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Organic Gardening

Can I use plants to keep insects out out of my greenhouse?

The Jungle Explorer

8 years ago

This is my first year to try organic vegetable gardening in a greenhouse (GH). It has not been a complete disaster, but it has hardly been what I would call successful. There have been many problems, but just when I thought I was getting it all figured out, here come the ants, the aphids and then blister beetles. Totally wiped out my squash and melons and hurt my tomatoes, okra, peppers and greens. I tried blasting the aphids off with water, but they just cam back thicker. Neem oil worked but the aphids would come right back in force in a couple days.

Anyway, there is one plant that has weathered everything totally unscathed; a sweet basil plant. It has flourished beyond all believabilty. It is about 4 feet tall. We have collected so many leaves off it that we have about a gallon of dehydrated powder. No bug has ever touched it.

It is obvious that insects do not like basil. My question is, since bugs don't like it and won't touch it, can it be used to control bugs in my GH. On a hot day when I walk into my GH (40 feet by 20 feet) I can smell the basil. I was wondering if I planted enough of the basil throughout my GH, if it would act like sort of a natural deterrent to insects? Of course there may be other plants that can do this as well.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

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Comments (3)

kimmq
8 years ago
Companion planting has been practiced by gardeners for a very long time and was practiced by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. However, an understanding of the life cycle of insect pests, and why some are attracted to plants, would also be of some help. Along with companion planting is having soil that is good and healthy, something that grows strong and healthy plants that are less susceptible to insect pests.

About companion planting, https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=72

Aphid control, http://ucipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html

kimmq is kimmsr
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
Jungle, you've just been lucky with the basil. Just going by my memory, here is a list of pests known to cause problems for basil plants: aphids, whitefly, four-lined plant bug, leaf miners, leaf hoppers, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, and thrips!

Interestingly, I don't think a week goes by in the Herb Forum without a plea for help with basil pests.

I don't know of any plant that repels pest insects from the garden. I will suggest that you investigate Surround, a kaolin clay product that when sprayed on stems, foliage, fruits, and veggies prevent many chewing and sucking pests from doing damage. I've had great luck with it in my garden; it's recommended for greenhouse use, too.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
To help discourage aphids in a greenhouse ensure that it is kept well ventilated and breezy. They love still air as they are weak flyers.

I don't know where you live but it seems odd to be growing some of those things under glass, in the summer, especially the greens, unless you live somewhere with a cool climate, like N Europe. If plants got heat stressed they would be more susceptible to pests whereas Basil loves heat.

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