Search results
- Alfalfa. While it is actually a part of the legume family, alfalfa is commonly referred to as an herb for its nutty, slight sweetness, and mild green flavor.
- Amaranth. Grown specifically for its seeds that cook similarly to quinoa, amaranth can be a monster in the garden! Be sure to choose a variety that is small and only grows to be 1 to 2 feet tall because many varieties average 8 feet tall!
- Basil. Who doesn’t love fresh basil? But did you know that it is more than just a delicious herb? Basil is just as loved by insects as it is by humans for its sweet essential oils.
- Blue Hubbard Squash. A true sacrificial plant, blue hubbard squash plants will grow edible squash but also be a magnet for the destructive beetles that ruin squash crops regularly.
- What Is Trap cropping?
- Benefits of Trap Crops
- Tips For Successful Trap Crops
Trap cropping is a valuable companion planting technique to protect your prized crops.A trap crop, or sacrificial crop, is a plant that attracts garden pests, usually insects, away from your nearby crop. It acts as a decoy, drawing the pest away from the plants and saving your crop...Trap crops can also be used to attract natural enemies or predator insects to the garden. As these beneficial insects come for the pollen on these plants, they also find the pest insects they are f...Reduces the use of pesticides. Relying on insecticides would cause insecticide resistance long term in the insect population.It is very economical and has potential health benefits for consumers of your vegetables.Preserves wildlife and is safe for pets, pollinators, and other beneficial insects.Improves the quality and yield of the crops.1. Identify the pestsin your garden. 2. Select a goodtrap cropthat is more attractive to the pest than the main crop. 3. Monitoryour plants regularly to prevent the insect population from getting out of hand. 4. Keep your trap crop healthy to continueto lure pests away from your crops. Attend to its needs in terms of light, water, and fertilizer. 5...
- Nasturtium. This is a great decoy plant you can try. It attracts leafhoppers, cabbage worms, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, flea beetles, and other pests.
- Lovage. Lovage is fantastic at drawing tomato hornworm, celery worm, tarnished plant bug, and away from plants like potatoes, tomatoes, and even some fruit crops.
- Chervil. Pests that will flock to chervil include aphids, carrot rust fly larvae, and slugs. Moreover, the great thing about this trap crop is that beneficial insects like bees and hoverflies are also attracted to the plant, making it a great choice for controlling pest populations in the garden.
- Dill. The pests that dill attracts are quite varied. Some of these pests that like dill include spider mites, parsley worms, aphids, and tomato hornworms.
People also ask
How do trap crops protect your vegetable garden?
What are trap crops?
Should you plant trap crops in your garden?
Are trap crops good for organic garden pest control?
Jun 25, 2022 · Just as mosquito-repellent plants deter these bugs from feeding on us, trap plants attract pests to snack on them, or attract their predators who will eat them up. Here's everything you need to know about trap crops, according to the experts.
- Radishes. Radishes are one trap crop that I would highly recommend. They are simple to cultivate, grow very quickly, and can easily be placed between other slower-growing plants.
- Nasturtiums. Nasturtiums are another extremely useful companion plant for a range of reasons. Though nasturtiums can run rampant if left to do so in some areas, they can often be a good choice for a vegetable garden.
- Mustard. I use mustard primarily as green manure. But it can also be useful as a trap crop. I sometimes leave a few mustard plants in place as a trap crop for many common brassica pests, as a barrier between the main entrance to my polytunnel and main Brassica crops, sometimes even allowing one or two plants to self-seed, which they tend to do prolifically.
- Sunflowers. Sunflowers are another useful flowering companion plant for the vegetable garden. Sunflowers are another trap crop that is attractive to aphids and other sap-suckers.
May 14, 2024 · What is a Trap Crop? Basically, a trap crop consists of sacrificial plants that draw the harmful bugs away from the plants you want to keep bug-free. They act as a decoy, so you won’t be tempted to use chemical pesticides.
Try experimenting to determine whether your trap crop works better interspersed throughout your main crop, or planted as a border. Using trap crops is an under-utilized and effective way to control pests in the garden. If you’ve had success with specific trap crops, we’d love to hear from you.
