Eggplants, Tomato Hornworms and Companion Planting
01. We finished harvesting our garlic and have all of it hanging from various rafters across the farm to cure. All of the varieties did well, but the Georgian Fire--a variety known for its pungency and heat--really excelled.
Even more exciting than the garlic itself was the seaweed we used to mulch it. We’ve struggled all season to find the right materials to mulch our walkways. Straw, for instance, is too expensive and hay brings in too many weed seeds. The seaweed we used to mulch our garlic beds, however, was free and still actively suppressing weeds almost a year after we put it down. Maybe we’ll have to organize a caravan of friends with pickup trucks to harvest a bunch from the south shore.
A variety of birds have begun to take up residence on the farm, including a few Northern Bobwhite Quail, some red-tailed hawks and flocks of starlings and sparrows. They’re all a welcome addition to the farm ecosystem and will hopefully help us keep our pest populations in check. Unfortunately, they’ve also been doing their best to eat all of the cover crop seed we sow.
The other day we found the farm’s first tomato hornworm of the season enjoying a shisito pepper. It wasn’t the largest tomato hornworm out there, but for many on the crew it was their first time seeing this dreaded pest wreak havoc on our tomato plants. I fear we are embarking on another showdown between the tomato hornworm and the able crew of Beetlebung Farm.
—Robin Hackett, Farm Manager
02. Early in the season, our eggplants were ravished by potato beetles. Apparently, potato beetles do not stick to potatoes but instead enjoy all varieties of nightshade In caring for the eggplants I’ve pruned them of dead leaves and, gleefully, smushed any pesky potato beetles. While our farm crew initially feared that these pests would stress out our crop and dramatically affect yields, the eggplant was resilient.
Most of the beetles I came across were mature adults, capable of leaving beetle eggs on the leafy undersides of the plant. While pruning, I took my time and checked each leaf for beetle larvae. Every so often, I would find a cluster of larvae to squish with the strength of my phalanges. Our farm crew has the pesky potato beetle mostly under control thanks to our collective efforts. But as the old saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens.
Just the other day, Beatrice found the farm’s first tomato hornworm of the season enjoying a shisito pepper. It wasn’t the largest tomato hornworm, but for many here at the farm, it was the first time ever seeing this dreaded pest wreak havoc on our precious tomato plants! I fear we are embarking on another showdown between the tomato hornworm and the able crew of Beetlebung Farm.
Searching for a way to holistically rid or deter hornworms and potato beetles, research pointed towards densely intercropping the tomatoes with herbs such as dill and basil. Articles cite marigolds as an additional plant to include in your intercropping as both pests don’t like those either. Currently at Beetlebung Farm, we plant marigolds, a pollinator, at the head of our beds. But, applying the already practiced logic of ‘intercropping,’ perhaps we should also be thinking about what might deter the pests that already exist by considering future ‘companion planting’ of catnip, tansy or sage?
I couldn’t help but draw the connection between ‘companion planting’ and the regenerative practice of intercropping. Essentially, my research to rid our garden of pests illuminated the value and necessity of ensuring ecological diversity best accomplished by using polyculture practices such as intercropping and companion planting. Simply put, ecological diversity will help our farm thrive.
And of course, with the concept of companion planting and intercropping on my mind, my thoughts wander to the current conversations happening across our society and the world. When you start to cultivate plants and vegetables using regenerative practices you better understand just how resilient natural diversity makes an ecological system. Nature has been leading by example all along; there is strength in diversity.
—Alex O’Brien, Farm Crew