Plant Library

The most popular home garden vegetable, tomatoes reward attentive growers with abundant harvests of flavour-packed fruit. They are heavy feeders that thrive in warm soil enriched with compost and benefit enormously from companion planting.

Bell peppers are warm-season crops that produce sweet, crisp fruit in a range of colours. They need a long growing season and are best started indoors well before the last frost.

Cucumbers are fast-growing vines that produce prolifically in warm weather. They benefit from trellising to improve airflow, reduce disease, and make harvesting easier.

Zucchini is one of the most productive summer vegetables, capable of overwhelming gardeners with its output. Part of the classic Three Sisters guild alongside corn and beans, it shades the ground to suppress weeds.

Lettuce is a cool-season green that grows quickly and can be harvested as cut-and-come-again leaves throughout spring and autumn. It tolerates light shade in summer, which actually extends its season in hot climates.

Kale is a cold-hardy brassica that sweetens after frost and can overwinter in mild climates. It is one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables and remarkably easy to grow organically.

Carrots require deep, loose, stone-free soil to form straight roots, but reward patient growers with sweet, crunchy harvests. Sowing alongside companion herbs dramatically reduces pest pressure from carrot fly.

Garlic is a powerful natural pest deterrent and one of the most valuable companion plants in the garden. Planted in autumn, it overwinters and is harvested the following summer when the lower leaves begin to brown.

Onions are biennial crops grown as annuals, forming bulbs in response to day length. Their pungent scent deters many pests and makes them excellent companions for a wide range of vegetables.

Green beans are nitrogen-fixing legumes that improve soil fertility for neighbouring plants. They are a key member of the Three Sisters guild alongside corn and squash, and are among the most rewarding warm-season crops.

Peas are cool-season nitrogen-fixing legumes that thrive in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. They climb readily with support and are one of the first crops to go in the ground each year.

Butternut squash is a prolific winter squash with sweet, orange flesh that stores well through winter. It forms a key part of the Three Sisters polyculture, its large leaves shading the soil to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Spinach is a fast-growing cool-season green that can be harvested as baby leaves or left to full size. It bolts quickly in summer heat, so it is best grown in the cool shoulder seasons or under the shade of taller plants.

Broccoli is a cool-season brassica that forms dense green heads and benefits from a long growing season with consistent cool temperatures. It is a heavy feeder that performs best in rich, well-amended soil.

Cauliflower is one of the more demanding brassicas, requiring consistent cool temperatures and even moisture to form tight, white curds. Blanching the curd by tying leaves over it protects colour and flavour.

Brussels sprouts are slow-growing cool-season brassicas that reward patience with dense, flavourful sprouts along their tall stems. A light frost before harvest dramatically improves their flavour by converting starches to sugars.

Radishes are among the fastest-maturing vegetables in the garden, ready to harvest in as little as 3 weeks. They make excellent companion plants and soil looseners, and their flowers attract beneficial insects.

Beets are dual-purpose root vegetables offering both sweet, earthy roots and nutritious greens. They are cool-season crops that tolerate light frost and grow well as both spring and autumn plantings.

Swiss chard is a versatile, heat-tolerant leafy green that bridges the gap between cool-season and warm-season gardening. Its brilliantly coloured stems add ornamental value to kitchen gardens while providing nutritious harvests.

Sweet potatoes are warm-season vines grown for their sweet, nutritious tubers. They thrive in hot summers and are grown from slips rather than seeds, spreading vigorously as ground cover.

Jalapeño peppers are prolific warm-season producers of medium-heat fruit used fresh, pickled, or roasted. They share the same cultivation requirements as sweet peppers but are slightly more heat-tolerant.

Eggplant is a heat-loving member of the nightshade family that produces glossy, richly flavoured fruit. It needs a long, warm growing season and performs best in well-enriched soil with consistent moisture.

Celery is one of the most demanding vegetables to grow, requiring consistently moist, rich soil and a long cool growing season. Its pungent aromatic compounds make it a useful companion for repelling pests from neighbouring brassicas.

Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that takes 2–3 years to establish but then produces for 20 years or more. It is one of the earliest crops to emerge in spring and a treasured cornerstone of the productive kitchen garden.

Turnips are fast-maturing cool-season root vegetables that offer both edible roots and nutritious greens. They are exceptionally cold-hardy and can be harvested through light frosts.

Okra is a heat-loving tropical vegetable that thrives in long, hot summers and produces abundant edible seed pods. Its large, showy flowers are beautiful and highly attractive to pollinators.

Corn is a tall wind-pollinated grain grown as a warm-season vegetable. It forms the vertical component of the Three Sisters guild, providing a living trellis for beans and shade for squash. Plant in blocks rather than rows for good pollination.

