This document discusses companion planting, which involves planting certain plants close together because they help each other by providing pest control, pollination, improved growth, and attracting beneficial insects. Some examples of companion plants mentioned include borage, which repels tomato worms when planted with tomatoes; garlic, which repels many common pests; and marigolds, which repel pests and encourage growth of plants nearby. The document provides a long list of plant companions and the benefits they provide to other plants.

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TOOL
COMPANION PLANTING
KIT in your school yard
If you are considering an herb or vegetable garden, then consider
companion planting as part of your project. ‘Companions’ are planted close
together in the garden because they help each other out. This help may
be in the form of pest control, pollination, improving growth and flavour,
crop productivity and attracting beneficial insects. Companion planting also
increases the biodiversity of your garden.
Amaranth
Tropical annual, hosts ground beetles that keep
Borage
Plant with tomatoes, strawberries, or in fruit
other pests down. Good for growing with corn. orchards to repel tomato worms. Adds
Anise
calcium, potassium and other minerals to the
soil. Great for attracting honey bees and
hundreds of other beneficial insects. May
Attracts predatory wasps which prey on aphids
benefit nearby plants by increasing their
and may repel aphids. Improves growth of any
resistance to pests and disease. Will self-seed.
plants growing nearby.
Basil Caraway
If you have hard, compacted soil plant caraway
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Repels flying insects (like flies and mosquitoes)
to help loosen it up. It attracts beneficial Companion Planting:
if planted between tomato plants.
insects. http://www.
Also helpful with tomato hornworms and lowchensaustralia.
asparagus beetles.
Castor bean plant com/pests/plants.htm
Sustainable
Bay leaves Repels mosquitoes. Gardening Australia:
http://www.
Place fresh leaves in a container of beans or
grains to repel weevils and moths. Lay leaves
around your school yard to reduce
Catnip
Use around eggplant to repel flea beetles,
sgaonline.org.au/
ladybug invasion. aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants,
Beans
weevils, mosquitoes and mice.
Beans and peas enrich soil by adding nitrogen,
a great natural fertiliser.
Celery
Use near cauliflower, tomatoes, leek, and
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Beet
cabbage. Will repel white cabbage flies.
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Beet leaves contain magnesium. Mix them into
your soil to improve plant growth. Plant with
Chervil
Will improve growth and flavour of radishes.
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lettuce and onions.
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2. school #6
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TOOL
COMPANION PLANTING
KIT in your school yard
Chives Marigold
to any homemade insecticide spray. Garlic
cloves, placed in the ground around
plants will deter slugs. Garlic is a natural
Repels many fruit tree and tomato pests. Plant near tomatoes, potatoes,
pesticide against mosquito larvae. Plant
Increases growth and flavour of carrots. strawberries, beans, and roses to
under peach trees to control leaf curl and
Citriodora
encourage growth. Repels many insects
near roses to enhance scent.
like Mexican bean beetles and harmful
Repels mosquitoes. Geranium nematodes.
Citronella grass Repels cabbage worms and Japanese
beetles. Plant around grapes, roses, corn,
Mustard
Known as a trap crop to attract many
Plant in pots to repel mosquitoes. and cabbage. Spray house and garden
insect pests. Plant near cabbage,
plants with geranium oil diluted in distilled
Clover water to discourage problem insects.
cauliflower, radish, Brussels sprouts,
collards, turnips and kohlrabi.
Many types, each has qualities that benefit
different soil conditions. A good cover Horseradish
Plant around potatoes to encourage
Nasturtium
crop to improve soil. Attracts beneficial
Repels aphids, ants, cucumber beetles,
insects. growth. May deter Colorado potato
squash bugs, white flies and borers near
beetles and blister beetles.
Coriander
Plant near all vegetables to repel aphids, Hyssop
fruit trees. Cucumber and squash in
particular will benefit. Acts as trap crop
for aphids. Repels borers near fruit trees.
slugs, snails, spider mites and attract bees. Will deter cabbage moths if planted near
cabbage and grapes. May improve growth
Dill for these plants.
