I plant herbs and flowers around my containers, partly because it looks nice and partly because it seems to confuse some pests. Basil, marigolds and alyssum have worked well for me. It is not a magic shield, but a mixed container area seems healthier than one lonely pepper plant sitting by itself.
What is the best way to keep container vegetables from getting eaten by pests?
#container garden#deck garden#home gardening#pests#vegetables
I grow herbs, peppers and eggplants on a deck, but something always chews the leaves. I thought containers would have fewer pest problems, but apparently not.
AI Summary
People discuss pest control for container vegetables, including row cover, inspection routines, companion planting and hand-picking pests.
Answers & Discussion
For eggplants, row cover helped more than anything else. I used to think it looked silly on a deck, but it stopped the worst chewing. I remove it when flowers need pollination or hand-pollinate if needed. It is not beautiful, but neither are skeletonized leaves.
Containers help with some problems, but insects still find your plants. I check the undersides of leaves every couple of days, especially after warm humid weather. Catching pests early is the key. Once they explode, it is much harder to fix without getting frustrated.
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