Calendula Companion On Your Onion Bed

[bazzaboy]

They do get covered in blackfly and cabbage white caterpillars though

Yes, bigtime, so I'm a bit lost if there's a suggestion of using nasturtiums (of which I'm very fond) as a companion plant?

But I have heard of them being used as decoys outside the netted brassicas and then regularly debugged... Problem with that theory is if you didn't have them at all you wouldn't need to do the debugging!

[Two_Sheds]

I'm a bit lost if there's a suggestion of using nasturtiums (of which I'm very fond) as a companion plant?

I'm not sure what's confused you?

Nasturtiums are used as a sacrificial plant amongst broad & runner beans, and brassicas (because they attract those pests away from your crops). Once the nasturtium is really infested, chuck it in the compost heap and bury those pests along with it

[VirginVegGrower]

I'm not sure what's confused you?

Nasturtiums are used as a sacrificial plant amongst broad & runner beans, and brassicas (because they attract those pests away from your crops). Once the nasturtium is really infested, chuck it in the compost heap and bury those pests along with it

That's what I thought of them as and can't you pickle the flower buds too as a caper substitute?
I rather fancy this but haven't yet.
I figured I would plant mine in pots which I can place strategically without losing valuable growing space. That will work won't it?

[Shadylane]

I would think so, but I just planted them in between rows so didn't feel like I was wasting any growing space. The ones I grew were trailing variety and spread like a carpet between the broadies - didn't have any caterpillars but the black fly was pretty bad. It didn't stop the black fly invading the broadies and runners either - I swore I wouldn't grow them again...until the ladybirds came on mass. The little darlings saved the day. Deffo doing them again.

[Two_Sheds]

can't you pickle the flower buds too as a caper substitute?

Nah, it's the seed Nasturtium Capers - Capers Made from Nasturtium Seeds

[TonyF]

I grow capucine and marigolds of all types and plant them round my beds, like an edge, probably about 200 marigolds and 100 capucines (can't remember the Engliosh name, rats) and they really do me well and I use them on all my beds, not just onions. Well worth the investment every year and I save the seeds to sow the following year.

[Two_Sheds]

100 capucines (can't remember the Engliosh name...)

Nasturtium non?

[VirginVegGrower]

Nah, it's the seed Nasturtium Capers - Capers Made from Nasturtium Seeds

Thanks TS - something else for me to pickle this year!