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Thyme Companion Plants – What to Grow with Thyme

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Thyme is a wonderful and beneficial plant to grow in the garden. Since this tasty herb is a perennial, I started looking for thyme companion plants to optimize my garden. I am glad to add a few thyme plants this year.

Growing herbs in the garden improves your green thumb and enhances your cooking prowess. I’ve started adding more herbs to the garden and needed to find some good homes for thyme, especially.

In my search for good thyme companion plants, I decided to make a list I could easily refer back to as needed. I’ve enjoyed cooking with thyme and will continue to grow it in the garden!

Sprig of Thyme over a wooden raised garden bed - Thyme Companion Plants
Sprig of Thyme over a wooden raised garden bed – Thyme Companion Plants

If you’re also hoping to try companion planting thyme, keep reading and I’ll share my favorite tips.

What does thyme need to grow?

Plan to grow thyme in well-draining soil. This perennial herb is typically drought-resistant and would enjoy watering when the soil seems dry. Plant thyme in full sun and it will reward you with continued growth year after year.

What does thyme grow well with?

Thyme grows well with various vegetables, fruits, other herbs, and even flowers. Try growing thyme as a blueberry companion plant for a useful and convenient combination. You can also enjoy growing a few thyme plants in your strawberry patch or even in your rose garden. This friendly herb works well as a companion for a wide variety of plants!

Thyme Benefits in the Garden

Growing thyme with other plants can bring quite a few benefits. Here are some of the best reasons to try companion planting with thyme:

  • Pest Deterrent – Thyme can act as a deterrent for various garden pest insects. Anecdotal advice suggests thyme repels cabbage worms, whiteflies, tomato horn worms, corn earworms, and others.
  • Fills Gaps Nicely – This perennial herb doesn’t require a lot of space to grow. It stays relatively compact and low-growing for the most part.
  • Comes Back Every Year – It’s always nice to have a head start on next year’s growing season. Count on thyme to be happy and healthy come springtime.
  • Drought-Tolerant – Even if you forget to water it, thyme will usually forgive you. This drought-tolerant herb is a great choice for the neglected parts of your garden. (lol)
  • May Improve Flavor – Planting thyme companion plants may bring the added benefit of improved flavor for some crops. (your mileage may vary)
  • Aromatic – Thyme smells great! This reason alone is a great one to convince you to grow thyme.

Best Thyme Companion Plants – What to Grow with Thyme

Keep in mind that the best companion plants for thyme will often be the ones that share similar growing conditions. (And, certainly those that offer benefits to each other.)

Thyme likes soil relatively dry and is drought-tolerant, so avoid planting it with companions that prefer damp or moister soil.

Vegetable Companion Plants for Thyme

Here are a few thyme companion plants to consider.

  • Brassicas – Thyme helps to fend off many pest insects while also luring ladybugs, a natural predator of aphids.
    • Broccoli
    • Brussels Sprouts
    • Cabbage
    • Cauliflower
    • Kale
    • Kohlrabi
  • Nightshades
    • Eggplants
    • Tomatoes (technically a fruit, I know)
    • Potatoes
  • Shallots – Thyme can enhance the flavor of shallots growing nearby.

Fruit & Thyme Companion Plants

  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries

Herbs to Grow with Thyme

Finding herb companions for thyme may be the easiest of all! Look for those that like soil to be dry and well-draining.

Sage and Thyme Companion Planting
Sage and Thyme Companion Planting

Some suggestions for thyme companion herbs include:

  • Rosemary
  • Marjoram
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Sage
  • Lavender
  • Dill
  • Bay
  • Fennel
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Lovage
  • Savory

What Not to Grow Near Thyme

Thyme grows well with many things. That being said, avoid growing thyme near basil, cilantro, and chives. These tend to appreciate soil that is moist rather than on the dry side.

Choosing Thyme Companion Plants

Think about convenience and benefits as you decide what to plant with thyme in the garden. Or in my case, where to put the thyme plants you’ve recently bought!

Choosing good companion plants for thyme should only take a few moments once you cross-reference this list with your own garden plan.

Even if you aren’t planting anything on this list, you should still have a good experience with thyme. I planted our original thyme plant in a backyard “misfits” garden, which is literally where I planted all my “leftover” seedlings I didn’t know what to do with last year!

The thyme survived, of course, and it’s still growing strong. So, if I can do it, you can do it!

Now that I’ve shared some thyme planting companions, I hope you find it easy enough to pick a pairing in your garden. My goal was to make this as easy and fun for you as it is for me.

For now, I plan to add a thyme plant in my tomato bed as well as our strawberry patch. If I’m feeling even more adventurous, I may plant some thyme at the base of my knockout rose plant. We’ll have to see how far I get come springtime!

Do you have favorite thyme plant pairings you can share with us? Also, if you have any questions or other tips, feel free to shout out in the comments. We always respond and love hearing from you!

Happy Gardening!

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