Leeks are hardy alliums with a mild, sweet onion flavour that can be harvested through winter in many climates. They are excellent companion plants whose strong scent deters carrot fly and other pests.

Cabbage is a hardy cool-season brassica producing dense heads of crisp leaves used fresh or fermented into sauerkraut. It benefits enormously from aromatic companion herbs that confuse and deter its many pest species.

Arugula is a fast-growing peppery salad green that thrives in cool weather and can be harvested repeatedly as cut-and-come-again leaves. It bolts in summer heat but self-seeds freely for successive crops.

Basil is one of the most valuable companion plants in the vegetable garden, repelling aphids, whiteflies, and thrips with its volatile aromatic oils. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and grows symbiotically alongside tomatoes.

Mint is a vigorous, spreading perennial herb whose strong scent deters aphids, flea beetles, cabbage white butterflies, and rodents. It is best grown in containers to prevent it from aggressively colonising garden beds.

Rosemary is a drought-tolerant Mediterranean perennial whose piney scent powerfully deters carrot fly, bean beetles, and cabbage pests. It thrives in lean, well-draining soil and can live for decades in the right conditions.

Lavender is a drought-tolerant perennial whose fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators while repelling moths, flies, and fleas. It is a beautiful and highly functional addition to any kitchen garden border.

Thyme is a compact, drought-tolerant perennial herb whose antimicrobial essential oils deter many garden pests while attracting bees. It thrives in lean, well-draining soil and is an excellent ground cover in the herb or vegetable garden.

Oregano is a vigorous Mediterranean perennial herb with powerfully aromatic foliage that deters pests and attracts beneficial insects throughout the season. Its white and pink flowers are especially attractive to bees, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps.

Cilantro is a fast-cycling cool-season herb beloved in the kitchen and extraordinarily valuable in the garden for attracting beneficial insects. Its delicate white flowers draw hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and lacewings that prey on common garden pests.

Dill is an airy, feathery annual herb that produces both edible foliage and seeds. Its yellow umbel flowers attract an enormous range of beneficial insects including parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and lacewings that control pest populations.

Parsley is a slow-to-germinate biennial herb that flowers in its second year, producing nectar-rich umbels that attract parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and other beneficial predatory insects. It is a valuable companion for tomatoes and asparagus.

Sage is a woody perennial herb whose strong camphor-like scent effectively deters cabbage moths, carrot flies, and other pests. Its purple flowers are excellent nectar sources for bees and other pollinators.

Chives are one of the most versatile companion herbs, deterring aphids, carrot fly, and Japanese beetle while attracting pollinators with their pretty purple flowers. They are among the first herbs to emerge in spring and are extremely easy to grow.

Lemongrass is a tropical grass grown for its fragrant, lemony stalks used extensively in cooking. Its strong citrus scent acts as a natural mosquito and flying insect deterrent, making it a useful companion near outdoor seating and vegetable plots.

Fennel is an aromatic perennial herb with feathery foliage and anise-like flavour, but it releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit the growth of most neighbouring plants. It is best grown in isolation or at the far edge of the garden.

French tarragon is a refined perennial herb with a distinctive anise-pepper flavour prized in classic cooking. It grows slowly but is long-lived, and its aromatic foliage deters pests from neighbouring vegetables.

Comfrey is a permaculture powerhouse and dynamic accumulator, drawing up potassium, calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus from deep in the soil with its long taproot. Chopped and dropped as mulch or steeped as liquid feed, it is one of the most valuable plants in an organic garden.

Strawberries are low-growing perennial fruits that produce abundantly from spring through summer and spread readily via runners. They thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter and benefit greatly from companion planting.

Blueberries are long-lived, productive shrubs that require very acidic soil and at least two compatible varieties for cross-pollination. Their stunning autumn colour makes them as ornamental as they are productive.

Raspberries are productive cane fruits that spread vigorously by suckers and produce summer or autumn crops depending on variety. They are easy to grow organically and highly rewarding, producing fruit for up to 10 years from well-tended canes.

Blackberries are vigorous, thorny or thornless cane fruits that produce large, richly flavoured berries in late summer. They are among the most productive and low-maintenance fruits in the organic garden.

Watermelons are sprawling warm-season vines that require a long, hot growing season to produce their large, sweet fruits. They thrive in sandy, well-draining soil and need consistent pollinator activity for good fruit set.

Cantaloupes are warm-season vine fruits with sweet, orange flesh that require hot summers and excellent drainage. They are closely related to cucumbers and benefit from similar companion planting strategies.

Fig trees are ancient, drought-tolerant Mediterranean fruits that produce luscious sweet fruit with minimal care. They thrive in warm, sheltered spots and can be grown in containers in cool climates to be brought indoors for winter.

