Home»Companion Planting
Sage ( Salvia officinalis ) is a gravid quite a little herb that we enjoy using as a spice to add flavor to different types of foods and beverages . We turn plenty of sage , but to bestow spicery to the garden itself , I prefer pairing it with other garden plants .
I ’m a certified master nurseryman , and in this article , I ’ll commend the good plant to pair with save for a more generative garden .
But first , benefits let in better use of special garden space , repulsion of common garden pests , and meliorate soil nutrient levels .
Plants to Pair with Sage
industrial plant dyad that have pest repulsion properties or some other benefit , include pull pollinators . In fact , sage itself attracts pollinator to the garden , so it is quite a useful herb if you want bee and other pollinizer insects to impose your garden .
Here are plants you may imbed next to sage :
Thyme
If you have arenaceous garden soil , you could pair salvia with thyme . Both have decent drought hardiness and will expand next to each other in such fast - draining stain .
Thyme and salvia are perennial plants that will return yearly , with both also reseeding themselves .
If you , therefore , want a long - hold up garden that you wo n’t have to replant every class , the combination of sage and thyme is a good selection .
Additionally , since you do n’t have to till the land to replant every season , you ’ll be avoiding the possible problems that arise from trouble the root base of sage while tilling .
Gardener ’s note : Creeping thyme is an excellent footing cover crop ; it grows fast and spreads laterally to prevent soil corrosion . Remember that erosion can cause poor water retentiveness through increased evaporation in bare soil . creep thyme as groundcover helps to retain piddle for longer , thus preventing sage from suffer drouth stress .
Carrots
We use the redolent qualities of sage to cloak the scent of carrots to pesterer like carrot fly . In this case , salvia is a great protective barrier and pest repellant for the carrots .
Also , other Daucus carota sativa pests , though unable to be repulse by the smell of sage , may not be able-bodied to observe the olfactory sensation of the carrot due to the overpowering scent of salvia .
While not prove , some gardeners really consider that planting sage in penny-pinching proximity to carrots enhances the flavor of carrots . I do n’t have any experience with the perceptiveness benefits myself , but it ’s surely an added perk that some gardener savour .
Conversely , carrots fall the favour by meliorate soil drainage , especially in loamy soil . The gargantuan carrot works taproot break down heavy ground as it grows downwards , allow for better drainage , a requisite for sage to fly high .
Additionally , carrots are root crops ; thus , there ’s minimal competition for space when inhume - planted with salvia . This is particularly useful if you have trammel infinite in your garden .
Pro tip : When pair salvia with taproot industrial plant such as cultivated carrot , I commend planting salvia at the borders to forestall upset their roots while harvesting / extirpate fledged cultivated carrot .
Strawberries
salvia has attractive blooms with hollow corollas that fall in flashy colors like violent , pink , and purpleness .
These flowers draw in beneficial insects like butterflies and bee that ease pollenation . Strawberry industrial plant that are pollenate by dear bee bring out the highest fruit output .
According toBeeAware , an Australian government - funded bureau that provides trust information on Apis mellifera biosecurity and pollenation , “ Strawberries benefit from insect pollination . ”
statistic by the agency report that in a subject , “ Cages without beloved bees only produced 55 per cent fruit stage set compared with 65.5 per cent in cages with beloved bees . ” This reiterates the importance of comrade planting plants like strawberry with salvia to pull in pollinators for a better yield .
strawberry are also prostrate to slug infestations . The slugs provender on right strawberry fruits , depart behind holes that make the fruits unsuitable to potential buyers and consumers . One path to keep the slug aside is by pair them with salvia .
Seemore associate plants for strawberry mark here .
Brassicas
Brassicas let in plants such as kale , cauliflower , cabbage , Brassica oleracea italica , and Brussels sprout . Thisfamily of vegetablesis vulnerable to pests such as cabbage moths , black flea beetles , aphids , snails , slugs , and caterpillars .
One natural yet effective way we utilize to keep these cuss off the leave of brassicas is by inter - plant with salvia . The strong olfactory property of sage drive these pests .
Additionally , the showy flowers of sage plant life attract beneficial worm like hoverflies , parasitical wasps , ladybugs , and praying mantid that prey on uncouth garden cuss .
exemplar of brassica pest you may effectively control by introducing predatory insects ( via companion planting with salvia ) include aphid , scratch worms , and gelt loopers .
Rosemary
One of the rationality why we care a polyculture organization is the classifiable redolence you get from mixing the different character of plants .
Pairing salvia with rosemary outcome in a uniquely fragrant garden due to the combination of the aromatic rosemary smell and mint - like sage sense of smell . This is a therapeutic garden for me .
Pairing sage with rosemary also has cosmetic economic value , as they both bloom in the summer . The blue rosemary flowers and purple - blue salvia flower blend well and are a hatful to lay eyes on .
The pairing of sage and rosemary is a rare selection for those who prefer an all - herb garden , as salvia is a herb that mainly pairs well with vegetables , but not herbs . Its ability to grow well next to rosemary is a rare exception .
Pole beans
Pole beans , as well as other type of leguminous plants , pair well with sage due to their nitrogen - fixing capabilities .
The salvia plants benefit from the increase soil nutrient that the celestial pole edible bean touch on into the soil , ensue in higher yields and amend mouthful and flavor of the sage .
Beware , though , that interplanting salvia with pole noggin can hamper the growth of the pole bean . I recommend planting the salvia at the garden ’s moulding while keeping them at least a couple of meters forth from the pole attic .
Nasturtium
Sage is vulnerable to white tent-fly and aphid . you’re able to keep this pestering cuss off your sage by pairing them with genus Nasturtium as a trap crop . The aphids and whitefly will prefer to invade the nasturtium instead of salvia .
This plant pair also help better your home garden ’s esthetics . Nasturtium has white-livered - bright ruby prime that create the consummate contrast when combined with sage , whose blooms carry shades of purple , pinkish , and red .
The compounding of sage and nasturtium is also slap-up for draw pollinators to your home garden . Sage ’s flowers attract butterflies , while nasturtium has delightful nectar that attracts humblebee and hummingbird .
Through pollenation , the relief of the plants in your garden can produce near return and healthier - looking fruits .
Oregano
Sage and oregano have standardized environmental requisite for optimum growth , make them perfect associate industrial plant . Both choose sunny condition and well - draining land with slightly acidic - neutral Ph of 6.5 - 7.0 .
Also , the spicy smell of oregano cartel with the pungent smell of sage to create an overall warm aroma that reels in good insects while repelling cuss . As such , the eternal rest of the plants in your garden also get to benefit from this plant pair .
Once established , bothoregano and salvia need to be water only once per week , as they favour moist but not boggy soil condition . I favour watering a garden with sage and oregano once the top inch of the territory start out to dry out up .
Other good pairs I recommend include chives , lavender , parsley , basil , and radish .
Plants NOT to Pair with Sage
Not all plants pair well with sage , as some will hinder the growth of salvia , or vice versa . To avoid make this horticulture fault , you should have it off what plant to ward off inter - planting with salvia .
Plants that should not be paired with sage let in cucumber , fennel , wormwood , rue , onions , Basil of Caesarea , and shallot .
More Companion Planting Guides :
Conclusion
If you ’re grow sage , some good garden companions admit carrots , thyme , brassicas , pole dome , oregano , and hemangioma simplex . Bad pairs include cucumber , fennel , wormwood , rue , onions , basil , and shallots . If you have questions about start your veg garden , reach out toalex@gardenine.com .
