3 Plants to Keep Away from Cucumber Crops and Why

Hey there, fellow gardeners! If you’re aiming to create a flavorful veggie patch, you might be considering which herbs to grow alongside your cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). But hold up – not all herbs are created equal when it comes to being good companions for cukes. In fact, there are a few you’ll want to steer clear of.

Lavender (Lavandula), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) are three aromatic herbs that just don’t play nice with cucumbers. These Mediterranean beauties have very different care needs than our tropical cucumber friends, so they’re not going to be the best neighbors. Cucumbers love moist, rich soil, while these herbs prefer drier, sandier conditions. It’s a recipe for disaster if you try to grow them side by side.

Cucumbers come from tropical regions, so they need consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil to thrive. Depending on where you live, you might even need to water them regularly to keep them happy. But lavender, rosemary, and thyme? They’re totally different – they prefer drier, sandier conditions and actually struggle in wet soil. Basically, these herbs and veggies have totally opposite watering needs, so they’re not going to make the best gardening buddies.

Instead of planting those Mediterranean herbs right next to your cucumbers, try going for herbs that are more at home in moist soil, like dill (Anethum graveolens), basil (Ocimum basilicum), or lovage (Levisticum officinale). That way, everyone gets the right amount of water. If you still want to grow lavender, rosemary, and thyme, consider putting them in a separate, drier part of your veggie patch or even in containers nearby.