Grapevines are long-lived, vigorous climbers that produce fruit for decades when properly trained and pruned. They thrive in well-drained soils with lean fertility and full sun, and are extraordinary companions with Mediterranean herbs.

Apple trees are the cornerstone of temperate fruit gardens, offering hundreds of varieties with different flavours, textures, and seasons. Most require cross-pollination with a compatible variety and take 3–5 years to begin bearing significantly.

Lemon trees are tender evergreen citrus that produce tart, aromatic fruit year-round in warm climates. They require frost-free conditions or container growing with winter protection, and reward care with continuous crops.

Peach trees are warm-climate stone fruits that produce luscious, fragrant fruit and are largely self-fertile. They fruit on the previous year's growth, so annual pruning is essential to maintain production.

Sweet cherry trees are magnificent ornamental trees that produce abundant crops of sweet, rich fruit in early summer. Most sweet cherries require cross-pollination with a compatible variety, though self-fertile cultivars like Stella are widely available.

Pear trees are long-lived, productive fruit trees that ripen fruit off the tree. They need cross-pollination with a compatible variety and are somewhat more cold-tolerant and disease-resistant than apples when properly sited.

Pomegranates are drought-tolerant shrubs or small trees with spectacular orange flowers and jewel-like ruby seeds. They are among the easiest fruit trees to grow organically and remarkably pest-resistant once established.

Passion fruit is a vigorous tropical vine with extraordinary exotic flowers that is grown for its intensely flavoured, aromatic fruit. It needs a strong support structure, warm conditions, and regular feeding to produce well.

Sunflowers are tall, cheerful annuals that double as a living trellis for cucumbers and produce pollen-rich flowers that attract an enormous range of beneficial insects. Their allelopathic root exudates can suppress weeds but also inhibit beans and peas.

French marigolds are possibly the single most valuable companion plant in the entire vegetable garden. Their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, their scent deters aphids and whiteflies, and their flowers act as a trap crop drawing pest insects away from valuable crops.

Zinnias are easy-to-grow, heat-loving annuals that produce a continuous succession of vibrant flowers from midsummer through first frost. They are outstanding butterfly magnets and attract beneficial insects that prey on common pest species.

Nasturtiums are edible, low-maintenance annual flowers that perform double duty as a sacrificial trap crop for aphids and cabbage caterpillars, drawing them away from vegetables. Both leaves and flowers are edible with a peppery flavour.

Echinacea (purple coneflower) is a robust native perennial wildflower whose large daisy flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps in abundance. It is long-lived, drought-tolerant, and provides rich seed heads for birds in winter.

Black-eyed Susans are cheerful native perennials that bloom profusely in late summer and autumn, filling a gap when many earlier flowers fade. Their golden flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and parasitic wasps essential to garden health.

Calendula (pot marigold) is one of the most useful companion plants in the organic garden, repelling aphids and whiteflies with its sticky resinous stems while attracting hoverflies and beneficial wasps. Its edible flowers are also used in skin-care preparations.

Borage is a permaculture powerhouse and one of the most generous companion plants: a dynamic accumulator of trace minerals, a powerful pollinator magnet, a repellent of tomato hornworm and cabbage worms, and an edible herb with star-shaped blue flowers beloved by bees.

German chamomile is known as the "physician of the garden" for its ability to improve the health and vigour of nearby plants. It accumulates calcium and potassium in its tissues, attracts hoverflies and beneficial wasps, and makes a soothing herbal tea.

Yarrow is a dynamic accumulator of copper, potash, and phosphorus, and one of the most powerful beneficial insect attractors in the organic garden. Its flat-topped flower clusters are landing pads for predatory wasps, hoverflies, and ladybugs that prey on garden pests.

Bee balm is a native North American perennial with brilliant red, pink, or purple tubular flowers that are irresistible to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its aromatic foliage deters aphids and fungal diseases on nearby plants.

Sweet alyssum is a low-growing, honey-scented annual that carpets the ground between taller plants. It is extraordinarily effective at attracting hoverflies and parasitic wasps whose larvae consume aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests.

Cosmos are airy, fast-growing annuals with ferny foliage and jewel-toned flowers that bloom prolifically through summer and autumn. They are outstanding lacewing and parasitic wasp attractors and produce far more beneficial insect activity per square foot than most garden flowers.

Dahlias are tuberous perennials grown as annuals in cold climates, producing an extraordinary range of flower forms and colours from midsummer until first frost. Single and semi-double varieties are most valuable for attracting pollinators.

Morning glory is a fast-growing annual vine with vivid trumpet flowers that open in the morning and fade by afternoon. It provides rapid vertical cover for trellises and fences while attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, though it can self-seed aggressively.