What are companion plants?
Companion plants are those that are grown together to benefit each other. Some can be used to provide shade from nasty weather, others can supply nutrients. Most commonly, many plants can be used to attract beneficial insects or as a repellent for nasty ones. Ultimately, the plants do the work. Here are some examples: • French marigolds discourage whitefly and blackfly • Garlic or ornamental alliums planted at the base of roses will help prevent blackspot • Carrots and leeks go hand in hand – each deters the pests of the other • Sacrifice a couple of feverfew; they’re loved by aphids • Plant mint (in pots!) among cabbages to deter cabbage white butterflies – their caterpillars like to eat cabbage leaves • Slugs hate wormwood • Use mustard as a ‘trap crop’ to attract many pests away from those you want to eat • Yarrow and dill attract beneficial hoverflies, whose larvae prey on greenfly and whitefly • Mosquitoes and scarid flies hate bay leaves • Use nasturtium as a magnet for caterpill