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Plant around cabbage. Will improve
growth and flowers. Attracts bees. Leek
Use near carrots, celery and onions.
Companion Planting:
Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars will eat http://www.
Will improve plant growth and repel
dill. Do not plant near carrots. lowchensaustralia.
carrot flies. com/pests/plants.htm
Elderberry
A general insecticide. Leaves encourage Lemon balm Sustainable
Gardening Australia:
compost fermentation. Sprinkle around squash plants to deter http://www.
squash bugs. Rub the leaves on your sgaonline.org.au/
Fennel
Controls aphids, slugs, snails, spider
skin to repel mosquitoes. Plant it
near beehives and orchards to attract
pollinating bees.
mites and mosquitoes. Attracts beneficial
insects but can inhibit growth of many
plants so plant away from your garden. Lemongrass (citronella)
A good mosquito repellent.
Garlic Lemon thyme
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Repels ants, aphids, flea beetles, TOOL KIT RESOURCES AT:
mosquitoes, ticks, onion flies, weevils, Plant in pots to repel mosquitoes. www.nqdrytropics.com.au/schools
borers, Japanese beetles and spider mites.
Roses benefit from garlic since it repels
aphids. Crushed garlic is a good addition
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3. school #6
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TOOL
COMPANION PLANTING
KIT in your school yard
Onion
oil or spraying oil along shelves and to deter aphids. Scatter fresh or dried
entryways. Grow near roses to deter leaves around food to deter mice.
Summer savoury
aphids. Scatter fresh or dried leaves
Repels cabbage moths, aphids, weevils,
around food to deter mice.
carrot flies, moles and mosquitoes.
Controls rust flies and some nematodes.
Protects tomatoes from red spiders. May
alter growth of peas and beans. Plant
Petunia Will improve growth of green beans and
deter bean beetles.
Thai lemon grass
Pretty flowering plant that is also
near beets, tomato, lettuce, strawberry, beneficial in controlling asparagus beetle,
cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. leafhoppers, certain aphids, tomato worms
(Cymbopogon citratus)
Oregano
and Mexican bean beetles.
Effective mosquito repellent.
Plant near broccoli. Repels cabbage
butterflies.
Pyrethrum
Repels most insects like aphids,
Thyme
Repels cabbage worms, flea beetles and
Papaya
leafhoppers, spider mites, ticks and
cabbage worms. cabbage maggots.
Deters stem borers in corn.
Radish Tomato
Parsley
Repels carrot flies, rose and asparagus
Plant around cucumbers to deter
cucumber beetles.
Protects roses from black spot if
planted nearby.
beetles. Plant near asparagus, carrots,
tomatoes and roses. Rosemary
Peanuts
Repels cabbage moths, beetles,
mosquitoes and slugs. Plant near beans, REFERENCES
carrots and cabbage.
Encourages the growth of corn
and squash.
Rue Companion Planting:
http://www.
Peas
If planted near corn, will provide extra
Deters Japanese beetles. Plants near
roses and raspberries but away from your
lowchensaustralia.
com/pests/plants.htm
vegetable garden as most plants Sustainable
nitrogen. Gardening Australia:
dislike Rue.
http://www.
Pennyroyal
Deters ants, aphids, fleas, mosquitoes,
Sage sgaonline.org.au/
Good companion plant for broccoli,
ticks, gnats, flies, chiggers and cabbage
cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage and
maggots. Brussels sprouts, broccoli and
carrots. Deters cabbage moth, beetles,
cabbage will benefit from pennyroyal.
carrot flies and ticks. Do not plant next to
Peppermint cucumbers.
(and other Mentha species)
Repels ants, aphids, cabbage loopers,
Soybeans
Plant near corn. Adds nitrogen to the soil.
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cabbage grubs, flies, cucumber beetles, Repels chinch bugs and Japanese beetles. www.nqdrytropics.com.au/schools
flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies
and mites. Ants dislike peppermint and
you can prevent them from entering by Spearmint
Deters ants and aphids. Grow near roses
scenting cotton balls with peppermint
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