companion plants

[Kathy Reinertsen]

I would like to ask if anyone has any experience on companion planting with
native nectar and host plants for butterflies, or know where any information
is.  If so, please send it to me and to the list.
Especially for the South and Southwest region. I have done a search on the
web but didn't find a lot of information for the South/Southwest. Most of
the information is on vegetable gardens in Britain and the
cooler states in the U.S.  I have more questions than when I started.
        Why do plants do better in the company of other plants?
                Excretes something from its roots?
                    direct or indirect effect?
                Deep roots draws up trace elements for shallow roots?
                They don't compete with each other?
                 Offers shade , protection?
        Repel - attract insects?
            would using plants to repel or attract insects ( good or bad)
help or hinder your "balanced" organic garden?
        Why do some plants inhibit other plants growth?
        Are some plants one sided companions?
        How to use this information to increase plant and garden performance
and production?

Companion Planting - Pest Control for Milkweed

To continue my research on companion planting, I have reviewed many
resources on planting plants that will repel insects for single crops,
especially Milkweed.  I have not tried this myself, but would like any
feedback from anyone that has tried it or anyone that is willing to try this
season.  As far as I know, no in depth research has been done on mixing
repellent plants into a concentrated planting of Milkweed to
reduce the use of insecticides.
Plants that repel insects by odor or releasing chemicals through their roots
are Onion and Garlic
( Alliums ssp).  Nettles ( Urtica spp.) and Yarrow ( Achillea spp.). Alliums
are great because they repel insect peats, are a great nectar source, and
are easy to find and grow.  They add nutrients and
fungicides to the soil, and you can eat most of them. Urticas are host /
nectar plants that repel aphids and add seven different nutrients to the
soil, including nitrogen.
Achilleas repel and add nutrients.  They also attract predatory wasps and
ladybugs.
I have used plants with citronella compounds and had very little success.
Plants that are poisonous to insects are also poisonous to humans and
livestock. I would not recommend using them.
Scented Marigolds are a good pest deterrent and so keep the soil free of bad
nematodes.  The downside is Marigolds attract spider mites and like fennel,
marigolds will have a herbicidal effect on Milkweed.
The Mint family ( Labiatae spp.) deters some moths, ants, rodents and
aphids.  It attracts hover flies, predatory wasps and earthworms.  The
downside is they are invasive perennials and don't do well for inter
planting.
This  E mail is just suggestions.  These plants may work differently in
different regions.  What works for some may not work for others. I think
experimenting is the only way we are going to learn companion planting for
butterflies.

Ed Reinertsen
bfly4u at swbell.net
1617 Wisteria Way
Richardson, Texas  75080
Phone/Fax  972-680-0023





Anne Kilmer wrote:

> My compost-heap/nettle patch (in Ireland) has just been mowed, and is
> therefore, for the moment, amenable to a spot of gardening. I was
> thinking I'd like to put in some sort of flowering host or nectar plant
> that might hold its own among the nettles, enjoy the rich soil, and not
> mind too much if the neighbor who mangles my garden in my absence
> scythes it again next winter.
> I was thinking I might buy some year-old hollyhocks and tuck them in ...
> they'd be tall and strong enough to take care of themselves.
> If there were a native perennial or low-growing shrub that would enjoy
> this sunny spot, and the company of nettles, of course I'd prefer that.
> Whatever it is, once planted, it will get no help from me. Ow.
> Your thoughts?
> Anne Kilmer
> Mayo, Ireland
>
>
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