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Was at HDRA Ryton yesterday for a meeting with organic growers and learnt something very interesting about companion planting....
After a lot of experimenting and trials, it was found that carrots, parsnips and parsley were the best companion plants for brassicas (in terms of deterring and confusing cabbage root fly and other insect pests). They sowed the companion seed into the module with the brassica seed (at the same time) and planted them out together. The companion plant is not harvestable.
In the past they have looked at clover, birds foot trefoil (a perennial weed/wildflower, also known as lady's fingers) and other plants. Clover was found to be too vigorous which is interesting as i had already bought some clover seed to undersow my brassicas this year (had seen early trial results presented a year or so ago).
I will still undersow some of my brassicas with clover to see what happens, but i have also added some carrot seed to my brassica modules! I will keep you all informed of how it goes.
After a lot of experimenting and trials, it was found that carrots, parsnips and parsley were the best companion plants for brassicas (in terms of deterring and confusing cabbage root fly and other insect pests). They sowed the companion seed into the module with the brassica seed (at the same time) and planted them out together. The companion plant is not harvestable.
In the past they have looked at clover, birds foot trefoil (a perennial weed/wildflower, also known as lady's fingers) and other plants. Clover was found to be too vigorous which is interesting as i had already bought some clover seed to undersow my brassicas this year (had seen early trial results presented a year or so ago).
I will still undersow some of my brassicas with clover to see what happens, but i have also added some carrot seed to my brassica modules! I will keep you all informed of how it goes.
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