Companion Plants and Insects

White Yarrow via Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers.

Lately I've been picking baby caterpillars, both green and brown, from my vegetables' leaves -- in most cases, before they were able to inflict serious damage. That changed overnight. This morning, I awoke to a near total devastation of my baby yarrow crop by a single one-inch worm. Of 78 starter cells planted, only 12 remain intact. Heartbroken, but determined to shun pesticides and remain an organic container gardener, I'm considering companion plants as a solution. If this method has worked for you, please let me know. Until then praying mantises, lizards and frogs have become my new best friends -- and while I know they don't care much for me, they seem content to hang around. It's a start. - c

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Companion Plants ~ Insect-Repellent Plants ~ Beneficial Insects

via Rex Research

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), of the Family Lamiaceae (mints), is a tender low-growing herb. Basil is a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Via Wikipedia.

Companion Plants

Amaranth -- Corn, Onion, Potato

Angelica -- Incompatible with Dill

Anise -- Beans, Coriander /// Incompatible with Basil, Rue

Apple -- Chives /// Incompatible with: Potato

Asparagus -- Basil, Marigold, Nasturnium, Parsley, Tomato /// Incompatible with Mint, Onion

Basil -- Beans, Cabbage, Marigold, Pepper, Tomato -- Incompatible with Rue

Beans -- Beets, Borage, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Corn, Cucumber, Nasturnium, Petunia, Potato, Squash, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Sunflower, Tomato /// Incompatible with Chives, Onion, Garlic, Fennel, Gladiolus, Leek

Bee Balm -- Tomato /// Incompatible with Field Mustard

Beets -- Basil, Bush beans, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onion, Sage, Tomato /// Incompatible with Pole beans, Mustard

Borage -- Squash, Strawberry, Tomato

Broad Beans -- Corn /// Incompatible with Kohlrabi

Broccoli -- Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage /// Incompatible with Lettuce, Strawberry, Tomato

Brussel Sprouts -- Beans, Celery, Dill, Hyssop, Mints, Nasturtium, Potato, Rosemary, Sage /// Incompatible with Strawberry

Cabbage -- Aromatic herbs (repel Cabbage Worms), Bush Beans, Beets, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Geranium, Hyssop, Lavender, Marigold, Mint, Nasturnium, Onions, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Tansy, Thyme, Tomato /// Incompatible with Dill, Grapes, Mustards, Rue, Strawberries, Tomatoes

Calendula -- Tomato (Repels tomato worms, asparagus beetles)

Caraway -- Peas /// Incompatible with Fennel

Carrots -- Chervil, Chives, Leaf lettuce, Leeks, Onion, Peas, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato, Wormwood /// Incompatible with Anise, Dill

Cauliflower -- Beans, Beet, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Hyssop, Lavender, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Radish /// Incompatible with Dill, Strawberries, Tomatoes

Celery --Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Onion, Spinach, Tomato /// Incompatible with Corn

Chamomile -- Cabbage, Mint, Onion, Squash

Chervil -- Carrots, Radish

Chives -- Carrots, Grapes, Parsley, Tomato /// Incompatible with Peas, Beans

Collard Greens -- Tomatoes

Coriander -- Anise, Potato /// Incompatible with Fennel

Corn -- Amaranth, Beans, Cucumber, Geranium, Lamb's Quarters, Melons, Morning Glory, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Sow Thistle, Squash, Sunflower /// Incompatible with Celery, Tomato

Cucumbers -- Beans, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Marigold, Nasturnium, Onion, Peas, Radish, Savory, Sunflower, Tomato /// Incompatible with: Potato, Rue, Sage

Dill -- Cabbage, Lettuce, Onion /// Incompatible with Carrot, Tomato

Eggplant -- Amaranth, Beans, Peas, Spinach, Tarragon, Thyme

Fennel -- Incompatible with Beans, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Tomato, Wormwood

Fig -- Incompatible with Rue

Flax -- Carrot, Potatoes

Garlic -- Beets, Carrots, Chamomile, Lettuce, Raspberry, Roses, Tomato, Summer savory /// Incompatible with Beans, Cabbage, Peas, Strawberries

