Co-planting to prevent bugs

[rabukia]

Does anyone have a compiled list of what types of plants to grow together to deter pests? Occasionally I'll be reading a article that suggests a plant that can deter a pest when planted with another, but I can't find a compiled source. Does anyone have such a list or know a web site with one?

[gardengardian]

hello there, I have a book that has a pretty good list of companion planting and natuaral pest deterents. The book is the vegetable gardener's bible, by edward c. smith. The book is a pretty good book for gardening methods and ideas. there is a web site on the back www.storey.com I think I got the book at lowe's home improvement store. Hope this helps you.

jason

[Pharmerphil]

Well I can't script a table on this forum, so for my list of CROP COMPANIONS Go to: My Blog (http://simpletimes.blogspot.com/)
as for a list of Herbs and flowers........



Herb and Flower Companions

BASIL: Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor and to repel flies and mosquitoes. Do not plant near rue.

BAY LEAF: A fresh leaf bay leaf in each storage container of beans or grains will deter weevils and moths. Sprinkle with other deterrent herbs in garden as natural insecticide dust.

BEE BALM (Oswego): Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor.

BORAGE: Companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries. Deters tomato worms.

CARAWAY: Good for loosening compacted soil.

CATNIP: Deters flea beetles.

CAMOMILE: Improves flavor of cabbages and onions.

CHERVIL: Companion to radishes for improved growth and flavor.

CHIVES: Improves growth and flavor of carrots.

DILL: Improves growth and health of cabbage. Do not plant near carrots.

FENNEL: Most plants dislike it. Plant to itself.

FLAX: Plant with carrots, and potatoes.

GARLIC: Plant near roses to repel aphids.

GOPHER PURGE: Deters gophers, and moles.

HORSERADISH: Plant in potato patch to keep away potato bugs.

HYSSOP: Companion plant to cabbage and grapes, deters cabbage moths. Do not plant near radishes.

KELP: When used in a powder mixture or tea spray, this versatile sea herb will not only repel insects but feed the vegetables.

LEMON BALM: Sprinkle throughout the garden in an herbal powder mixture.

LOVAGE: Improves flavor and health of most plants.

MARIGOLDS (Calendula): The workhorse of pest deterrents. Keeps soil free of nematodes; discourages many insects. Plant freely throughout the garden.

MARJORAM: Improves flavor of all vegetables.

MINT: Deters white cabbage moths, and improves the health of cabbage and tomatoes.

MOLE PLANTS: Deter moles and mice if planted here and there throughout the garden.

NASTURTIUMS: Plant with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. Deters aphids and pests of curcurbit family.

PARSLEY: Plant and sprinkle on tomatoes, and asparagus.

PEPPERMINT: Repels white cabbage moths.

PETUNIAS: Remember mom or grandma planting these? She had good reason, even though she may have only planted them for tradition's sake. They repel the asparagus beetle, tomato worm and general garden pests. Also, a good companion to tomatoes, but plant everywhere.

PURSLANE: This edible weed makes good ground cover in the corn. Use the stems, leaves and seeds in stirfrys. Pickle the green seed pod for capers.

ROSEMARY: Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots and sage. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.

RUE: Deters Japanese beetles in roses and raspberries.

SAGE: Companion plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots to deter cabbage moths, beetles, carrot flies. Do not plant near cucumbers.

SOUTHERNWOOD: Plant with cabbage, and here and there in the garden.

SUMMER SAVORY: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor. Discourages cabbage moths.

TANSY: Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants.

TARRAGON: Plant throughout the garden, not many pests like this one.

THYME: Deters cabbage worms.

VALERIAN: Good anywhere in the garden, as a powder.

WORMWOOD: Keeps animals out of the garden when planted as a border.

[Horsea]

Do you know if mint would be suitable for insect-prevention planting near other members of the cabbage family, ie, chinese vegetables & kale, not just plain old cabbage? The cabbage butterfly is such a problem here where I live. Especially in dry weather, or weather that lurches around a lot. Help me out, Pharmerphil, it may be winter here, but I am desperate to prevent cabbage butterfly damage next year. Also, mint is quite the weed, isn't it. Anyway, your list is great.

