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Companion Planting with Basil

Companion planting is not a new idea in the gardening world. Before there existed commercial insecticides cultures have long practiced the art of companion planting. More folklore than science, gardeners through the years have simply realized that one plant placed next to another seemed to benefit it in some way. 

For example, the American Indians practiced companion planting as demonstrated in the manner in which they planted the three sister's garden comprised of beans, squash, and corn all planted in one mound. They believed the three plants were inseparable sisters who needed each other to thrive. They likely noted that when planted together each shared a beneficial quality such as the beans replacing the nitrogen in the soil, which the corn consumed.

Basil as a Companion Plant

If you love basil and are planning to grow your own this season, arrange them in your garden so that they will benefit your other plants. Basil acts as a fungicide and stimulates the growth of companion plants such as tomatoes and peppers. It also attracts butterflies, which are beneficial in pollinating plants.

Basil repels whiteflies, asparagus beetles, carrot flies, flies, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworm.