COMPANION PLANTING AND NATURAL

INSECT CONTROL

IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

            With the EPA increasing public awareness of preserving our environment in a clean and natural state, people are looking for alternatives for pesticide use. The insect controlling abilities of marigolds are now widely used. A root exudate has been used by scientists to repel and kill certain nematodes which cause root knots that deform and stunt many herbaceous and woody p Marigolds also serve to repel slugs, and thus can effectively be planted in abundance among susceptible vegetables.

Herbs with strong aromas such as rosemary, sage, basil, garlic and chives confuse insects’ sensory organs and drive them away The following is a list of various plants and companions to assist you with your organic gardening:

 

PLANT                                                  COMPANIONS

Asparagus                                            Tomatoes, parsley, basil.

Beans                                                   Potatoes, carrots, corn, cauliflower,
                                                             cabbage, celery cucumbers, most other
                                                             vegetables and herbs.

Basil                                                     Interplant with tomatoes to deter
                                                             tomato hornworm. Cabbage Family
                                                             Potatoes, celery dill, sage, chamomile,
                                                             thyme, mint, Cauliflower beets,
                                                             rosemary, lavender, onions. Aromatic
                                                             plants Broccoli deter cabbage worm.

Brussel Sprouts                       

Carrots                                                Peas, lettuce, leeks, rosemary, sage,

                                                            tomatoes, chives and onions repel rust
                                                            fly and nematodes.

Catnip                                                  Plant in borders and near eggplant.
                                                             Protects against flea beetle.

Chamomile                                          Cabbage, onions.

Chives                                                 Carrots; at base of fruit trees to
                                                            discourage insects from climbing.
                                                            Interplant with roses to repel aphids.

Corn                                                    Potatoes, peas, beans squash,
                                                            cucumbers, pumpkin.

Cucumbers                                          Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers.

Dill                                                       Cabbage (improves growth and health),

                                                            carrots.

Eggplant                                              Beans.

Garlic                                                  Roses, raspberries (deters Japanese
                                                            beetle where present); with herbs to
                                                            enhance their production of essential
                                                            oils. Plant liberally throughout garden to
                                                            deter pests.

 

Horseradish                                        Potatoes (deters potato beetle); under plum

                                                            trees to discourage curculios.

Lettuce                                                Carrots, radishes, (lettuce, carrots and

                                                            radishes make a strong companion
                                                            team); strawberries, cucumbers.

 

Marigolds                                            See above. Discourages many insects,
                                                            slugs, Interplant freely Mint Cabbage
                                                            family,  tomatoes.  Deters cabbage moth.

Nasturtium                                          Tomatoes, radishes, cabbage,
                                                            cucumbers.  Plant under fruit trees. 
                                                            Deters aphids and pests of fruit frees.

Onion                                                   Beets, strawberries, lettuce (protects
                                                             against slugs), beans (against ants),
                                                             Summer savory

Parsley                                                Tomatoes, asparagus.

Peas                                                    Grow well with almost any vegetable,
                                                            add nitrogen to soil.

Petunia                                                Protects beans; beneficial throughout.

Potato                                                  Horseradish (as trap crop for beetle),
                                                             beans, corn, cabbage, limas, marigold,
                                                             eggplant.

Pumpkin                                               Corn.

Radish                                                  Peas, nasturtium, lettuce, cucumbers;
                                                             general aid in repelling insects.

Rosemary                                            Carrots, beans, cabbage, sage. Deters 

                                                             cabbage moth, bean beetle, carrot fly.

Sage                                                    Rosemary, carrots, cabbage, peas,
                                                            beans.

Spinach                                               Strawberries.

Squash                                                Nasturtium, corn.

Strawberries                                      Bush beans, spinach, borage, lettuce.

Summer Savory                                 Beans, onions Deters been beetle.

Thyme                                                 Parsley, asparagus, marigold,
                                                            Nasturtium, carrots, limas.

Yarrow                                                Plant along borders; enhances
                                                            landscapes.

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