Herbs

The Benefits of Herbs

Herbs are not only used to flavor foods or to make potpourri, but can help attract beneficial insects to your gardens to help protect against insects & disease as well as increasing better flavor in other plants and can also be used for its medicinal benefits for our health.

Did You Know?

Basil enhances the flavor of tomatoes when planted beside them.

Rub fresh basil leaves on your skin if you have been stung by a bee.

Chives deter rabbits, Japanese beetles and prevents black spots on roses.

Put a sprig of parsley in your fish pond to keep fish healthy.

Chamomile improves the growth and flavour of onions, cucumbers and hosts many beneficial insects.

ANISE

  • enhances the growth of coriander
  • host for beneficial wasps
  • attracts butterflies
  • repels aphids and fleas

ARTEMISIA

  • repels garden bugs, especially slugs

BASIL

  • aids digestion, has a mild sedative action – tea for nervous headaches and anxiety
  • rub fresh basil leaves on skin vigorously for a couple of minutes for bee stings
  • plant next to tomatoes to make them taste better

BORAGE

  • improves flavour of many plants (strawberries & tomatoes)
  • strengthens plants against insects

CARAWAY

  • attracts a wide range of parasitic wasps that attack caterpillars, leaf hoppers and aphids

CATNIP

  • deters flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, plant hoppers, ants, cabbage moths and squash bugs

CHAMOMILE

  • improves the growth and flavour of onions, cucumbers and hosts many beneficial insects

CHIVES

  • do not plant near peas and beans
  • deters rabbits, Japanese beetles and prevents black spots on roses

CORIANDER

  • helps deter aphids, carrot flies and Colorado potato beetle

FENNEL

  • use as a mulch to keep slugs and snails away
  • attracts hover flies – a beneficial insect – its larvae’s favourite food is aphids
  • do not plant near bush beans or tomatoes

FEVERFEW

  • few insects bother this plant, use as a border

GARLIC

  • deters borers, coddling moths, Japanese beetles, root maggots, blights & rusts, helps control aphids & black spot

MARIGOLDS & TOMATOES

  • deters slugs from each other

MINT

  • repels ants, flea beetles, cabbage beetles & fleas

PEPPERMINT

  • rats dislike

NASTURTIUM

  • plant with melons & radishes to deter cucumber beetles

PARSLEY

  • put a sprig of parsley in your fish pond to keep fish healthy

ROSEMARY

  • controls cabbage maggots & carrot flies

SAGE

  • helps control cabbage maggots