[Pharmerphil]

First Horsea, thank you.
Mint; although good at detering some pests, is very invasive, and like you said "quite the weed" Best to keep it away from your garden.
I have planted kale in the past away from the main garden, as a trap crop, and had good success with that, treating the 'gathering' on these trap crops with Bt..
Think: Aromatic plants!
sage, savory, thyme, southern wood, etc. most all do a good job of detering pests, Plus, they attract beneficials to help us out.
I have savory that comes back every year scattered throughout most of the garden.
another overlooked plant is RUE, almost no pests like this smelly guy!
we have our fair share of these cabbage pests here in Mn. too.
Handpicking is the way we do it, rather labor intensive, considering the large amounts of cole crops we raise.
If, and that is a STRONG IF, you stay ahead of them, a very inert substance will destroy the small, almost undetectable young worms....plain old FLOUR!

[Horsea]

Sure appreciate all your info, pharmer; thanks so much. I am already chomping at the bit, and there is still 4 months before I can set foot in the garden. Oh, well.

Sounds like perennial savory may be the way to go, as they are good around the onions, too. And if it is a bad year for the cabbage worm, I shall try the flour. (Is it that it chokes the young-uns?) You should have seen my poor collards last year. And somewhere someone said that collards don't attract the cabbage butterfly. What could they have been talking about.

Happy New Year, and, as always, Green Thumbs Up.

PS. How come I can't get into your blog?

[Pharmerphil]

Geez, Horsea, I don't know why you couldn't get into my Blog? still having a problem?
yep, the smaller worms get all choked up!, the larger ones tho, are alot tougher.

[strmywthr3]

check out the books "Carrots love tomatoes" and "Great Garden Companions"

[Horsea]

Pharmerphil, I am just dropping you this note to tell you I had a glance at your Phorum and have never in all my born days seen anything like it! The colours! The...the...everything!

[Pharmerphil]

Thanks Horsea, I think :confused: Well just as well look again, I scripted it in a hurry to remove the holiday theme, and Wasn't pleased with it, it's much easier on the eye now!http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/Wipe.gif

[Horsea]

Thanks Horsea, I think :confused: Well just as well look again, I scripted it in a hurry to remove the holiday theme, and Wasn't pleased with it, it's much easier on the eye now!http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/Wipe.gif

Hey, I wasn't CRITICIZING it...I loved it! The mere physical appearance of most of the forums I see puts me to sleep. This one, idigmygarden, is also very pretty in its colours, and is highly readable. Keep up your good work, Pharmer Phil! Tks - Horsea.

[Pharmerphil]

LOL, :D wasn't saying you were..Just Jokin'! :p Thanks for the Kind words :)

[Farmgirl Susan]

Gardengardian mentioned the book "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible." I just wanted to say that I, too, think this is a very good all-around book to have on your shelf. I wrote a review of it when it was first published, and I especially recommended it for beginning gardeners. In general, I feel that you usually can't go wrong with Storey publications. :)

[FourDeuce]

I discovered(by accident) that growing gourds next to cucumbers works great to attract the cucumber beetles away from your cucumbers. The beetles love the gourds, but don't seem to do much damage to them(like they do to the cucumbers).

[kkinAL]

This is the first year I've tried companion planting to deter pests--I have been amazed how much of a difference it's made so far! I planted basil, marigolds, & bee balm all around my tomatoes, and catnip & marigolds around the melons & squash. So far NO bug damage on any! The eggplant however (planted further away) is being heavily munched on. This is the first year I haven't had to spray at all -- of course it's still early--but I'm happy now!

[werecat]

it says that GOPHER PURGE is good for keeping moles and gophers out of the garden, but what the heck is it and where do I get it for my garden next year?

[Mary]

I planted marigolds and petunias through out my garden and so far very few bugs,the only thing is the birds are eating my marigold blooms,I planted the large flowering ones which is what they seem to like and the small ones which they are not eating.Do you suppose the marigolds are keeping the potato bugs away are am I just lucky or what ,hope I haven,t spoke to soon.In a magazine I have the guy used a vacuum cleaner for beetles on his blackberries, you would almost think it would get the berries as well, but it worked.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi can i plant pole beans with my tomatoeplants to intercrop mary i watched a show called garden giants with paul james on hgtv this guy in alaska uses a vac on his giant cabbages :)

[Buglady]

Pharmerphil have you actually tried all those plants you listed and made those observations yourself? i have been working my way though many plants growing and observing and i have found info i have read is not always what i find.

I think that regions make a difference and also the species, variety, or cultivar of the plant. If you take dill there are many kinds of dill and just their height alone will make a difference in garden ecology.

[johno]

I found that the parsnips I let go to seed this year (one of them is taller than I am) were positively covered in ladybugs. A spider took up residence there too. Also, dill is very good for attracting small parasitic wasps. My spinach that went to seed seems to be a breeding ground for, uh, well, I think they are either called assasin bugs or soldier beetles - can't remember which. Whatever they are called, they are large predators...

