Companion Planting and the Green Thumb - University of Tennessee
1. June 2010 UT Extension—Greene County
Volume 2, Issue 4
“The Greene Thumb”
Special points of
interest:
• Companion
Planting
• Daylily Booster
• Nasturtiums in
the Garden
• Weed Eating Companion Planting...
Geese
Companion planting assists gardeners in their quest to avoid the use of
• Grass Clipping chemicals to control pests and disease in their gardens. Due to natural
Mulch
substances in their leaves, flowers and roots certain plants can repel and
• Caterpillars discourage harmful pests. These same substances help attract beneficial
and White bugs and insects to your garden. Use these plants as borders, back-
Oaks drops, even inter-plant them in your garden as a natural way to keep
• Scouting Your plants and flowers pest free.
Garden
• Natural Also, with the exception of fennel, most herbs planted in or near
Insecticide vegetables will have a beneficial effect. Try planting herbs at the
Remedy corners of beds to ward off flies and various insects and to attract bees.
Basil Marigold
Basil is an excellent companion The marigold flower is considered
plant for tomatoes and is said to one of the best pest deterrent plants
help improve the growth and flavor for a garden. The French marigold
of the fruit. Plant basil with peppers, exudes a substance from its roots
Harvest cabbage heads asparagus, petunias and oregano. that is said to kill nearby nema-
when they are large, solid Basil will repel such pests as thrips, todes. Plant close to tomatoes to
and firm to the touch, flies and mosquitoes. It also wards repel white flies. Mexican marigolds
usually about 2 to 3 off spider mites, aphids and white are the most powerful insect repel-
months after planting, flies. Bees are attracted to basil ling flower and keeps Mexican bee-
depending on the variety.
which allows for better pollination tles, tomato hornworms and rabbits
results in your garden. Keep basil away from your plants. Plant mari-
away from sage and rue. golds freely about your garden near
potatoes, tomatoes and roses.
Keep them away from beans and
members of the cabbage family.
(Continued on Page 2)
2. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 2
Companion Planting continued...
Mint Nasturtium Radish
Tomato plants and members Considered to be a gardeners The workhorse of the garden,
of the cabbage family gain dream, nasturtium are small, radish plants, are good
health benefits from having easy to grow flowers that companions too many plants
mint as a companion plant. make excellent companion including broccoli, lettuce,
Mint deters ants, fleas, plants for cucumbers, beans, melons, spinach, corn, beets,
aphids and white cabbage squash and members of the beans, carrots, parsnips,
moths. It attracts hover flies cabbage family. They fend peas, cucumber and all
which eat aphids and other off woolly aphids, white flies, members of the squash
pests that will damage your squash bugs, cucumber family. Radishes protect
tomatoes. Mint attracts earth- beetles and pests belonging squash plants from borers;
worms and is said to drive to the cucurbit family. they deter cucumber beetles
away mice. Fruit growers often plant and rust flies. They lure
nasturtiums around their fruit leafminers from your spinach
trees; the strong odor of the plants. Let radish plants go to
nasturtium keeps bugs away seed around corn and they
from the trees. They have no will help stop corn borers.
known enemy and can be
planted around trees and
almost anywhere in the
garden. Keep nasturtiums
away from your cauliflower
plants.
Do not plant radishes near cabbage,
cauliflower, hyssop, turnips and
Brussels sprouts.
See Page 5 for Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables
3. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 3
DAYLILY BOOSTER:
• 1 teaspoon Epsom salt Molasses are a natural bio-stimulant containing
• 1 ounce Sorghum Molasses sulfur, potash and many trace minerals needed
• 1 tablespoon Baking Soda by plants. These minerals will be absorbed
• 1 gallon Water through the foliage when used as a foliar dip
or spray. Baking Soda will help control fungal
Before planting newly acquired or divided disease.
Daylilies wash roots and submerge entire plant in
this simple bare root recovery booster. Use the
mixture to water plant when planting, poured over
the crown. Daylilies can be given this booster
again when bloom scapes appear, to intensify
bloom and foliage color.
Caterpillars Devouring White Oaks...
Over the last few days we have had numerous calls about caterpillars
devouring the foliage in white oaks. Many of these trees are quite large,
major defoliation has already occurred, and it would be difficult to treat
with an insecticide spray. We have not received any samples yet but
they appear to be the common oak moth and a type of inchworm,
possibly a geometrid in the genus Phigalia or maybe fall cankerworms .
Defoliation of infested trees is occurring and people are understandably
concerned. Fortunately, when healthy trees become defoliated, the trees will quickly put out a new
flush of foliage. A repeat defoliation from this pest should not occur since most of these caterpillars
only have one generation per year.
Keep an Eye on Your Garden...
