Companion Plants for Organic Insect Control

Tree Branch

About Companion Plants

Companion plants are a great way to control garden insects organically, without harmful, nasty chemicals. Some companions also provide nitrogen or other organic nutrients.

Companion gardening is the practice of planting two different plants in close proximity to each other. One or both plants helps the other, giving off the by-products that the other plant needs. Those by-products are chemicals and micro-nutrients.

Other beneficial plants provide some protection against insects and planting a few of them near the desired plant will keep the insects away.

Great Companion Plants

Try:With:For:
BoragePumpkins, squash, cucumbers and a variety of plants.

Tomatoes

Attracts bees and other pollinators.

Deters tomato hornworm

BasilPeppers, Tomatoes, MarigoldKeeps aphids, whiteflies, hornworms and mosquitos away
DillCabbage / Cole familyAttracts beneficial wasps that kill cabbageworms
GarlicRoses, tomatoes and a wide variety of flowers and vegetables.Wards off aphids and other insects and pests.

Deters Japanese Beetles.

It also makes a great organic insect repellent spray.

MintCabbage and BroccoliDeters Cabbage moths
MarigoldA wide variety of flowers and vegetables.Wards off insects. They are also used in Organic Insect sprays.
NasturtiumPumpkins, Squash, and a wide variety of vegetables.Deters Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs, Aphids, and more. And, they are edible!
RadishesSpinach and other leaf cropsAttracts leaf miners away from spinach. The radishes will have leaf damage, but the root is unharmed.
RosemaryBeans, Broccoli, cabbage, CarrotsDeters Bean Beetles, Cabbage moths and carrot flies
SageCarrotsWards off Carrot Fly
ThymeCabbageDeters cabbage worm
ZinniasBroccoli, Cabbage, CauliflowerNectar attracts ladybugs to control cabbage worms. Try dwarf zinnias.

Related Articles

People who like this article will also like:

About the USDA

 

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

    Please support our site. Shop for:

    Scroll to top