| Plants That Say No Go Buddy – Not On My Shift! Predatory and Companion Plants The beauty and benefits of companion planting. Techniques to introduce different flowers, plants and herbs with an attitude that can support and improve soil conditions, increase fertility, offer shelter and attract and repel insects simultaneously. |
| Petunia |
| Petunias are a beneficial plant in the war against bugs! They will repel asparagus beetles, tomato hornworms, squash bugs, leafhoppers and aphids! There is no reason not to plant flowers and herbs and vegetables together especially given the properties that some plants can afford growers in natural protection. The secret to Petunia’s success primarily lies in her ability to trap the insects on her sticky stamens, who can’t get away and die. Eventually, they fall into the soil, and their deaths further enrich the nutrient soil levels. Bonus! Of course, the other thing is this, they serve to attract butterflies, another one of our pollinators, so there is a bonus even if she is a tad heavy stemmed with uninvited guests! Whilst butterflies are not as adept as our bees in the pollination process, they are stunningly beautiful to look upon, and every little bit helps in my book. Take into consideration that the petunia is a full sun requiring plant, and they can be a little boisterous when it comes to rooting spread, so best not to plant anything too timid in their neighbour space. Maybe consider having the petunias in a container beside the vegetables instead of in the same ground. In that position, they can offer protection to tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, brassicas, asparagus, sweetcorn, beans and peas. Another alternative might be to make a petunia insect repellent spray. Place the flower’s leaves into a bucket of water to settle and cook or stew for a week. Strain into a spray bottle and fill to just over the halfway mark, add water, shake and then add a few drops of a non-chemical washing liquid [for stickability] and away you go. |
| Hope you enjoyed this article and l’ll see you again soon. The Autistic Composter |
Earthly Comforts 
Petunia is such a funny word – “Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells, And one stinkin’ petunia right in the middle.” Well, that’s the way we recited it back in my day.
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Oh right, admittedly l never recited it that way 🙂
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Fractured nursery rhymes, like fractured fairy tales – “Hickory Dickery Dock, 3 mice ran up the clock, the clock struck one and other other two got away with minor injuries…”
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Ah right, yes l think Suze’s grandkids used to say things like that 🙂
The Hickory Clock l have heard before 🙂
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Childhood snark is universal and everlasting LOL
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Yes, very true 🙂
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Thanks Rory. I didn’t realize petunias were so beneficial.
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Hey Ruth, it’s all fascinating stuff 🙂
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Thanks Rory! Such helpful information! I’ve always liked petunia, but wasn’t aware of her usefulness. 😊
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Many of our plants are Betty, but l think that much of the information is not always readily available and people therefore don’t see everything 🙂
Many of our weeds here in the UK in example used to be old vegetables – Cow’s Parsley for instance is a forager’s delight now, but it used to be an old England vegetable.
Charlock was the same 🙂
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Oh, I wasn’t aware of that, Rory. I do remember reading about edible and medicinal plants being brought over here from England and Europe by early settlers. And, like dandelions for instance, some are now considered weeds. I don’t know what Charlock is. I’ll have to ask Prof. Google. 😊
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I will write about charlock soon enough 🙂
Dandelions are still seen as a hugely beneficial medicinal apothecary herb 🙂
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Yes! And they make great greens, too! Very nutritious. My Granny taught me to pick the leaves in the Spring when they are young and tender, before they blossom. And later on
Grandaddy made wine from the blossoms. I never got to taste it that I remember, but later on heard stories about the neighborhood boys sneaking into the smokehouse where it was brewing for samples. 😊
Yay! I’ll be looking forward to the charlock saga, Rory. 😊
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That’s the whole truth right there Betty – your granny knew her foliages 🙂
Pick the leaves, shoots and stem off / of certain plants before they get too mature 🙂
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As of today, our red mini petunias are still blooming, but the temperature is dropping tonight and I think that will be the end of their season. They have been blooming since last May. Not only do the bees love them, but the hummingbirds REALLY love them!
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Hey Marilyn wishing you a lovely Tuesday 🙂
Wow, hummers love them as well? But then that little bird is indeed little and moves like a bee l should imagine with the ability to hover.
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And the ONLY bird who can fly backward.
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Yes very true.
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I dint know why but this year our petunias didn’t do at all well, usually they are so reliable.
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Are they in a sunny spot Gary?
I know they are a bit of a sun worshipper, but also, have you tried mulching around them with a bit of booster fertiliser?
Failing that, when was the last time you trimmed them to maybe stimulate new growth?
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Very nice information Rory. More petunias from now.
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