Deterring Pests
Many herbs have a strong aroma and taste, which is what makes them so desirable to us. These same strong aromas can be used to repel unwanted insects. Aphids love new growth on many types of vegetable plants. To deter them, plant chives, cilantro, basil, fennel or a mint. Plant French marigolds all around your garden including tomato plants. The most fragrant marigolds are best for deterring Mexican bean beetles, nematodes and tomato hornworms. Basil planted around tomatoes is good for controlling the tomato hornworm also. Rue deters Japanese beetles, but grow with care: some people get a rash from it. Another Japanese beetle deterrent is garlic. Plant rosemary around beans to cut down on the Mexican bean beetle. Nasturtiums are said to repel squash bugs. Thyme interspersed with cabbage deters the cabbage worm. If you have trouble with flea beetle damage, try catnip to control them.
Attracting Beneficial Insects
Attracting the right kind of insects to your garden can help control unwanted pests. Some herbs can provide food and shelter for beneficial insects. These beneficial insects have short mouth parts and therefore need plants that have groups of very small flowers. Dill, yarrow and coriander attract parasitic wasps. These wasps parasitize (destroy) the eggs of the cucumber beetle. Braconid wasps lay their eggs on the back of tomato hornworms. As the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the hornworm to live and eat. If you see this in your garden, do not destroy the hornworm! It will provide many beneficial wasps for your garden. I was fortunate enough to see this spectacle last year in my garden! Another two of the best beneficial insects are soldier beetles and tachinid flies, which lay eggs inside adult cucumber beetles. Grow herbs to attract beneficial insects near your vegetables for best results.
Trap Crops
Planting a "trap crop" attracts insects to the trap crop instead of the vegetable you want to harvest and eat. Planting nasturtium flowers around cucumbers attract not only aphids, but also cucumber beetles. Another aphid trapping plants is feverfew. Plant this around roses for control. Dill can be used as a trap crop for tomato hornworms.
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