How things have changed over the years when it comes to gardening - I often think how did folk deal with all the pests that can invade the veggie garden.
Well for one thing, life was slower and much physical labour was involved - it was a way of life for families if they wanted to eat.
Crops were watched carefully as they grew and pests were hand picked off the plants as soon as they were noticed.
Today, chemical sprays are used by those that do not practice organic gardening, but years ago, folk would interplant different plants with their veggies so as to deter pests.
This brings me to a post that I did some time ago about how I mix up my plants and plant them close together.
Some people may not agree with this, but back in the day, it was done all the time.
Pests are attracted to certain scents and by mixing up plants such as herbs, flowers, onions with your veggies, the pests are confused by the different scents from the herbs etc., and will to a large extent, leave your precious veggies alone.
Also, the fact that your planting is crowded, makes this method even more successful.
There are some farmers here in the Cape that have changed over to organic methods and they will tell you that after a few years, their yields increased - and the pest invasions decreased and the balance is now healthy the way nature intended it to be.
A very interesting theory, must be tried. Thank you!
My pleasure -thanks for stopping by.
My pleasure too!
Good to hear Lizzie, about how you coped in the past. We can learn from your experience. The Cape is a fine place to grow up, let's get the rain there to keep the agricultural lifestyle growing.
Yes our dams are looking good thank heavens
I was also taught to garden through mixing up plants and companion planting. Though it's interesting sometimes now when I share garden space with folks. They think my plants are messy and I try to explain it's better for them this way! Hah!
Messy is good - I like a garden to be full of colour like a fruit salad.
Yeah, I think the chemicals maybe more effective in the short term, but we are storing up a lot of trouble in the future!
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Indeed -not good for the soil long term and also our health
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Mess with the bugs heads, yes my Dad planted in this manner one row this, the next something else in the vegetable garden, plenty of variety very little need for poisons, but then he grew up on a farm when poisons were not available.
When we moved from the Highveld to the coast an Indian gentleman who had farmed down here told me of how they planted certain herbs on borders to confuse bugs, if I remember correctly one was the Thyme bush. Not having money to afford pesticides they also mixed certain plants and herbs by crushing them, laying that in water for a week before going out and spraying the cabbages and leafy veg that attracted some unwanted nibblers.
Lovely lesson to remind folk there are other ways of controlling pests rather than poisoning the food you are preparing for the table @lizziesworld
Your dad had the right idea - I like the advice from the indian gentleman - well worth giving that a try.
There's a lot of wisdom in ways of the past. This is a good example. Using nature instead of abusing nature.
It would be wonderful if we could all adapt some of the old methods.
Thanks for stopping by
I could not agree more. But it goes beyond scents... also colors, textures, ...
Two years ago, I got interested in companion planting. I'm far from an expert yet, but I've seen the results in my small garden. It's a bit of a shame to see my borage, calendula flowers and nasturtiums covered in aphids, but by planting them all over the garden those creepy little suckers leave my other crops alone.
This year, I'm experimenting with tobacco plants. I sowed some because I had read they are like trap plants for pests like whiteflies (still using basil to keep those away from my tomato plants too). Meanwhile, I've learned tobacco plants are a great indicator plant for a lot of annoying things.
Most people are using companion planting even without knowing they do so. The most common example is to grow butterfly- or bee attracting flowers so your tomato or cucumber flowers get pollinated.
The list is endless... garlic to keep away slugs, sowing onions and carrots together to disorientate the carrotfly (or is it the onionfly?), marigolds to keep the soil healthy, parsely to improve the taste of tomatoes and strawberries,...
I find it all very interesting. But at the start of a season, it always feels like my garden is like a puzzle with too many pieces, lol.
My herb spiral looks sad and empty, because all my herbs end up in between my veggies.
I'm planning to learn more about it in the future, because when companion planting is done right, crop rotation becomes of lesser importance. If you can find the good combinations that will enrich your soil with the right element there's no need to make the puzzle even more complicated by moving around your crops every year.
Like I said, I still have a lot to learn, (also, I forget about a lot of good combinations and have to start my puzzle at the beginning of every season again), but it is already paying off...
It's how nature works...in nature, you don't find one kind of crop on one field... everything grows together, and not without a reason.
Loved your comments - I must look into the tobacco plant.
I grow a lot of veggies in containers and one can really see what is working.
You also mentioned trap plants - I will be doing a post on that soon.
Love that red pointy form of the flower its tropical wish we had that here
Thanks for stopping by
I wish I witnessed how they planted back then. Here it is also the same chemicals and pesticide sprays for mass production of crops. I guess best way to know that your food is free from chemicals is planting your own food.
Yes indeed - and if you have the space, grow for your friends too