Companion planting is a method that encourages the growth of other plants while also increasing their production.
In some circumstances, they contribute to the development of the second plant in a way that is free of disease and pests. Despite the fact that the production of some crops may wreak harm.
Therefore, in order to choose Companion plants for Oregano, you need to first educate yourself about those plants.
Oregano is a perennial plant that has a herbaceous growth habit. This herb, preferred for the mild temperature of the Mediterranean, thrives in both warm and cold environments.
Oregano may thrive in nearly any environment if the appropriate care and attention are shown to it. This herb may be found in a variety of locations and has a taste that lends itself well to dishes that are traditionally prepared in Italy.
Additionally, it may be utilized to adorn your surroundings, and it will go well with the majority of the plants that are found in the garden.
It is a member of the mint family and gives out a perfume that drives insects and other pests away from whatever plant it is growing beside.
Although oregano may be planted with almost anything, there are a few things that you should keep in mind first.
Oregano is not a plant that thrives in moist places. In general, the soil requirements for growing this plant are drier than those required for growing herbs like basil and mint.
Because of this, my recommendation is that you should not plant these herbs together in a container or pot; rather, you should maintain them in different containers so that you can more easily regulate the amount of water that they get in their environment.
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the types of plants that make ideal companions for oregano, as well as the types of plants that should not be planted in close proximity to oregano.
Companion plants for Oregano
The advantages that oregano confers to plants much outweigh those that it obtains from them. When planted in the same plot as oregano, also known as wild marjoram, some plants, such as tomatoes, capsicum (peppers), and beans, Zucchini and squash, Carrots, will see a significant increase in growth. It discourages the presence of pests and helps those plants retain their hydration levels. This indicates that it will make a nice addition to the garden as a companion plant.
Yarrow
Yarrow and oregano are good companion plants. Plant yarrow in a location that gets enough light to promote dense growth and a profuse flowering output. Whether it is grown in full sun or partial light, yarrow has a tendency to become leggy.
A soil that has good drainage is ideal for growing yarrow. It does not tolerate soil that is consistently moist and prefers circumstances that are hot and dry in which to grow. Read more about companion plants for yarrow.
Yarrow has been promoted as a tough and adaptable perennial with spectacular flower heads made up of several small, closely packed blooms that rise above ferny leaf clusters. The blooms may be any color between yellow and pink, red, and pink.
Yarrow is great for cutting and drying and is resistant to pests, drought, and insects.
The plant also functions as an aromatic herb with several medicinal benefits!
Note: Despite yarrow’s numerous helpful properties, it may also be an aggressive growth that rapidly drives out its neighbors.
Peas
Since peas and other legumes like beans boost the amount of nitrogen that is available in the soil, these types of plants are excellent companion plants for a wide variety of other vegetables.
The development of a wide variety of vegetables is improved when they are grown in close proximity to peas and other types of legumes.
You can grow thyme beside them and they will grow easily. Oregano will help to deter pests from the peas.
Peas are incredibly simple to raise, however, they only have a very short growing season. It’s important to plant them in the springtime early enough for them to grow while the temperature is still cold.
(This refers to planting in most of the United States and Canada in February, March, or April.) In warmer areas, they may also be cultivated as an autumn or winter crop.
Enjoy the flavor of peas as soon as you can since they don’t keep fresh for very long after harvest. The flavor of the peas you get in grocery shops, which are sometimes starchy, is incomparable to garden-fresh peas.
Lavender
The lavender plant is a hardy perennial that may survive in situations that are considered to be among the most adverse. Nearly all types of lavender are most successful when grown in USDA zones 5-9, where they may enjoy warm, dry weather.
Lavender prefers to grow in bright sunlight. You can cultivate lavender as a companion plant for oregano since certain varieties of oregano like to flourish in dry conditions. However, place it a little ways away from thyme since lavender has the potential to cover an oregano plant.
Beautiful lavender enhances the perfume and gentle charm of the garden and is used in cooking and medicine. Lavender is planted outside in the early spring and is best sown inside (in late winter). Discover how to establish, care for, multiply, harvest, and dry lavender plants.
The most widely grown variety of lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, often known as English lavender or common lavender and hardy to USDA Zone 5.
Lavender is a bushy perennial that reaches heights of 1 to 3 feet. Its spikes of tiny blue-violet flowers with blue-green needle-like leaves. The herb’s characteristic balsam-like scent is derived from the oils in the blossoms.