It is now that time of year when folks begin seeing leaf spots (many plants) and wilting (tomatoes and cucumbers). It is
almost impossible to diagnose any plant problem without seeing the plant. Fungus, mold, bacteria, virus, or borers can
cause spots. Many are hard to distinguish with the naked eye. A healthy plant will fight off problems and a plant under
stress will attract disease and pests. The common initial problem is improper watering and fertilization. Many vegetables
require ‘consistent’ not ‘constant’ watering practices. Several disease and virus problems are attributable to being
transmitted by thrips and aphids. Any vegetable plant that shows signs of stress (spots or wilting) will not fruit as well as
it should. You need to correct the problems immediately. When. If you start seeing leaf spots, you will need to do the
following:
• Get it properly diagnosed.
• Once plants are established water once a week and deeply. Water only if
soil is dry.
• Water the soil not the plant. Only water the plant if you are using a fertilizer
that can be applied as a foliar feed.
• Check your plants regularly, at least every 3 or 4 days. Remove diseased
leaves immediately. If the entire plant is affected, remove it before it infects
other plants.
4. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 4
Nasturtium Salad:
Nasturtium flowers, leaves and green seeds are delicious in salads, vinegars, pickles
and flavored oils.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups nasturtium blossoms - 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup of violet leaves - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 clove garlic - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped chervil leaves - 3 tablespoons olive oil
Trim stems off blossoms and wash these and violet leaves under cool running water. Drain on paper
towels. Rub inside of a wooden salad bowl with garlic clove. Put blossoms in bowl, add violet leaves,
chervil, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon juice and oil. Toss gently and serve.
Weed Eating Geese!
Geese are voracious grass eaters dining on such invasive species
as Bermuda grass, crabgrass, johnson grass and adversely will eat
puncture vine. They have to be controlled so they won't destroy
desirable vegetation. Geese are being used more and more for
alternative weed control by tree nurseries, organic farms and fruit
orchards.
All geese will weed to a certain extent. The best choice: A white Chinese weeding goose. The
Chinese specifically bred this goose to be a weeder over 2,000 years ago. Imagine that! A goose at
6-7 months of age will eat consume an amount of grass equal to their weight everyday! One goose
is adequate to weed an urban garden. For larger areas with an abundance of weedy grasses you
would require 3 to 5 geese to get things under control. If you have a pond or waterway on your
property your geese will appreciate a swim and they will keep the water free from grasses!
Grass Clipping Mulch...
Excellent for garden and flower beds. Be sure to spread out the clippings letting them dry thoroughly
before applying. Good for keeping soil from splashing onto the plants and causing diseases. Will
also build nitrogen in the soil. Holds soil moisture quite well. Use at a depth of 3 inches.
Flowering of chicory is a signal to be on the
watch for the moth of squash vine borers. The
moth is active for about two weeks, during
which it lays its eggs on susceptible plants.
6. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 6
NATURAL INSECTICIDE...
Liquid soap is a If you need a stronger soap In a blender, combine
great alternative to formula, try this: approximately 1 cup of
toxic chemical for • 4 garlic cloves (segments) tomato leaves, 2 pints of
both indoor and finely chopped water, and 2 teaspoons. of
outdoor plants. • 1 small onion finely cornstarch. Strain and spray on
chopped your roses.
Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid • 1 tablespoon cayenne (red)
soap or dishwashing liquid pepper
with 1 quart water, and pour • 2 tablespoons liquid soap
into a spray bottle. Most • 1 quart water
indoor household plants
tolerate this natural pesticide Mix well and let set 1 hour.
well. Spray leaves, stem and Strain and pour into a spray Cabbageworms and spider
topsoil to deter insects from bottle or other container. mites can wreak havoc on your
coming back. Refrigerated, this natural garden plants. Try using 2
insecticide will last up to two tablespoons of sea salt added
Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies weeks. to a gallon of water, and spray
and mites are all affected by your plants with the mixture.
this soap remedy. Make sure If you grow tomatoes and
the dishwashing liquid is NOT roses, here's an easy remedy
the grease-cutting type! to keep pests away from your
roses.
Greeneville The Greeneville Farmer’s valerian, ice plant, red hot
Market has a lot of organic poker, stevia, crape myrtle,
Farmer's Market choices, but if you do not buy coral bells, eggs, jams,
“EAT FRESH. EAT LOCAL. BE HAPPY.” organic, at least you are buying canned vegetables, seasoned
Saturdays, 6:00 AM-1:00 PM local. You are supporting your vinegars, peach BBQ sauce,
Tuesdays, 2:00 - 6:00 PM community and it's economy. habanero jelly, herb rub for
Know your farmer. Know your pork, pita bread, sourdough
(or until sellout, through October)
grower. bread, sweet rolls, yarn,
alpaca yarn, and hooked rugs.
Located at the Greene County What has already been sold at
Fairgrounds, on Fairgrounds the market this season? MEMORIAL DAY AT THE
Road, just off Highway 11-E Salad greens, lettuce, red MARKET - Wear the colors of
(Andrew Johnson Highway). lettuce, kale, onions, spinach, this country, honor our war
All special events at the market asparagus, onion plants, heroes
are free and open to the public! pepper plants, tomato plants, and buy
herb plants, turnip spouts, fresh local food
herbs, raspberry and blackberry for the
bushes, hanging baskets, holiday.
7. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 7
Calendar of Events...
Sat., May 29 Sat.-Sun., July 3-4 Sat.-Mon., September 4-6
14th Annual Jonesborough Jonesborough Days Festival Archie Campbell Days
Garden Gala: Victory Gardens Jonesborough, TN Bulls Gap, TN
Revisited. Event and speaker Visitor’s Center (423)753-1010 (423) 235-5216
details on the Jonesborough
town web site. Fri.-Sun., July 23-25 Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Bele Chere Street Festival Fall Home Gardening Workshop
Sat.-Sun., May 29-30 Asheville, NC 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Greene County
Asheville Blue Ridge Rose belecherefestival.com Extension Office
Society Annual Exhibition at the Conference Room
NC Arboretum Fri.-Sun., July 23-25 $10.00 registration fee.
Wild Herb Weekend 2010
Friday Evenings NC Herb Association: Vale Crucis Fri.-Sun., October 1-3
May through September @ 7 PM Conference Center, Vale Crucis, National Storytelling Festival
Music on the Square NC Jonesborough, TN
Jonesborough, TN storytellingcenter.net
musiconthesquare.com Tues.-Sat., July 27-31 (423)753-2171
Cullowhee Conference: Native
Fri.-Sun., June 4-6 Plants in the Landscape. Western Sat.-Sun., October 9-10
Blue Plum Festival Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Cranberry Festival
Johnson City, TN Call 1-800-928-4968 Shady Valley, TN
blueplum.org johnsoncounty.tn.org
Thurs.-Sat., July 29-31 (423)727-7047
Saturday, June 12 Grainger County Tomato Festival
Dragonfly Day Rutledge, TN Sunday, October 17
Warrior’s Path State Park graingercountytomatofestival.com Chillin’ and Grillin’
Free, but pre-registration is Greeneville, TN
required. Contact Marty Silver Mon.-Sat., August 9-14 greenecountypartnership.com
at the Park. Greene County Fair (423) 638-4111
Greeneville, TN
Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27 Lanny Love (423)638-6320
Blooms Days Garden Festival http://www.greenecountyfair.com/
and Market-Place The University of TN and the
UT Gardens 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sat.-Sun, August 14-15
Big Spring Master Gardener
Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN Crockett Days Celebration
Davy Crockett Birthplace State Association will host the
Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27 Park, Limestone, TN 2011 Master Gardener
Family Farm Tour of the (423)257-2167 classes beginning January
Appalachian Sustainable
2011 at the Greene County
Agriculture Project (ASAP). Mon.-Sat., August 23-28
1:00 - 6:00 PM. Appalachian Fair, Gray, TN Extension Office.
www.asapconnections.org appalachianfair.com
8. June 2010 “The Greene Thumb” Page 8
Farm Produce Marketing Meeting Coming to Erwin
June 8th ~ 7:00 PM
This meeting will help farmers understand how to market their
produce and other agricultural good successfully, whether you are
selling at your farm or at a farmer’s market. Megan Bruch, Marketing
Specialist from the Center for Profitable Agriculture will be sharing
new ideas and secrets to selling your produce at the best price
possible.
The presenter is a very entertaining speaker and is a leading expert
on farmers’ markets and produce marketing. The title of the
presentation is “Making the Most of the Market”. The presentation
will help you reconsider how you sell your crop and you may see
new opportunities for bigger profits by making small changes. Megan
will help us understand how consumers think and how our displays
and container sizes effect sales.
It is exciting to have this kind of program offered so close to home.
The meeting will be held at Erwin Town Hall.
Visit http://greene.tennessee.edu for more details on these and other calendar events.
“Growing Great Gardeners in Greene County!”
The University of Tennessee Extension is an off-campus division of
the UT Institute of Agriculture. It is a statewide educational
organization, funded by federal, state and local governments, that
brings research-based information about agriculture, family and
Melody Rose,
consumer sciences, and resource development to the people of
Extension Agent Tennessee where they live and work.
UT Extension,
Greene County Because Extension emphasizes helping people improve their
204 North Cutler Street livelihood where they are located, most Tennesseans have contact
Suite 105 with UT Extension through their local county Extension agents
Greeneville, TN 37745 found in each of the 95 counties. Extension agents are supported by
area and state faculty as well as by the educational and research
Phone: (423) 798-1710
resources and activities of the United States Department of
Fax: (423) 798-1713
Agriculture (USDA), 74 land-grant universities, and 3,150 county
E-mail: mtrose@utk.edu units throughout the nation.
The stated mission of the system is to help people improve
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their lives through an educational process that uses scientific
http://greene.tennessee.edu/ knowledge to address issues and needs.
