adverse effects on shallot crops, making them a great companion plant for deterring pests. Plant both crops simultaneously to ensure that pests don’t infest young shallot seedlings.
4. Blueberries
Incorporating thyme into a blueberry patch can be helpful. Thyme acts as a mulch that helps retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth under the blueberry bushes. Thyme also repels insects that may attack your blueberries and attracts honey bees and other pollinators.
5. Strawberries
Farmers frequently plant thyme and strawberries together. Thyme attracts pollinators that can help improve fruit production and be planted between strawberry rows to help repel worms that eat the strawberries. Strawberry plants provide ground cover that smothers the weeds and keeps the soil from drying.
6. Rosemary
Rosemary, like thyme, is a member of the mint family. Although neither of these herbs like being planted near other herbs, they are considered good companion plants, thanks to their similar water and sunlight requirements. Rosemary does not provide nor receive benefits directly from thyme, but they can coexist in the same patch. However, since rosemary is taller, thyme should be planted.
7. Sage
Sage and thyme have similar growth requirements; they prefer dry, sandy soil and lots of sunlight. Sage can tolerate shade but acquires the best flavor under its ideal growing conditions. Thyme is shorter than sage and should be planted so the sage does not prevent it from getting enough sunlight.
