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Re: Nasturtium planting

We use nasturtiums to attract aphids (and cabbage whites referred to here
as cabbage worms). We get these things anyway and they seem to prefer the
nasturtiums to the other plants so we have a constant cycle of planting and
pulling nasturtiums. We plant some seeds, wait two weeks, plant more seed,
wait two weeks, etc. Then when a plant is covered with aphids we pull the
whole thing and put it in the trash. We transplant very young seedlings --
only 1 maybe two leaves. Last year this was the only plant that the aphids
attacked -- oh and one basil plant that was touching and infested
nasturtium -- beans and tomatoes were only two feet away.

>Hi all,
>
>This thread on nasturtiums has bothered me a little bit.
>
>I really like nasturtiums - they're colourful, easy to grow, and as a
>kid I loved sucking the nectar out of the flower (still do, even though
>I'm 26).
>
>But, I don't grow them, because I believe they attract cabbage white
>butterflies. I have enough trouble with the cabbage whites in my
>brassicas without attracting any more. Is the cabbage white not a
>problem in the US, or is a myth (although I have seen cabbage whites
>hovering over the nasturtiums)?
>
>Tony
>--
>Tony Lupton                      *           Email: t.lupton@citr.com.au
>CiTR Pty Ltd                  *    *         Phone: +61 7 3259 2382
>339 Coronation Drive              *          Fax  : +61 7 3259 2259
>Milton Qld 4064
>Australia                       *


Natalie McNair-Huff
Happily Gardening in Tacoma, WA Sunset zone 5; USDA Zone 7/8
Publisher/Editor Mac Net Journal http://www.blol.com/web_mnj/
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