|
Â
 COMPANION PLANTING
Â
Companion planting is a way of growing healthy plants that do not get too infested with pests and disease. The addition of certain plants also stimulates the growth of others; nasturtiums are great for attracting greenfly away from your brassicas, peas and beans. In a way it resembles nature and thankfully, if it is done correctly (with trail and error I might add), it eliminates the use of sprays.
Â
Â
Â
 Some examples of this would be to grow strong smelling herbs amongst your vegetables.
Rosemary will protect beans against weevils: rosemary, sage, thyme and mint will keep cabbage moths away.
Basil will keep flies away from potatoes; chives deter aphids, mint deters ants; garlic protects potatoes against blight and horseradish protects the spud from beetles.
Some vegetables help to keep pests off other vegetables. Rhubarb protects beans against blackfly; leeks protect carrots from the carrot fly; celery keeps moths away from cabbage; tomatoes keep beetles away from asparagus; lettuce protects radishes; and onions protect beetroot.
Â
The wonders of nature do not end there either. Some plants can also protect vegetables. Zinnias keep most pests away from cucumbers, melons and marrows. Marigolds are a must in the garden too and they can be steeped in hot stock and used as a saffron substitute to add colour to rice. They are particularly useful at protecting beans. There is a tall relative called Tagetes minuta, which keeps pests away from beans, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries.
Below is a list of the more common plants that are effective for companion planting.
PLANT GUIDE
Borage: A good companion plant for tomatoes and strawberries. The plant attracts bees and wasps though so don’t put them too close to where you sit and sunbathe. A good plant for adding minerals to the soil and when it is cut down it is a good addition to the compost heap.
Catnip: This fast growing plant keeps away a large number of pests such as beetles, ants and mice, it smells nice too. Your cat will love you for it!
Chives: These improve the growth and flavour of carrots and tomatoes. Planted among apple trees it is said to prevent scab. A tea made from chives helps to keep downy mildew off cucumbers.
Clover: This plant has long been used as a green manure as it brings up nutrients from deep in the soil, a lot of people spend all summer trying to get it out of their lawns though as it can be invasive.
Comfrey: This plant accumulates calcium, phosphorous and potassium from deep in the soil. Slugs like to hide under the leaves, so you know where to catch them. Mix equal quantities of nettle and comfrey leaves together and add water. Leave for a few days then use the liquid as a very effective plant food, you’ll never need to buy any ever again!
Coriander: Repels aphids, spider mites and potato beetle
Garlic: A spray made from as little as a 6-8% concentration kills greenfly, it also keeps beetles and snails off other plants. It keeps greenfly off roses if it is planted near the bushes.
Lavender: Repels moths and fleas, use dried sprigs in the house to keep the moths out.
Lemon balm: Lemon balm contains citronella which most insects find distasteful, some people use the crushed leaves as a skin rub to keep away insects in summer
Lovage: Improves the flavour and health of most vegetables. It is a large plant and makes an attractive backdrop for the borders. It is similar to celery in flavour.
Marigolds: These are the Calendula types that will self-seed around the garden. They keep the soil free from nematodes and discourage many other pests; the downside is that they attract slugs.
Marjoram: This plant improves the flavour of vegetables
Mint: If you dare plant this invasive plant in your garden you will see the benefits. It improves the health of cabbage and tomatoes, attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps. Cut the plant down and use as mulch around brassica plants to keep pests away. Earthworms are attracted to the plant as well which is good news for a healthy soil.
Peas: Peas fix nitrogen in the soil.
Nasturtiums: Plant as a barrier around tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. Deters wooly aphids, whiteflies, and cucumber beetles. Great trap crop for aphids (in particular the black aphids). Likes poor soil with low moisture and no fertilizer. It has been the practice of some fruit growers to plant nasturtiums every year in the root zone of fruit trees to allow the trees to take up the pungent odor of the plants and repel pests. It has no taste effect on the fruit. The leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible and wonderful in salads.
