Tomatoes with Basil; or, Companion Planting with Herbs

I’m going to plant basil alongside my tomatoes this year. Basil is supposed to repel the tomato horn worm, and also improve the taste of the tomato berries. I also want to see if it will discourage deer from snacking on the leaves, with the basil growing right beside them. I know that deer do not like strong-smelling plants.

“Plant corn, beans and squash together” according to this one article:

“Corn grows tall, trying to steal as much sun as possible and taking out a lot of nitrogen from the soil. Beans grow up the stalks of the corn looking for the sun too, but putting nitrogen back into the soil.

Planting squash at the same time does well on the conditions and grows and spreads on the ground growing and harvested long after the harvest of the beans and the corn. Therefore, by inter-cropping, or companion planting, you have been able to grow 3 different vegetables in the same space as you would one…”
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/companion-planting.html

More links:

A List of Common Garden Vegetables, Their Companions & Their Antagonists
http://www.ehow.com/info_8493242_list-garden-vegetables-companions-antagonists.html

Vegetable Garden Companion Planting List
http://www.ehow.com/list_7592199_vegetable-garden-companion-planting-list.html

How to Use Herbs as Companion Plants in the Garden
http://herbgardens.about.com/od/herbalgardendesign/f/How-To-Use-Herbs-As-Companion-Plants-In-The-Garden.htm

Here is a list of garden pests and the herbs that repel them:

Pest – Ant  |  Repellent Herbs- Peppermint, Spearmint, Tansy, Wormwood

Pest- Aphid  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Chives, Fennel, Garlic, Marigold

Pest- Asparagus Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Basil, Parsley

Pest- Cabbage Looper  |  Repellent Herbs- Dill, Eucalytpus, Hyssop, Thyme

Pest- Carrot Fly  |  Repellent Herbs- Rosemary, Sage, Wormwood

Pest-Colorado Potato Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Tansy

Pest- Cucumber Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Marigold, Rue

Pest- Flea Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Peppermint, Spearmint, Rue, Tansy, Wormwood

Pest- Japanese Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Chives, Garlic, Tansy

Pest- Mexican Bean Beetle  |  Repellent Herbs- Marigold, Rosemary

Pest- Slugs and Snails  |  Repellent Herbs- Fennel, Garlic, Rosemary

Pest- Spider mite  |  Repellent Herbs- Coriander

Pest-  Squash bug  |  Repellent Herbs- Catnip, Nasturtium, Peppermint, Spearmint,

Pest- Tomato Hornworm  |  Repellent Herbs- Dill, Borage, Opal Basil

Pest- Whitefly  |  Repellent Herbs- Nasturtium, Peppermint, Thyme, Wormwood

Make an insecticide spray using herbs
Because of their strong odors and often obvious freedom from insect attack, aromatic herbs have long been used as insecticides and repellents. For example, a homemade spray of water, thyme and sage leaves deters the cabbage moth.

The old stand-by of hot peppers, garlic cloves, sage, thyme and rosemary added to 5 cups of brewed green tea and infused for 24 hours, strained out and added to a sprayer will repel a variety of chewing and munching pests.

Hand picking of certain insects helps to keep the population down. An old jar with a lid filled with garlic cloves and apple cider vinegar makes a handy container for disposing of Japanese Beetles and grasshoppers. Once the jar is full and the insects are dead, pour the contents around the outer edge of the herb garden. The dead insects serve as a warning – “keep out- not a nice place to visit.”

–Azul