The main thing is to have lots of flowering plants, whether they are for saving seed or just to look pretty, to attract beneficial insects. A source of water is also advantageous.

[johno]

I looked it up, they are assasin bugs...

[Mary]

I watch HGTV and Paul James when ever I can, guess I missed that show.I don't have a bag in my vaccum cleaner so what did he do when he emptied it?Put them in hot water?

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi mary i do not now :) :D ;)

[oiseautete]

TANSY: Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants.


I had ants make a nest in some bricks in the middle of my tansy patch.

[Buglady]

Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is considered invasive in many areas. It will take over if you are not careful. The insects so love it thought. I grow it and then cut the blooms off just before it is ready to go to seed.

[Mamasaphire]

I read the Carrots Love Tomatoes book too, and was impressed until I read in several places that many of the suggestion don't work, and were either just guesses or some lady who was into astrology and decided what worked together having to do with the placement of the stars/other astrological stuff, rather than research.

I like the ideas in the book Great Garden Companions: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden by Sally Jean Cunningham. I haven't tried them myself so that's not experience speaking, but I like how she explains things from a research/logical based viewpoint.

[Buglady]

I don't really use the books... I just try different plants, watch and keep notes. By simple observations you will learn what works and what doesn't for you in your area. There are so many variable in the garden. With all the books written I would be interested to know what scientific methods they used to decide what works and what doesn't enough to publish their info.

[Mamasaphire]

I don't really use the books... I just try different plants, watch and keep notes. By simple observations you will learn what works and what doesn't for you in your area. There are so many variable in the garden. With all the books written I would be interested to know what scientific methods they used to decide what works and what doesn't enough to publish their info.

I'd be interested in reading how they decide too. If things are different by conditions & areas then they'd have to do a very comprehensive nationwide study.

[LarryS]

I'd be interested in reading how they decide too. If things are different by conditions & areas then they'd have to do a very comprehensive nationwide study.

We have found that things are very different even in different parts of our garden. English peas do poorly in the western part but thrive in the eastern
side.

I can even see a "streak" running through our corn rows where the stalks
are clearly not as vigorous as in general.

We appear to be successful with our beets this year, after having failed the past 2-3 years. We simply moved them to the western side.

I have been disappointed so many times by 'organic' bug control, weed control, etc that I am beginning to doubt everything I read.

I really wish something like agricultural molasses could help the soil, but I haven't found any hard scientific reports that would support it.

[Buglady]

Part of what I do for work is going through some of these "home" remedies for pest management and many are snake oils. Some may kill the insect on contact but people don't understand how they may impact the plants long term or other things around them.
The classic example is ivory soap. friends of mine did research (not back yard stuff), He looked at ivory soap compared to insecticidal soap. they both kills insects well but they found long term that the Ivory plants produced fewer tomatoes. I doubt most of these home remedy books look long term.

[Mamasaphire]

Part of what I do for work is going through some of these "home" remedies for pest management and many are snake oils. Some may kill the insect on contact but people don't understand how they may impact the plants long term or other things around them.
The classic example is ivory soap. friends of mine did research (not back yard stuff), He looked at ivory soap compared to insecticidal soap. they both kills insects well but they found long term that the Ivory plants produced fewer tomatoes. I doubt most of these home remedy books look long term.

What an awesome job (meaning how wonderful that you & other people do that kind of thing -- very worthwhile!).

Who would have thought that using Ivory soap lowered plant production long term (not that I use Ivory, but I'm wondering about Dr Bronners now, lol) :eek:

[bunkie]

werecat, we have a couple of Gopher Purge plants on the farm. they were here when we bought it. we were told that's what they were! also, we were told they're also known as the upside down lilies...however, i have just been googling, cause i don't have a photo of ours, and what they're saying is Gopher Purge doesn't look like ours....soooo....i just went outside in the rain and took a couple pics...two because Louise, our infamous half-pygmy goat who's partner in crime is Thelma, decided to eat some brush while i was taking the first photo!

http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/15543/2002336178824430086_th.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002336178824430086)

http://aycu25.webshots.com/image/13784/2002358185632005513_th.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002358185632005513)
well now, is this Gopher Purge or not? anyone know?:O)

[trudyjean]

Thats not gopher purge that I know. But I like it, it does look like a lilly of some sort though. At least the leaves do to me. trudyjean

[fawnmeadow]

Bunkie, those are know as Fritillaria imperialis , and are said to keep the mice and moles away. They come in orange and yellow and pretty plants.
I've never seen gopher purge so I don't know what that is.