Mint has a reputation as a bully in the garden, thanks to its urge to take over nearly any soil it's planted into. But mint is also a wonderful herb to be able to pick fresh, and it offers real contributions to the health of a garden. Here's how to grow mint as a pest deterrent, what grows well with mint, and what not to plant with it.
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- Mint benefits
- Mint pests and beneficial insects
- The best companion plants for mint
- Get 9 Free Companion Planting Charts
- Mint companion vegetables
- Mint companion flowers and herbs
- What not to plant with mint
- Will mint kill other plants?
- Are mint and marigold good companion plants?
- What can you plant with mint in the ground?
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Mint benefits
The mint family (Lamiaceae) includes not only types of mint, but other flowering perennials like lemon balm, catmint, mountain mint, and pennyroyal. It's the genus Mentha that describes what we typically think of as mints: peppermint, spearmint, wild mint, apple mint, candy mint, chocolate mint, and water mint, among others.
Mint's major contributions to the garden, in my opinion, are romantic ones: the feeling that comes with cutting a big bunch of mint leaves for drinks, and the smell of it on the air in summer. But mint can also improve species diversity among insects and protect vegetables from pests. As flowering herbs, mints also attract pollinators to garden. As long as you grow mint safely-- which is to say, in its own containers-- it's a joy to have.
Mint pests and beneficial insects
There's a common claim that mint repels aphids, but this is a bit euphemistic-- or at least too general. In fact, mint can attract some species of aphids, as well as flea beetles, spider mites, and caterpillars. However, the leaves and flowers of some types of mint also attract insects like hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies, all of which prey on these pests.
Different types of mint attract different insects, and the body of research around companion planting with each species is still growing. One 2019 study found the candy mint and spearmint attract a predatory mite that preys on spider mites. We also know that peppermint (along with pennyroyal and horse mint) attracts a species of lady bug that preys on red sider mites.
While it's unclear exactly which beneficial insects are attracted to which types of mint, it is clear that planting mint will improve the species richness in your garden and is likely to attract predator insects. It can also help to disguise its companion plants with its own strong scent, reducing pest damage.
The best companion plants for mint
Mint is an adaptable herb, managing to completely dominate almost any planting space. It is shockingly adept at spreading, and it's not worth planting into the ground or raised beds unless you're willing to sacrifice that space to growing mint alone for the coming years.
Mint could grow well in a container as a soil cover for taller plants or flowers. Otherwise, it's best planted into a pot and moved into position next to its companion plant. Because mint can grow well in full sun or partial shade, this hardly narrows down the list of its companions. Instead, the plants that grow well near mint are mostly those that benefit from the insects that mint attracts or confuses:
- Tomatoes
- Brassicas (kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts)
- Carrots
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Calendula
- Chives
- Garlic
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Mint companion vegetables
You'll often see mint listed as a companion plant for tomatoes, broccoli, kale, carrots, and other common garden vegetables. It's worth stressing that all vegetables we grow will take more space and nutrients than mint will allow them; interplanting mint with vegetables could actually do more harm to your harvest than good. So for each of these companion plants, my recommendation is to have mint nearby-- in its own container.
- Tomatoes: Mint planted near tomatoes can help to reduce damage from aphids, among other pests. Again, there are many species of mint, all of which have different relationships with parasitic wasps, flies, and other beneficial insects. But incorporating any mint near your vegetable garden is likely to improve the parasitic insect population and put a dent in the herbivorous insect population.
- Brassicas: Brassicas like kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli often suffer from damage by loopers, mites, and caterpillars. Mint near kale or another brassica isn't going to eradicate a pest problem, but its powerful scent can mask those of brassicas, effectively shielding them from pests.
- Carrots: Mints aren't known to repel armyworms or cutworms, but their scent can confuse carrot flies in search of carrot tops. Moving mint near your carrots can help to mask the scent that attracts carrot fly.
Mint companion flowers and herbs
Mint doesn't need companion flowers or herbs to grow well, but combining them can create a strong aromatic guard for your garden. Essentially, these plants release volatile organic compounds into the air, mixing together to create a unique, strong scent that makes it difficult for pests to identify their target plants.
Here are some of the best flowers and herbs to plant with mint:
- Marigold (Tagetes): Marigolds are maybe the most popular companion flower for vegetables overall, and their unique scent may slow pest populations from growing. (For example, French marigold can protect tomatoes from whitefly infestation and is one of the best natural controls against brassica pests.)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum): Nasturtium can also help deter pests from tomatoes, including whitefly. It's a versatile, edible companion flower that's easy to grow and likely to benefit the vegetables grown alongside it.
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis): Calendula attracts a host of beneficial insects to the garden, making it a fantastic companion flower for a wide variety of vegetables. (Along with French marigold, for example, calendula can protect brassicas from their most common pests!) It also makes an incredibly useful ingredient in homemade salves and other natural products when infused into calendula oil.
- Chives: Chives planted in very spacious container with mint can hold their own in the first year or two. Harvest regularly, and these two herbs make ideal companion plants for any veg you're trying to help along.
- Garlic: Like other alliums, garlic releases volatile compounds that repel certain types of aphid. Plant mint near garlic to create a sort of double defense.
What not to plant with mint
Some of mint's companion plants will tolerate mint as a neighbor for a season or two. When planted in the soil together, though, nearly everything is a bad companion for mint. Mints just sprawl too aggressively to allow almost anything to grow well alongside them.
Some bad companion plants for mint include other types of mint, Mediterranean herbs, basil, parsley, and most low-growing flowers.
- Other types of mint: Planting multiple species of mint in a container will result in their flavors becoming muddled and subdued.
- Mediterranean herbs: Rosemary, oregano, thyme, lavender, and sage all need little nutrition, full sun, and sharp drainage.
- Basil: Basil needs full sun, but it also needs more richness in the soil than mint will share with it.
- Parsley: Parsley is a biennial, so it's best to leave it in the ground overwinter and let it flower the next year. Unless you have a very large planter box, parsley likely would not do well in its second year alongside mint.
- Low-growing flowers: Low-growing flowers like sweet allysum will compete with mint for soil as well as sun and nutrients.
Read More: The Best and Worst Companion Plants for Parsley
Will mint kill other plants?
Mint will effectively kill other plants by choking them out. Mint can inhibit some plants' growth, but most plants simply won't be able to compete with mint for adequate nutrients.
Are mint and marigold good companion plants?
Mint and marigold are fantastic companion plants in a vegetable garden when planted in a pot or positioned near each other. Marigold flowers and mint both have strong scents that can deter garden pests, and they may help defend against certain types of aphids, cabbage moths, caterpillars, and flea beetles.
What can you plant with mint in the ground?
Mint is invasive and should not be planted in the ground. If given the chance, it will quickly take over an entire planting area, making it impossible to grow anything alongside it.
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