May 1, 2014

May Day. Could there be a better day to consider growing flowers in your vegetable garden? 

My husband used to chide me for growing flowers in the vegetable garden. Generally, you can’t eat them, though I usually have several edible flowers growing as edgings. He saw them as frivolous and taking up vegetable production ground. Now he concedes they deserve some garden real estate.

Growing flowers in the vegetable garden attracts beneficial insects which are the foot soldiers in the pest wars. Establishing insectaries in your vegetable garden can lessen insect damage and the need for chemical or “organic” controls, improve pollination and crop yields.

Here are links to articles that explore the topic in greater depth. They include lists of plants that attract beneficial insects and bees.

Organic Pest Control: The Best Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects and Bees (Mother Earth News)  Best plant list.

Growing Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects (GrowVeg.com)

Attract Beneficial Insects with Flower Borders (Organic Gardening)

And if you have flowers, share a bouquet with someone today. It’s May Day after all.