This plant, known as “English” lavender because it thrives in the English environment, needs plenty of light and adequate drainage. It is not picky about the soil, and its presence attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden. Place lavender plants next to a sitting area or along a path.
It’s interesting to note that lavender gets its name from the Latin verb lavare, which means “to wash,” since it was traditionally used in baths to cleanse the body and the soul. Nowadays, shampoos and soaps often include them.
Lavender also has documented medical benefits. Lavender has relaxing effects that lower anxiety when the essential oils are breathed; it is also used as a mild sedative for insomnia. Lavender flowers were formerly fashioned into sachets and used to treat insomnia.
Rosemary
There are many more uses for rosemary than just the odd meal including chicken or potatoes.
It possesses a strong fragrant oil that may either entice or frighten away different kinds of insects. Rosemary has been shown to be effective in warding off animal parasites.
Oregano, which is grown nearby, is claimed to benefit from its presence by having its taste enhanced.
The Mediterranean native rosemary thrives in warm climates with moderate humidity, where it may develop into a shrub that is several feet tall.
In fact, if given the right environment, rosemary grows so quickly that, if not carefully controlled, it may really become a bit of a nuisance.
In Zones 7 and warmer, this plant may be cultivated outdoors as a perennial shrub. It should be maintained in a pot and taken indoors for the winter in colder climates.
Rosemary is often used to flavor stews, soups, lamb, and chicken.
Thyme
Thyme is an excellent pest repellant. Even while oregano is also effective in warding off pests, cultivating this plant alongside your oregano will be more effective. Oregano gets its robust taste from thyme, and the two herbs are delicious together in a variety of dishes.
Thyme is an excellent herb with a taste similar to clover. To us, it smells like summer! There are both aromatic decorative forms as well as culinary thyme variants which provide a savory accent to summer soups, grilled meats, and vegetables. Here’s information on how to cultivate thyme.
Thyme is a fragrant herb with tiny, aromatic leaves and thin, woody stalks that is a low-growing hardy perennial. The edible types are perennial.
Thyme comes in more than fifty distinct types with various smells and scents. The most popular types of thyme for cooking are fresh or English.
This plant, which comes originally from the Mediterranean region, is drought-tolerant and doesn’t need a lot of water. It is also beneficial to pollinators! Thyme plants should blossom because the herb draws bees.
Cucumbers
Cucumber beetles and squash bugs cause significant damage to the fruit of cucurbit plants when they feed on the plant’s flesh.
Oregano is despised by these pests, so they steer clear of it at all costs. If you want to get rid of these pests, all you have to do is plant some oregano beside it in the same plot.
The following are the details of the project.
The most popular kind of cucumbers, known as vining cucumbers, grows on strong vines covered with broad leaves. If you take good care of these plants, they develop quickly and provide a lot of harvests.
When trained on a trellis or fence, vine-type plants flourish the most. As opposed to fruits that grow directly on soil, fruits that grow above the ground are usually cleaner, more plentiful, and simpler to pluck.
Nonetheless, bush cucumbers work well in tiny gardens and containers.
We suggest many popular kinds below that are bred specifically for pickling, such as the “Boston Pickling” or “Calypso,” if you’re interested in producing pickles.
Be careful to cook your pickles as soon as possible after harvesting them for crisp pickles!
Beans
This crop is just as sensitive to pests like aphids as other plants, and it contributes a lot of nutrients to the soil that helps other plants develop. Aphids are responsible for the depletion of nutrients in beans; however, these pests may be eradicated by growing oregano in close proximity to the crop.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes grow in a warm, sunny location in your garden. To develop their full taste, tomatoes need between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. In order to prevent most tomato plants from touching the ground, you will need to either stake, trellis, or cage them. Make a decision on a support system before you put your plants in the ground, and then immediately install the support system after planting. The flavor of tomatoes improved by growing oregano in close proximity. Read more about companion plants for tomatoes.
What not to plant with Oregano
Oregano does not like to grow in moist soil. So, you should avoid planting a plant that needs moist soil. There are many vegetables that prefer moist soil including Kang Kong, arugula, garden pea, watercress, mint, asparagus, taro, skirret, Butterbur, black chokeberry, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, spinach, and groundnuts. Oregano is often grown beside vegetables to deter pests.
Conclusion
Oregano contributes more to the ecosystem than it takes away from the companion plants it grows with. Planting oregano close to your vegetable garden may help deter pests and the damage they cause. Or you could just cultivate them in a pot. If you wish to cultivate oregano next to a plant, use a plant that does not need damp soil or one that thrives in dry conditions.
Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.