You finally have that garden time you've longed for, but those pests are proving more troublesome than expected. Don't reach for the insecticide, says gardening expert Anne McIntyre - reach for the herbs instead.
McIntyre, author of The Complete Woman's Herbal (Gaia, 1994), says some herbs are natural insecticides and should be made an integral part of any garden. If you are growing beans, lettuce, potatoes or tomatoes, plant marigold nearby, because it deters harmful butterflies, slugs and potato eelworm.
Nasturtiums are ideal for guarding peas and tomatoes, she says, while garlic does a neat job of warding off the slugs and flies that can bug peas, carrots, tomatoes and strawberries. Also of value in the average garden are peppermint, thyme, chives, lavender, rosemary, dill and sage.
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