Now, at some point or another, I’m sure your veggie patch has had an unwanted visitor or even a few. I bet you don’t want to be putting chemicals all over your garden either. Well, companion planting might just be the thing for you!
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Companion planting is the concept of including particular plants in your patch that will benefit your crop. If you add some flowering plants like calendulas or even French marigolds, they attract some beneficial insects that help pollinate your plants and deter other insects. The French marigolds double as a killer for nematodes in the soil. There are many more plants that either deter the bugs, grubs, and snails with their strong scent or attract creepy crawlies to themselves and away from your harvest.
Nasturtium and hyssop both attract the cabbage white moth with their scent, which will keep them from your brassicas - cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli to name a few. Other strong scented plants, particularly herbs like basil, mint, chives, sage and thyme, will also deter a lot of insects.
Not only should you be particular about the plants you include in your garden, but also of where you plant them. For the best result, there are a couple of options you can choose from. You can either use your companion plants as a barricade to stop any insects going past the border or you can clump them together, either in a far corner or maybe in the middle of your bed. As long as they’re clumped together they will look like a big target zone that all your insects will be distracted by and hopefully they won’t even have time to look at all the other options.
To stop some of the herbs from spreading and overtaking your garden, especially mint, don’t be afraid to just plant it in a pot and chuck it in with the others, pot and all.
Now, companion planting is not a completely foolproof method but these plants that act like silent little soldiers certainly help and minimise the damage.
All you have to do is give them a little bit of love and care to help them grow.
Diary
Bonsai Workshops coming up at Valibo Bonsai Nursery – styling workshop, Saturday, June 3; forest workshop, June 10, and maintenance workshop, June 17. For more information call 02 6025 1505.
For horticultural training needs call Wodonga TAFE 1300 MY TAFE (I300 698 233) or email AgHort@wodongatafe.edu.au. Feel free to call into the Agriculture/Horticulture Department in University Drive, West Wodonga.
To have your event listed email ddelahunty@wodongatafe.edu.au
Bree Meindl is a Certificate III Conservation and Land Management Student at Wodonga TAFE.
