- Ants: Spearmint, tansy, and pennyroyal. Mint often
attracts whiteflies, so you may want to grow a few
marigolds for control, but not so many as to possibly
impair the taste of the mint, and certainly not one of
the more poisonous marigolds. This is another area for
compromise. A few insects are probably less of a
problem than mint with a strange taste. - Nematodes and root pests: Mexican marigold (Tagetes
minuta) “eliminates all kinds of destructive
eelworms ... wire worms, millipedes and various root-
eating pests from its vicinity.” The French marigold
(Tagetes patula) eliminates some “plant-destroying
nematodes ... at up to a range of three feet ... The
beneficial ... eelworms which do not feed on healthy
roots were not affected.”^8 - Aphids: Yellow nasturtiums are a decoy for black
aphids. They may be planted at the base of tomatoes
for this purpose. Remove the plants and aphids before
the insects begin to produce young with wings.
Spearmint, stinging nettle, southernwood, and garlic
help repel aphids. - Tomato worms: Borage reportedly helps repel tomato
worms and/or serves as a decoy. Its blue flowers also
attract bees.
Gophers—Elderberry cuttings placed in gopher holes and
runs reportedly repel these animals. Da5odils, castor
beans, and gopher plant (Euphorbia lathyrus) are all
poisonous to gophers. Be careful with the latter two,