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What are the best flowers to plant in between rows of vegetables to stop them being attacked by insects? GN by e-mail
Reply.
When considering companion planting, think about the benefits the companion plant is going to be to your chosen crop. There are two main areas of defence. The first is via beneficial insects feeding on the non-beneficial insects. The second is via growing plants that will provide support for non-beneficial insects. The best plants to grow to attract beneficial insects are some of the traditional cottage garden plants like Achillea, Anaphalis, asters, Calendula, Eschscholzia, Helianthus, Limnanthes and Solidago. These may be grown as annuals crops, or the herbaceous specimens may be grown in permanent planting pockets. Plants for supporting non-beneficial insects may sound a little odd but it is essential to provide a food reserve for non-beneficial insects to attract the predatory beneficial insects like ladybirds and lacewings. The most suitable plant for this is the common nettle, which is best cultivated as mint (in a container to prevent unwanted spreading of the plant). This supports nettle aphid, which does not attack any other plant but does provide food for the ladybird and lacewing.
What are the best flowers to plant in between rows of vegetables to stop them being attacked by insects? GN by e-mail
Reply.
When considering companion planting, think about the benefits the companion plant is going to be to your chosen crop. There are two main areas of defence. The first is via beneficial insects feeding on the non-beneficial insects. The second is via growing plants that will provide support for non-beneficial insects. The best plants to grow to attract beneficial insects are some of the traditional cottage garden plants like Achillea, Anaphalis, asters, Calendula, Eschscholzia, Helianthus, Limnanthes and Solidago. These may be grown as annuals crops, or the herbaceous specimens may be grown in permanent planting pockets. Plants for supporting non-beneficial insects may sound a little odd but it is essential to provide a food reserve for non-beneficial insects to attract the predatory beneficial insects like ladybirds and lacewings. The most suitable plant for this is the common nettle, which is best cultivated as mint (in a container to prevent unwanted spreading of the plant). This supports nettle aphid, which does not attack any other plant but does provide food for the ladybird and lacewing.
Horticultural.
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