Companion planting

[redser]

Hi - I'm growing French marigolds and Nasturtiums for the polytunnel. But thinking about it, is there a possibility they could make matters worse by attracting things like slugs and black fly in that otherwise wouldn't come in?
Thanks!

[Sarico]

i want to know the answer as well... some website say to plant them close tomatoes. pepper.etc.. so they can attract them black fly and leave my veggie alone.. but some other say to plant far away from the veg otherwise blackfly will move on the veggie...this is my dilemma

[CaroltheCarrot]

Hi, my tuppenceworth, I have always planted marigolds in beside my toms and have never had problems with flies of any colour,or slugs either. A row of marigolds down the tunnel border or one plant in beside a tom if growing them in pots.Hope that helps

[Sarico]

i'm growing tomato in flower bucket... if i put one marigold in it will obset my tommy lol....

[Peas'n'Kews]

we always pop a few marigolds in with the toms, which are in (or will be!) in tubs. And again, no flies of any colour!

We also put the copper tape stuff around the top of the pots to stop slugs and snails....

[redser]

Thanks all, looks promising so far. Any negative comments?

[Nes]

I think the idea with nasturtiums is to get a load of the cabbage butterflies to lay their eggs on them instead of just on your brassicas. You then pull up and get rid of the nasturtiums along with their munchers, leaving your cabbages, etc. with fewer caterpillars than there would otherwise have been. Just make sure you really do get rid of the nasturtiums when they're caterpillar infested, or you're just providing more food for the pests, and making the problem worse for next season!!

[redser]

Yeah see that's thing Being new to this it doesnt seem like a bullet proof great idea. But hell, gotto learn, seeds are sown so I'll plant them and see. Thanks a lot

[Bigmallly]

This may help.......

5 Reasons Why You Should Grow Nasturtiums Near Vegetables | iGrowVeg

[Thelma Sanders]

I always do marigold in the greenhouse to stop greenfly - but not nasturtiums, they go on the allotment

[CaroltheCarrot]

Most nasturtiums go to the plot but I keep a few at home for the tortoise

[taff]

I dont grownaything with the toms in the greenhouse, or did in the tunnel. I do put them round the toms outside though, not for the flies, but because I can do with more flowers
I never really had a problemwith pests in the tunnel apart from rats and mice.

[Two_Sheds]

I think the idea with nasturtiums is to get a load of the cabbage butterflies to lay their eggs on them... then pull up and get rid of the nasturtiums along with their munchers

Yep, they're great as a sacrificial plant. They attract the blackfly from your beans, and the cabbage whites too

[Florence Fennel]

I too use marigolds in the tomato tubs and nasturtiums in the ground. I'm also trying borage in amongst the brassicas to deter white fly. We'll see.

[Sarico]

I think the idea with nasturtiums is to get a load of the cabbage butterflies to lay their eggs on them instead of just on your brassicas. You then pull up and get rid of the nasturtiums along with their munchers, leaving your cabbages, etc. with fewer caterpillars than there would otherwise have been. Just make sure you really do get rid of the nasturtiums when they're caterpillar infested, or you're just providing more food for the pests, and making the problem worse for next season!!

how close is ok to plant them?... i have a kind of small pergola were i will put the tomatoes underneath and on the post i will put the nasturtium ... is that too close?