| 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. |
| Nasturtium |
| When it comes to companion planting, consider these a go-to for pest predation. Nasturtiums, like marigolds, can be used as a ‘fodder’ crop and a lure. The pests that would feast upon the growing vegetable plants consume the nasturtium instead, and the beneficial insects attracted by the flowers eat upon the pest species!! It’s an actual win-win situation. But also, this flower has an additional insect barrier and repellant combined. It releases an airborne chemical, and if companion planting, its ‘force field’ protects all those around it – however, YAY, bees and Bumblebees are NOT repelled because of the flowers themselves. They can also be used in the kitchen as either part of the salad bowl or as a garnish for other ingredients. I used to add both nasturtiums and marigolds to my summer salads for consumption and aesthetics. Taste-wise, they are a little peppery and hot. Planting nasturtium alongside French, broad and runner beans will keep the aphids off the crop. Radishes do well when sown near nasturtiums also, and it is rumoured to enrich the flavours. The following crops will do well with this flower planted near them also; tomatoes, cucumbers, melon, squash, spinach, courgettes and brassicas. I grow so few vegetables these days, but l still grow nasturtiums because of the beautiful blooms and the fact that they bring so many bees and butterflies to the garden. This gorgeous flower has well over 40 varieties and can be trained to climb walls and trellis, fences and looks excellent in the borders as much as it does trailings from baskets or pots. |
| Hope you enjoyed this article and l’ll see you again soon. The Autistic Composter |
Earthly Comforts 
I may have to look for to add to my spring/summer collection of plants outside. 🙂
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Hey Jay-lyn, they do make for a great addition just as standalones 🙂
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I like nasturtiums but not their scent. But I love the Dee drops collecting on their leaves. I didn’t know they were edible.
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Hey Sadje 🙂
What is it about the scent that you dislike. They smell at times like mustard or in the least quite peppery.
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I feel they smell bitter.
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So quite pungent, got you.
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Yes, exactly
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Umm! Vibrant, beautiful and tasty Nasturtiums! 😊
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We always had a helluva time with aphids and white flies! We used companion plants, soapy water… we even bought ladybugs to turn loose in the garden. Sometimes my ex would just run his fingers along stems to pull the aphids off… I think it was a Zen thing for him.
Anything that attracts the pollinators is a good thing. I love bees 🐝 and Flutterbys 🦋
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White fly and aphids are a real problem at times. I was still seeing white fly until recently, not bothered by the cold, whereas the mozzies are nowhere to be seen currently here.
Yes ladybirds are great but you need as many of them to tackle the aggressors and that’s not always possible.
But hey ho aphids are part and parcel of the food chain for other predators 🙂
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