Companion Planting Guide for the Home Vegetable Garden

Companion Planting Seed Assortment - 12 Pack

Do you regularly experience problems with pests taking over your garden? Consider companion planting flowers and herbs throughout your garden as a means of natural pest control. Their scents, taste, and textures help deter certain pests while attracting beneficial insects to monitor your garden. Check out the Companion Planting Guide for the Home Vegetable Garden linked above for information about how each flower in this assortment deters pests and attracts beneficial insects.

Seeds Included in the Companion Planting Seed Assortment

• Alyssum (Lobularia maritima ) - Approximately 56-63 Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 6-8 Weeks or Direct Sow
• Amaranth (Amaranthus) - Approximately 60 Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 6-8 Weeks
• Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) - Approximately 65-75 Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 6-8 Weeks
• Borage (Borago officinalis) - Approximately 60-70 Days to Maturity - Directly Sow
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - Approximately 98-105 Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 6-8 Weeks
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) - Approximately 90-100+ Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 8-12 Weeks
• French Marigold (Tagetes patula) - Approximately 63-77 Days to Maturity - Direct Sow or Start Indoors 4-6 Weeks
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus.) - Approximately 54-63 Days to Maturity - Direct Sow or Start Indoors 4-6 Weeks
• Petunia (Petunia x hybrida) - Approximately 98-105 Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 10-12 Weeks
• Broad Leaf Sage (Salvia officinalis) - Approximately 70-80+ Days to Maturity - Start Indoors 8-10 Weeks
• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) - Approximately 90-100 Days to Maturity - Direct Sow
• Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) - Approximately 60-70 Days to Maturity - Direct Sow or Start Indoors 4-6 Weeks

*This assortment features seeds from our Mountain Valley Seed Co., Sustainable Seed Company, and Kitazawa brands.

**Substitutions may include organic replacements or similarly sized varieties.

Growing the Companion Planting Seed Assortment

When starting seeds indoors, start by preparing a seed-starting soil mixture. These commonly include peat or coco coir mixed with perlite for improved drainage. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell at the specified number of weeks before your last spring frost date. Grow under additional lighting to avoid leggy starts. Seeds best directly sown should be planted after your last spring frost date. As a good rule of thumb, seeds should be sown approximately twice their diameter deep.

Remember to harden off seed starts before transplanting. This process includes setting your seed starts outdoors for increasing amounts of time. Start with a couple of hours a day and increase that time over the course of 1-2 weeks. This process allows the plants to strengthen their cell walls and adapt to the ever-changing outdoor environment. Skipping this step may lead to devastating transplant shock as the tender seedlings are not ready to withstand varying temperatures, wind, rain, and other challenging elements.

Transplant your seedlings into full-sun locations throughout your garden. Growing flowers throughout the vegetable garden can help increase pollination and fruit yields.