Manage pests the natural way and enhance yields with these beneficial plant pairings.
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From gherkins to slicers,cucumbersare among the most widely planted garden crops.
Cucumbers are relatively easy to grow but can be plagued by a variety of insect and disease pests.
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We can encourage natural pest management in our gardens by thoughtfully pairing cucumbers with beneficial companion plants.
This can be in the form of increased pollination, pest management, or enhanced soil health.
Companion plantingis an age-old practice, and many strategies have been handed down from generation to generation.
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However, it is only recently that science-based studies have investigated the effectiveness of these strategies.
Some have proven successful, while others dont stand up to rigorous testing.
The companion plants described below represent those that have stood up to scientific testing.
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Other traditional bean companions, such as petunias orgarlic, may yet be proven effective in future studies.
The plants are monoecious, meaning they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
Other important cucumber pollinators include native bee species, syrphid flies (a.k.a.
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hover or flower flies), and soldier beetles (which are also good predators).
Parasitoids important to cucumbers include a tachinid fly and braconid wasp that parasitize striped cucumber beetles.
Managing cucumber beetles is important because they transmit plant diseases as well as causing feeding damage.
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Other common pests of cucumbers include aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, pickleworms, and melonworms.
Borage
Borage is a gorgeous plant, with showy blue blooms and crinkled, gray-green leaves.
They also attract predatory insects and are known to add trace minerals to the soil.
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Syrphid flies are also known to pollinate cucumber blossoms, providing an extra benefit.
Plant as a groundcover beneath the cucumber trellis where plants will benefit from partial shade.
Cilantro
Cilantro prefers cooler weather and tends to bolt or set flowers when temperatures rise.
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This is perfect for companion planting, as it is those umbrella-shaped flowerheads that we want.
Trap crops are most effective against pests that are commonly destructive and difficult to control through other means.
Tansy
Tansy produces rambling, ferny foliage and golden yellow button-like blooms.
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Tansy is invasive in many areas and plants should be deadheaded to prevent seed production.
Nasturtium
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Nasturtiums provide an abundance of pest management services in the vegetable garden.
Nasturtiums have long been planted among squash and cucumbers to manage pests.
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Soils enriched by bean plants provide an ideal growing environment for cucumbers and other heavy feeders.
Any efforts to manage cucumber beetles will have the added benefit of reducing viral diseases transmitted by these insects.
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