Grapes -- Clover, Geranium, Hyssop, Oregano /// Incompatible with Cabbage, Radish

Hyssop -- Cabbage, Grape

Kohlrabi -- Beets, Cucumber, Onion /// Incompatible with Pole Beans, Pepper, Strawberry, Tomato

Leek -- Carrots, Celery, Onions /// Incompatible with Beans, Broccoli

Lettuce -- Beet, Cabbage, Carrot, Clover, Corn, Cucumber, Melon, Onion, Peanuts, Peas, Radish, Strawberry, Sunflower

Lovage -- Beans

Melons -- Corn, Nasturnium, Radish

Mint -- Cabbage, Tomatoes /// Incompatible with Chamomile, Parsley

Nettle -- Increases the oil production of herbs

Onions -- Amaranth, Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Leeks, Lettuce, Pepper, Potato, Roses, Sow Thistle, Strawberry, Summer savory, Tomato /// Incompatible with Beans, Peas

Oregano -- Cabbage, Cucumber

Parsley -- Asparagus, Carrot, Chives, Onions, Roses, Tomato /// Incompatible with Mint

Petunia -- Beans

Peanuts -- Squash, Corn

Peas -- Aromatic herbs, Beans, Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Potato, Radish, Spinach, Turnips /// Incompatible with Garlic, Gladiolus, Leek, Onion, Potoato, Shallots

Peppers -- Basil, Carrot, Lovage, Marjoram, Onion, Oregano /// Incompatible with Fennel, Kohlrabi

Plum -- Horseradish

Pole Beans -- Radish // Incompatible with Beets, Sunflower

Potatoes -- Amaranth, Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Eggplant, Flax, Horseradish, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Marigold, Onion, Petunia /// Incompatible with Cucumber, Pumpkin, Radish, Raspberry, Sunflower, Squash, Tomato

Pumpkin -- Corn, Dastura /// Incompatible with Apple, Potato, Raspberry, Rosemary, Tomato

Radishes -- Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chervil, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Nasturnium, Parsnips, Peas, Spinach, Squash /// Incompatible with: Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Grape, Hyssop, Kohlrabi, Potato, Turnips

Raspberry -- Tansy /// Incompatible with Potato

Rhubarb -- Columbine, Garlic, Onion, Roses

Rose -- Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage /// Incompatible with Potato

Rosemary -- Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Sage /// Incompatible with Potatoes

Rue -- Figs, Raspberry, Rose, Strawberry /// Incompatible with Basil, Cabbage, Sage

Sage -- Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Marjoram, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberry, Tomato /// Incompatible with Cucumber, Rue

Savory -- Beans, Onions

Southernwood -- Cabbage

Sowthistle -- Corn, Onions, Tomato

Soybeans -- Everything

Spinach -- Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Onion, Peas, Strawberry

Squash -- Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Icicle radishes, Mint, Nasturnium, Onion /// Incompatible with Potatoes

Strawberries -- Beans, Borage, Comfrey, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach /// Incompatible with Broccoli, Brussle Sprouts, Cabbage, Califlower, Kohlrabi

Sunflower -- Cucumber /// Incompatible with Cabbage

Tansy -- Fruits, Peppers, Potato, Rose, Raspberry

Thyme -- Cabbage

Tomatoes -- Asparagus, Basil, Bee Balm, Carrot, Celery, Chives, Garlic, Lemon Balm, Onions, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtium, Parsley, Peas, Sage /// Incompatible with Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Potato

Turnip -- Peas

Salvia officinalis (Sage, Common sage, Garden sage, Kitchen sage, Culinary sage, Dalmatian sage, Purple sage, Broadleaf sage, Red sage) is a small perennial evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and commonly grown as a kitchen and medicinal herb or as an ornamental garden plant. Via Wikipedia.

