This topic has been brought up frequently. I always plants various herbs around my peppers to repel pests. I must not have been paying attention to how much slugs like basil before this year. I mean, they really like it. I also noticed that the peppers I have that are planted by volunteer cilantro and catnip are bar-none the healthiest. That's just a coincidence, but I like the results (from this small sample size)...
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Companion observation
- Thread starter ako1974
- Start date
My holy trinity of pepper companion plants are basil, marigold, and nasturtium. However... a VERY close 4th, is spearmint.
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I cannot grow cilantro here in the summer, and catnip only grows in the shade. Unfortunately, where there is catnip, there tends to be... cats.
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I have no urge to attract that sort of pest. I already struggle with the neighbor's little nuisances in the front yard.
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Nevertheless, that's good info...
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I cannot grow cilantro here in the summer, and catnip only grows in the shade. Unfortunately, where there is catnip, there tends to be... cats.
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I have no urge to attract that sort of pest. I already struggle with the neighbor's little nuisances in the front yard.
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Nevertheless, that's good info...
Really? I have a huge patch of catnip in my backyard and I frequently see cats in my front yard but I've never once seen one anywhere near the catnip patch in the back.solid7 said:
But if I cut off a few branches, rough up the leaves, and leave it in the front they'll roll all over it. I just assumed they didn't really care about the plants unless they were broken up and the oil was released.
Doelman said:
You may be right... but let's just put it this way - the little bastards are already burying treasure in the front, under my neatly raked bed of pine bark fines, under my bamboo. I have zero desire to do anything that will attract them near my raised beds in the back. The minute I see footprints in my last bit of personal space, the outcome will be a can of tuna, a live trap, and animal control. Which will result in unnecessary (or necessary) tension with the neighbors.
Not tempting fate.
I have volunteer catnip every year. I had it grow like mad no matter how hot it is outside as long as its been watered. Bees love it. Aphids seem to hate it.
bongcloud said:
Companion planting IS wonderful. I actually start it while my peppers are still in Solo cups. I put the nasturtium, spearmint, and marigold in the same cup, once I'm sure that they won't overtake the pepper, before I can put it out in full sun.
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Basil, on the other hand, goes to seed so easily, that I don't bother doing anything but sowing the seed into the beds or containers, after plant out.
I love planting nasturtium, but again, I had my every-other-year bad results. It's weird, every other year I can't germinate either new or harvested seed. I've had great trouble and great success with Nasturtium and parsley.
I'm pretty sure catnip offends everything but cats. But I've never seen a cat in my yard come particularly over for it. One cat hunts, but I've never seen come get drunk on catnip.
I'm pretty sure catnip offends everything but cats. But I've never seen a cat in my yard come particularly over for it. One cat hunts, but I've never seen come get drunk on catnip.
I used to have a outside cat that was my full time garden guard cat. He kept Mr Squirrel away and did a damn fine job of it too. I never saw him mess with the catnip unless i removed leaves and gave it to him. My inside cats were pretty much the same. They didnt mess with it when i let them outside and even inside they pretty much ignored it unless i bruised some leaves for them.
