By Carol Holden & Gardening on the Cay
Hello Garden Friends!
Have you ever wanted to use plants to deter pests in your garden? Well, that is exactly what companion planting is all about. I tried it for the first time last year with my tomato plants. I never had any luck growing tomato plants in pots, so last year I joined the Anne Springs Close Community Garden and got a raised plot to grow my vegetables. I wanted to be successful with my tomato plants, so I planted several basil and marigold plants near my plants and sure enough, no pests! No bugs bothered my tomato plants, and I enjoyed wonderful tomatoes all summer long. For me, companion planting really works, and you might want to try it too! For growing carrots, edge them with chives to deter carrot flies. Plant nasturtium near zucchini to deter squash bugs, put chamomile near cabbage to deter cabbage worms, or plant thyme with broccoli/cabbage to deter cabbage worms and loopers. Plant marigolds around onions to deter onion flies.
Below is a list of other plants to try:
Onions, chives and garlic deter ants, aphids and flea beetles- Marigolds deter aphids, Colorado potato beetles and white flies
- Fennel attracts Hover flies and parasitic wasps which will eat aphids and larvae of white caterpillars and other beneficial insects that prey on Leaf Miners and other pests
- Rosemary deters carrot flies and cabbage moths
- Thyme repels cabbage moths
- Sage deters both cabbage moths and carrot flies
- Nasturtium deters squash bugs and white flies
Mint deters cabbage moths and ants (be careful with mint as it can become invasive, is best to grow in pots)- Garlic deters Japanese beetles, vegetable weevils and spider mites
- Celery deters white moth
- Borage attracts predatory insects and honeybees
- Catmint to deter Colorado beetles
- Plant white clover as a living mulch around cabbage plants to suppress cabbage root flies
- Don’t forget to plant pollinators around the garden to attract helpful insects such as lacewing, lady bugs and of course, bees
Companion planting is certainly worth trying and it helps the environment. Without pesticides, the butterfly and bee population can thrive, which in turn is beneficial for healthy gardens.
Happy Gardening from Gardening on the Cay! You can follow us on Facebook @ Gardening on the Cay