Insect-Repellent Plants

Basil -- Flies, Mosquitoes, Asparagus Beetle

Borage -- Tomato Worm

Calendula -- Asparagus Beetles, Tomato Worms

Catnip -- Ants, Aphids, Cockroaches, Flea Beetle, Japanese Beetles

Chrysanthemum -- Mexican Bean Beetle

Cosmos -- Mexican Bean Beetle

Coriander -- Aphids

Dandelion -- Colorado Potato Beetle

Dead Nettle -- Potato Beetle

Fennel -- Fleas

Flax -- Potato Beetle

Garlic -- Aphids, Apple Scab, Borers, Japanese Beetles, Peach Leaf Curl Disease, Spider Mites

Geranium -- Cabbage Worm, Red Spider Mite

Henbit -- General insect repellent

Horseradish -- Potato Beetle

Hyssop -- Cabbage Moth

Lavender -- Mice, Ticks, Moths

Marigold -- Mexican Bean Beetle, Nematodes

Mint -- Ants, Aphids, Cabbage Moth, Fleas, Mice

Mole Plant -- Mice, Moles

Nasturnium -- White Flies, Squash Bugs, Striped Pumpkin Beetle, Wooly Aphid (apple)

Oregano -- Cabbage Butterfly, Cucumber Beetle

Parsley -- Beetles

Pennyroyal -- Fleas, Flies, Mosquitoes

Pot Marigold -- Asparagus Beetle, Tomato Worm

Radish -- Cucumber Beetle

Rosemary -- Bean Beetles, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly

Rue -- Flies, Japanese Beetle, Cats, Dogs

Sage -- Bean beetle, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Slugs

Southernwood -- Cabbage Moth

Sunflower -- Armyworm

Tansy -- Ants, Fleas, Flies, Japanese Beetle, Moths, Striped Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs

Thyme -- Cabbage Worm

Wormwood -- Animals

Beneficial Parasitoid Wasps and Hoverflies are attracted to: Alyssum, Buckwheat, Cilantro, Fennel, Mustard, Phacelia, and Yarrow (J. Luna, et al., Organic Farming Research 6:7-9)

"Pollen and Nectar plants" that attract beneficial predator insects: Carrot, Catnip, Coneflowers, Daisy, Dill, Fennel, Goldenrod, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley, Peppermint, Spearmint, Thyme, Yarrow.

Praying mantis, Sphodromantis viridis. Picture was taken in Alonisos, Greece. Mantodea or mantises is an order of insects which contains approximately 2,200 species in 9 families worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. Via Wikipedia.

Beneficial Insects

Assassin Bug -- Caterpillars, Flies

Big-Eyed Bug -- Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Mites; attracted by Clover, Goldenrod, Soybeans.

Braconid Wasp -- Aphids, Armyworm, Cabbageworm, Cornborer, Codling Moth, Elm Bark Beetle, Horn Worm; Attracted by Dill, Parsley, Yarrow.

Damselbug -- Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Thrips; Attracted by Alfalfa.

Ground Beetle -- Caterpillars, Cabbage Maggot, Colorado Potato Beetle Larvae, Cutworms, Slugs, Snails; Attracted by Clover.

Honeybee -- Pollinator

Hover Fly (Syrphid Fly) -- Aphids

Ichneumon Wasp -- Beetle larvae, Caterpillars, Sawfly,

Lacewing -- Aphids, Corn Earworms, Mites, Thrips

Lady Beetle -- Aphids

Minute Pirate Bug -- Leafhopper nymphs, Spider mites, Thrips

Predatory Mite -- European Red Mites, Spider Mites

Praying Mantis -- Also predates beneficials

Rove Beetle -- Aphids, Cabbage Maggot, Flies, Mites, Springtails

Soldier Beetle -- Aphids, Beetle larvae, Caterpillars, Corn Rootworm, Cucumber Beetle, Grasshopper eggs ; Attracted by Goldenrod, Milkweed, Hydrangea

Spined Soldier Bug -- Caterpillars, Sawfly larvae

Tachinid Fly -- Caterpillars

Tiger Beetle -- General predator

Yellowjacket -- Flies, caterpillars