Gardening after surgery, companion planting basil, two great companion planting books
Hey there, Bloom & Peck friends! I went a little out of order (raspberry fun will be the next post) 🌿🐔 It’s Erin, coming to you from my porch in rural Kentucky, where the hummingbirds are, apparently, as nosy as my chickens. I’m still healing from back surgery, so no dirt-digging for me just yet—but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream, plan, and share some garden wisdom with you! This week, I posted a little video on my Facebook page (@BloomAndPeck) to share two books and a sneak peek at companion planting with basil, and let me tell you, it turned into quite the happening. Between flipping through two awesome books, a surprise hummingbird visitor, and the magic of rural living, I’ve got plenty to share—blooms, pecks, and all!
A Bloom: Companion planting Basil and a Hummingbird Surprise
I’ve been obsessed with companion planting lately, and basil is my new best friend in the garden. In my video, I flipped to the Companion planting with basil section in Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners (from ThriftBooks)
and Companion Planting for Beginners by Brian Lowell (from Amazon),
dreaming of pairing it with my tomatoes. Then—bam!—a hummingbird buzzed in like it wanted a cameo! I caught it on camera, and it was such a calm wink in time, a total “bloom” moment that reminded me why I love gardening in rural Kentucky. Here’s a still from that video—check out my feathered co-star!
A Peck: Surgery and Slugs in the Garden
Of course, there’s a “peck” to balance the bloom. Being stuck indoors after surgery means I can work by myself on companion planting basil yet, which is frustrating—especially after last year’s slug invasion wiped out my lettuce! The books helped, though. Good Neighbors suggests that companion planting basil repels whiteflies from tomatoes, while Lowell’s book (with its informative bug pics, that I did not know existed) says it deters slugs near lettuce. The peck? I’m healing too slowly to test it, no gardening after surgery, but these companion planting resources are keeping my gardening spirit alive.
Organic Gardening Techniques with Basil
Here are some common-sense tips I picked up from the books, perfect for anyone starting out or gardening from a chair like me:
- Companion planting Basil with Tomatoes: Plant three basil plants per tomato to keep whiteflies away and boost flavor—nature’s pest control!
- Companion Planting Basil with Lettuce: Tuck basil near lettuce to deter slugs; it’s a natural shield that’s easy to grow.
- Basil Needs Sun and Space: Basil loves sun, so give it 6-8 hours daily and space it 12 inches apart.
- Water Smart: Keep soil moist but not soggy—overwatering’s a rookie mistake I’ve made!
- Basil companions: Marigolds, also known to repel tomato hornworms. Interplanting Marigolds with basil around your tomatoes could enact more organic gardening powers.
Companion planting basil brings joy to my dirt!
Picture from Agricline.com
These tips are gold to a great start of a chemical-free garden, and they’re doable even if you want to do a bit of gardening after surgery, or just starting on your homesteading or organic gardening journey. I was able to put two basil plants in with my broccoli, well my son put them in where I pointed because dr says, “no gardening right after surgery” haha! Why broccoli? I had to pot up my tomatoes until I can get them in the dirt to , UGH. Can’t wait to see how it works. I have a feeling MORE is better. And who can’t get enough pesto?
A Nod to Rural Kentucky
That hummingbird moment on my porch sums up rural Kentucky for me—peaceful, wild, and full of surprises. It’s the perfect place to heal and plan my garden, even if I’m stuck with a few raised beds, for now. Maybe I’ll (ie, my hepful adult son 🙂 ) companion plant extra basil to attract more of these little visitors!
Frequently Asked Questions about Companion Planting Basil.
Tomatoes, carrots, oregano, zucchini, bell peppers, marigolds, and a few more!
Companion planting basil in pots or raised beds is manageable for those with limited mobility, allowing gardeners to grow food and find joy in the dirt without heavy lifting.
It helps repel some insects, some gardeners say it improves the flavor of tomatoes.
The companion planting books I use most
These books are lifesavers while I’m healing and can’t dig in the dirt. I snagged Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners from ThriftBooks [here]—no affiliate program, just a great deal! This book I love because I can look up specific plants for in depth research into organic gardening, intercropping, and or interplanting.
For Companion Planting for Beginners by Brian Lowell, I went with Amazon [here]—this is not an affiliate link yet, soon I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping me fund my greenhouse dream. I liked this book as a beginner gardener. It covers a lot of topics from soil health to bugs.
Both are packed with ideas to kickstart your companion planting journey.
Let’s Chat!
What’s your go-to companion planting pair, or have you had a surprise garden visitor like my hummingbird?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear! Catch the full video on my Facebook page (@BloomAndPeck), and stay tuned for my next post about potting up raspberry starts. Let’s keep embracing the blooms and laughing at the pecks together! 🌻
What are your backyard garden ideas with companion planting?
Share your favorite companion planting story with a picture and I will feature you across my social media platforms! Email [email protected] for your chance to have your gardening experience shared by even more garden lovers!
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