How To Repel Aphids In The Garden: What Worked For Me
Updated: Sep 4
Grow Nasturtium This Year And Repel Aphids In The Garden!
Have you ever looked at your garden and seen movement? Little specks that are moving along your plant? They may be aphids, which can slowly destroy plants. I will share what I used to repel aphids in my garden.
Nasturtium is a great plant to grow with many benefits, including its ability to repel aphids. Continuing my "reasons to grow" series, this week I'll share why you should plant nasturtium this year, specifically to repel aphids.
Adding a pop of bright green leaves and bright-colored flowers will add great color to your garden. Flowers come in orange, yellow, white, pink & red. Not only will you add a pop of color to your space, but these flowers, leaves & stems are all edible! They have a peppery taste and go great in salads, stir-fries, or pesto.
How To Apply The Method
You may be wondering why nasturtium repels bugs. Producing a chemical to protect itself from bugs means that this plant will really help your garden, which helps repel aphids along with squash bugs, cabbage loopers, and more.
When it comes to planting nasturtium, you may consider companion planting or planting on the border of your garden. This year I'll be companion planting nasturtium alongside squash, zucchini, kale, radish & potatoes. I hope that I'll see much better results this year by planting nasturtium more strategically. Last year I planted a few nasturtiums along the border of my garden. Keep reading for tips on how to grow nasturtium.
Tips For Growing Nasturtium
First, you'll want to choose the type of nasturtium - tall single, trailing, etc. After you've selected your nasturtium, you'll need a little prep time before planting.
In order to plant nasturtium and have it successfully sprout, you need to sand the seeds slightly or carefully nick the seed. Either method works; you just need to break the skin of the seeds a little bit. This not only speeds up germination but can also help ensure the seeds will germinate.
A second tip for germinating nasturtium is to soak the seeds for at least 8 hours. Soaking the seed helps break down the seed's natural defenses and increases its chances of germinating.
My final tip is to start seeds indoors in the dark. Make sure you maintain constant moisture, and a warm environment (about 70 degrees), and don't forget about them!
Note that I've directly sown nasturtium with no prep work and had it germinate. I've also done prep work and not had seeds germinate, so the choice is yours! If you can get them to germinate, you will be on your way to having something to repel aphids in your garden.
What Results I Saw
This season I saw fewer aphids, in general, in my garden. I attribute this to the beautiful Nasturtiums that self-seeded from last year. The Nasturtiums grew so big all over my garden bed, which not only looked beautiful but was very effective.
Interested in more plants you can grow to reduce bugs (or repel aphids) in your garden? Check out all the posts in this series here.
Read the full series today:
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