Thanks to lots of rain over the last few days things are continuing to grow and ripen quickly here in our garden. Although I think it's also partly due to an acquired bit of veg growing wisdom that I picked up from various books and blogs – the practice of companion planting sacrificial plants.
I've been growning nasturtiums and borage both of which are incredibly easy and cheap to grow from seed and are self replenishing as they set seed very well and so you have a free crop for next year. These are both now crawling with blackfly, aphids and caterpillars while my tomatoes, beans and raspberries are completely bug free and growing delicious crops.
There's another benefit too as there's a little ecosystem developing with ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies all swooping in to feed on the blackfly banquet. It feels good not to be spraying chemicals all over the garden and instead trusting in nature to keep my crops safe from mini-munchers and I love showing Amy the interaction between all the insects. We especially like ladybirds and can trace the entire lifecycle of the 7 spot under our very noses…
…from larvae…
…to pupae…
…to adult…
If you're growing any fruit or veg yourself then I'd definitely recommend planting some sacraficial companion plants alongside them – there's a good list here.
little cotton rabbits 
What an informative post! I think it’s amazing how different the larva are to the final adult beetle. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy eating all your delicious produce too!
Pen x
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Wow Julie that is fascinating! Great to watch the lifecycle of the ladybird right under your nose and also great to let nature take it’s course!
There’s something very cute about those caterpillars, though!! 🙂
Vivienne x
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Enjoy the fruits of your (and the insect) labour!
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I love the ladybird photos and will have to show the boys…great companion planting 🙂
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Wow, what a fantastic idea Julie! If I ever have a garden I’ll remember that little tip. Thank you for your birthday wishes, Wicked was AMAZING!.xxx
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Brilliant post – I’ve learnt something new today and loved the ladybird pics. Happy munching to all! x
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I’d never heard of this! What a smart idea.
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Great post! I have been wondering what those funny bugs are on our squash plant leaves, good to know they are harmless ladybird pupae! My little one is loving the ladybirds too! Thanks for the good ideas for companion planting. :0)
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love the ladybird pics too i used to collect larvae with my daughter when she was younger and we would keep a couple in a jar and she used to love to watch them come out as adults its amazing how many people dont know ladybirds have a larvae stage
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This is a concept I’ve never run into before. I’m not a gardener, as I have said (much to my sorrow). Now, I’m thinking of the metaphor that might be behind it. I believe that the earth teaches us so many fundamental things about the purpose and meaning of our lives. And this—this is a more complex idea than I have run into for a long time.
We call them ladybugs here in the US. At least, in the northern US. I think my Grandmother, from the south, did call them ladybirds. I have always loved them and my mom taught me the little rhyme children learn so they will remember not to harm them.
What a great blessing that you can sit with your kids and watch the complex beauty of life unfold together. Julie, these kids will be thanking you till their last days on earth (and ninety some odd years of thanking is a lot of it).
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Thanks for the link to the list – I will keep that as a good reference. I planted nastursiums with my cucumbers, got back from my holiday and they had been totally eaten, but the cucumbers doing fine! have also planted lots of sunflowers with the tomatoes on the allotment. Love borage, but it is sooo scratchy!! The bees don’t seem to mind.
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thanks for that, have to do it next year!!
x
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What great advice! Have been harvesting our first years effort from our little patch but it has only inspired me to grow more. Will certainly be raking your advice as picking the bugs off has been such a bore this year! Enjoy the rest of your summer. Jess xx
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What a great way to do it Julie! And the ladybird info is fascinating – I haven’t seen the stages like that before. Lucy x
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I grew nasturtiums this year for salads and hadn’t realised to companion planting bonus until you just pointed it out ! Our nasturtiums had loads of black fly on them so I pulled off those leaves and the chickens had then – the lettuce, tomatoes etc haven’t been touched. Isn’t nature fab 🙂
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My husband studies permaculture and is full of interesting little tricks like this. You and he really should get together and chat. You’ll be there for days! So wonderful to see warm weather. I’m pretty sure it’s going to snow here before the day is through.
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Love your ladybird pictures. my kids have become rather fond of them too, unfortunately too fond at times and some have meet an early end!
Hope you are enjoying your summer, could do with more sun!
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Thanks for that link. I knew about nasturtiums and marigiolds but have now discovered that I have unwittingly planted the right companion plants around my pots of veg this year! Now if only I could find a cure for the mildew attacking my courgettes…
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This will be my strategy for next year! Am off to look for something that will deter furrier pests – my patch is being raided on a daily basis.
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I didn’t realise that companion planting was so effective, and I’ll be adopting the same approach next year. Slugs, snails and aphids have had the best of my beans this year – looking forward to a better crop next year!
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Hi Julie,
What fascinating photos. Up here in the north i am soo far behind you. I don`t know what is the matter with my patty pans cos the flowers come out beautifully then fall off!! No tomatoes forming either!! Hey ho!
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxx
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Hello Julie….loved the ladybird photos! We’re moving this year so didn’t do a big veg. patch, and I think the bugs thought it beneath their dignity to visit! Hooray! Our potatoes are delicious…better than last year…but – like Carole – our tomatoes are far and few! Thanks for the great list…certainly will plant up companions next year!
Love to you all.. Jennixxx
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Thanks for the tip. Have heard about companion planting but never tried it. Will definitely be giving it a go with my next crops.
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That is so interesting! I will definitely keep note of this for when I have my own garden! I love clever things like that that allow to reduce the use of chemicals – always a good thing!
Hope the end of the holiday has been going well for you and the children
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Oh Peggy Sue … lucky you!!! (I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!)
I’m not sure if I’m in the right place to put a comment that says Please Please keep me on the list for the lottery.
I just love your blog Julie. It is so informative and interesting. I look forward to your new posts every day.
I’ve been knitting some of your cupcakes lately … I did some for my two little grandchildren, and Marlon, the 3 year old, took some to the playgroup he goes to. It’s run at their local Steiner school (Marlon will go from play group, to kindy, then to big school there) and his teacher asked my daughter if I could please knit some for the school. They just loved them! Because everything has to be natural, I used organic cotton and they are stuffed with Merino wool tops.
I hope all is well with you and your family and maybe … just maybe … my number will come up one day!
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