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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Biscombe on April 10, 2007, 14:01:19

Title: nastursiams and caterpillars
Post by: Biscombe on April 10, 2007, 14:01:19
Thought I would share this with you I have a beautiful display of nastursiams (popped up of heir own accord from last year!) next to my cut and come again lettuce patch, the nastursiams are covered in caterpillars not one has ventured on to the lettuce!!Brilliant!! Every few days I collect the blighters and do a war dance on them!  I'm off now to sow some more next to my brassica patch!! The flowers are ovely in salads too.
Title: Re: nastursiams and caterpillars
Post by: Tee Gee on April 10, 2007, 14:11:43
Just a word of warning!! keep a look out for blackfly they love to congregate on narsturtiums!!
Title: Re: nastursiams and caterpillars
Post by: Biscombe on April 10, 2007, 14:16:25
Thanks for the tip Teegee x
Title: Re: nastursiams and caterpillars
Post by: emmy1978 on April 10, 2007, 14:52:39
This is more complicated than it sounds! I've a load of nasturtiums and marigolds coming up as potential companion plants and now worried that they attract as many mini beasts as they attract. Can see i'm going to have to be a bit careful..at least your lettuce are safe for now Biscombe!
Title: Re: nastursiams and caterpillars
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 10, 2007, 15:56:15
It's better to have caterpillars and aphids on flowers than veg, and the latter will encourage the tits to move in, which does a lot to reduce the overall aphid population.