Nettles ,stinging: The flowers attract bees. Sprays made from these are rich in silica and calcium. Invigorating for plants and improves their disease resistance. Leaving the mixture to rot, it then makes an excellent liquid feed. Comfrey improves the liquid feed even more.
Parsley: Plant among and sprinkle on tomatoes, and asparagus. Use as a tea to ward off asparagus beetles. Attracts hoverflies. Let some go to seed to attract the tiny parasitic wasps. Parsley increases the fragrance of roses when planted around their base
Peppermint: Repels white cabbage moths, aphids and flea beetles. It is the menthol content in mints that acts as an insect repellant. Bees and other good insects love it.
Petunias: They repel the asparagus beetle, leafhoppers, certain aphids and general garden pests. A good companion to tomatoes, but plant everywhere. The leaves can be used in a tea to make a potent insect spray.
Poached egg plant: Grow poached egg plants with tomatoes, they will attract hover flies and hover flies eat aphids. These plants do very well around Irelandbroccoli,fertilizer,natural, and if you haven’t got some I’m sure a neighbour will give you a clump. They seed freely when established.
Purslaine: This edible weed makes good ground cover in the vegetable patch.
Radish: Plant radishes with your squash plants. This will give the plants protection against insects that bore into the flesh of the vegetable. Anything that will help prevent this is worth a try. They can keep pests away from sweet corn too.
Rosemary: Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots and sage. It deters moths, beetles and flies.
Rue: Deters Japanese beetles in roses and raspberries. To make it even more effective with Japanese beetles: crush a few leaves to release the smell. Repels flies and can help repel cats. Some say you should not plant it near cabbage, basil or sage. A pretty perennial with bluish-grey leaves. May be grown indoors in a sunny window. Rue can cause skin irritation.
Sage: Use as a companion to broccoli, cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage and carrots. This plant also keeps away moths, beetles and flies. Allowing them to flower attracts many beneficial insects into the garden.
Summer Savory: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavour. Discourages cabbage moths. Honeybees love it.
Sunflowers: Definitely plant a few sunflowers here and there in the garden. Step back and watch the ants herd the aphids onto them! The sunflowers are so tough that the aphids cause very little damage and you can have a great source of food for the birds with the seed heads.
Tansy: Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries keeping in mind that it can be invasive and is not the most attractive of plants. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash pests, ants and mice! Tie up and hang a bunch of tansy leaves indoors as a fly repellent. Use clippings as mulch as needed. Don't be afraid to cut the plant up, as tansy will bounce back from any abuse heaped on it! It is also a helpful addition to the compost pile with its' high potassium content.
Tansy Warning: You do not want to plant Tansy anywhere where livestock can feed on it as it is toxic to many animals. Do not let it go to seed either as it may germinate in livestock fields.
Tarragon: Plant throughout the garden, not many pests like this one. Recommended to enhance growth and flavour of vegetables.
Thyme: Deters cabbage worms. Creeping thyme makes a wonderful groundcover. You may want to use the upright form of thyme in the garden rather than the groundcover types. Thyme is easy to grow from seeds or cuttings. Older woody plants should be divided in spring
White geraniums: These members of the pelargonium family draw Japanese beetles to feast on the foliage, which in turn kills them
Wormwood: Keeps animals out of the garden when planted as a border. An excellent deterrent for most insects. A tea made from wormwood will repel cabbage moths, slugs, snails, black flea beetles and fleas effectively. Note: As wormwood actually produces a botanical poison do not use it directly on food crops.
Yarrow: Yarrow has insect repelling qualities and is an excellent natural fertilizer. A handful of yarrow leaves added to the compost pile really speeds things up. Try it! It also attracts predatory wasps and ladybirds to name just two. It may increase the essential oil content of herbs when planted among them. Yarrow has so many wonderful properties to it and is an ingredient in our own
With a bit of trial and error the plants can be positioned in such a way that the garden will be virtually free of most of the pests and disease that can take over plants and it’s all done without the use of chemicals.
Â
Trackback(0)
 |
In the Organic Garden 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
