Keeping it real!

Hello everyone, I have just started using this site and think it fantastic for us novice gardeners. One of my projects for my garden is to develop a natural vegetable patch. Can anyone suggest some natural pest control, I have seen alot of marigolds so obviously these are used alot, any other suggestions? Are there any particular vegetables that need to be grown under a brassica? thanks again Sash

 

Hi sash, I posted the results of my mini companion planting experiment:
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000395

If I was you I'd net your brassicas with butterfly netting, otherwise they'll be eaten alive.

I netted my carrots with old net curtains and had no probs with carrot fly!

 

I'll keep that in mind for when I start planting, I can see its going to be a case of trial and error!

 

Here's a good site:
http://www.digmyplot.co.uk/comp.html

and a good book about companion planting-
Bob Flowerdew Complete Guide to Companion Planting
I tend to use a lot of companion plants and some netting. I'm always in favour of belt and britches approaches!
One strange result- I grew mainly sugarsnap peas which did not suffer from one maggot, and a few ordinary peas alongside, which were attacked by maggots at the end of the season.

 

hi sash,try sprinkling porrage oats around your brassicas to avoid slug damage,and i have found that liquid feeding with maxicrop plant growth stimulant on a weekly basis helps combat the effects of flee beatle on brassicas. hope this helps ang good luck!