Companion Planting
Companion planting is the practice of locating particular plants near one another because they enhance plant growth, discourage pests and diseases, or have some beneficial effects. However Crop Rotation is more effective in discouraging soilborn pests and diseases in the Vegetable garden. The real benefit of companion planting is in the perennial beds where crops cannot rotate.
Hint: The powerful scent produced by a row of marigolds growing next to a patch of cabbages will help keep many pests away from the crop.
Suggested Pairings
Parsley and Carrots Mixing parsley and carrots deters carrot flies because of the masking parsley aroma.
Tomatoes and Aspargus Tomatoes repel asparagus beetles.Tomatoes planted in the asparagus bed after the spring harvest will protect the asparagus during their summer growth season.
Borage and Strawberries Planting borage around strawberry beds makes potassium, calcium and other minerals available to the strawberries.
Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerrariiflium) This is a common organic insect repellant; a powder is made from its flowers and has been used for thousands of years. Growing this wild plant in the garden can discourage many pests.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica diaica) As its name suggests, the stinging nettle is somewhat painful to touch, but consider growing it nonetheless – it is an excellant deterrent of pests.
French Marigold (Tagetes spp.) These have many benefits in the garden. The roots of marigolds excrete a substance thet kills soil nematodes, useful in Rose beds. Also grown in greenhouses for tomatoes to discourage whitefly. The scent of marigolds is offensive to insects and many other pests.
Combinations to Avoid
Apples and potatoes Can increase potato blight if potatoes are planted in close proximity.
Brassicas and Tomatoes When tomatoes are planted close to brassicas, their growth is poor and they do not produce well.
Grass around Apples and Pears The root tips are the quickest growing parts of young apple trees and are present near the surface of the soil. Chemicals from the grass roots can retard the growth of these root tips.
Beneficial Predators
There are several different classes of predator and attracting them requires different methods
Animals and Insects
Bats Ladybirds
Birds Beetles
Frogs Hoverflies
Toad Centipedes
Hedgehogs Lacewings
Shrews Earwigs
Attracting Bats
Bats feed on a wide range of flying insects including flies and mosqitoes. Bats are mammals and look like winged mice. They can be easily attracted to nest in your garden by providing a simple bat house. Contact your local bat conservation society for more information.
Attracting Bees
Bees are great to have in the garden. They pollenate squash and other vegetables, and feed upon small insects. Growing a wide range of different flowers attract different types of bees. It is important because more than one-third of the food we eat is bee pollenated. Therefore we need all types of bee in the garden.
Attracting Frogs and Toads
Frogs and toads eat slugs and small insects and some even small snails. A small pond is a great way to encourage them. Water is only necessary for them to breed. They will live and hibernate in sheltered dark damp places where they are safe from predators.
Attracting Hedgehogs
Native to Europe, hedgehogs feed on caterpillars, slugs and millipedes. Hedges are a wonderful habitat for hedgehogs. You may not know you have hedgehogs because they hunt at night. If you do not have any hedges leave a small area of uncut grass for them to hide in. They can be encouraged to hibernate by leaving wet dog or cat food for them. A small heap of twigs can also make a good home. Be sure to check before burning any such piles of wood or leaf heaps in the spring.
Wild Flowers
When considering which flowers to plant, in order to attract beneficial insects and animals, start with native local wildflowers.
A selection of Wild flowers
Annuals Biennuals
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Hollyhock (Alcea ficifolia)
Queen Annes Lace (Anthriscus sylvestris) Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) Aster (Callistephus chinensis)
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) Celosia (Celosia spp.)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
Daisy (Leucanthemum spp.) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Poppy (Papaver somniferium) Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
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