On May 3, 2023
Home and Garden

Creating a biodiverse vegetable garden with flowers and herbs

By Nadie VanZandt

When planning this year’s vegetable garden, consider companion planting with flowers and herbs. It’s a rewarding way to attract pollinators, manage pests and promote biodiversity in your garden. The practice will improve your soil’s health and the quality of your harvest. As an added benefit, you might enjoy gathering bouquets of fresh-cut flowers throughout the growing season. In addition, flowers, which have more abundant and colorful blooms than vegetables, will attract more pollinators and beneficial insects to your vegetable plants. 

While some flowers and herbs repel insect pests, others attract them and may serve as trap crops to divert these pests away from your vegetables. Flowers and herbs also can act as a natural weed barrier to fill empty spaces. By knowing their beneficial characteristics, you can strategically place companion plants where they are most useful in your garden to see if they repel pests.

 Consider using a variety of flowers and herbs to entice pollinators early and throughout the growing season. Good choices for early spring pollination are sweet peas, pansies and other cool-season flowers.

 After the danger of frost has passed, many easy-to-grow annuals can be direct sowed outdoors. Simple choices include zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, calendulas and nasturtiums.

 After clearing faded spring crops, sow the seeds directly into the ground following the depth and spacing recommendation on the seed packet. Alternatively, planting nursery seedlings is a good idea to achieve faster bloom time.  

Zinnias are known to attract predatory insects and may deter tomato worms and cucumber beetles. Cosmos attract many beneficial predatory insects such as lacewings, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies and hoverflies that feed on insect pests. Some zinnias and cosmos can grow tall, so choose varieties that don’t cast shadows where sunshine is needed. 

 Although not proven, there is some scientific evidence that marigolds are helpful at controlling nematodes. The French marigold (Tagetes patula) may offer protection against several types of nematodes. Its scent also may deter rabbits, so for this reason some experts suggest planting marigolds around the perimeter of your vegetable plot.

 Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an excellent companion plant. While the flowers will invite aphids and whiteflies, they mostly attract beneficial predatory insects. There is anecdotal evidence that they repel tomato worms and nematodes. You can plant them near your tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, beans and asparagus.

 Nasturtiums make a colorful ground cover that deters weeds and are a magnet for aphids. They are best planted away from vegetables targeted by aphids such as cabbage and green beans to draw the pests away from these crops. Nasturtiums are edible with delicate blossoms that can brighten up salads or cold drinks.

 As for herbs, bees and butterflies love mint, oregano and thyme. Parsley, dill and coriander attract beneficial insects, and chervil may deter slugs from leafy greens. 

Borage draws both pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden. Consider planting mint and borage in pots to control their aggressive growth habit, or plant them where you have plenty of space.

 To keep plants blooming throughout the season, harvest some herbs and flowers and leave the rest for pollinators. Be sure to deadhead annuals to encourage more blooms.

 As a word of caution, before you select a trap crop, consider the risk of attracting a particular insect pest that was not a problem in the past to your garden.

 There is no magic formula for choosing flowers to mingle with your vegetables. The main goal is to build a healthy, biodiverse garden.

 Experiment, try other combinations and enjoy the charming cottage-style garden that you create.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Caring for amaryllis during the holidays and beyond 

November 27, 2024
By Andrea Knepper, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Amaryllis bulbs and blooms make popular and appreciated holiday gifts. Gifted in full bloom to brighten the winter months or lovingly tended to bloom after the new year, amaryllis add vibrant color and joy to the dreary season. Amaryllis are commonly available during the winter holidays…

December marks the start of bird-feeding season

November 27, 2024
Winter is the perfect time to observe and learn about Vermont’s bird species. “Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents and winter visitors,” said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s bird project leader. Bird feeding tips: The right mix: Black oil sunflower seeds are popular, but…

Thinking spring this fall

October 30, 2024
By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Fall foliage color has peaked, and leaves are falling. Temperatures are dropping, and it’s time to put the garden to bed. It is also a perfect opportunity to prepare for spring. What you do this fall can provide significant benefits when the garden wakes up…

Fall Insect Pests

October 23, 2024
By Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont     When the weather turns cold, four common insect invaders may appear uninvited in your home. None of them breed in the house or cause any damage to humans, pets, food items, or structures. These nuisance pests are looking for a warm, protected place to overwinter…