Sasha CampbellYou may have heard the term “trap crop” before, but what exactly does it mean? A trap crop is a plant used to lure pests away from your garden [1].
These crops, also known as decoy crops or sacrificial plants, are used to help protect valuable plants from pest attacks.
There are many trap crops, and each has its unique benefits. In this article, we will highlight some examples and explain how to use them to protect your vegetable garden.
Examples of Trap Crops
Below is a list of sacrificial crops you can use on your organic farm.
Trap crops are often planted along garden borders, between rows, or a short distance away from the main crop.
1. Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a great decoy plant you can try. It attracts pests such as leafhoppers, cabbage worms, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and flea beetles.
When these pests gather on nasturtiums, they may cause less damage to nearby vegetables.
Beans, cucumbers, cabbage, squash, and many other vegetables benefit from nasturtiums planted along garden borders.
2. Fennel
Fennel attracts swallowtail caterpillars, aphids, and several insects that may otherwise feed on nearby crops.
It is also valued for attracting beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and ladybugs, which help control harmful pests naturally.
Plant fennel near vegetable gardens, but give it some space since it can inhibit the growth of certain plants.
3. Chervil
Pests that are likely to infest chervil include aphids, carrot rust fly larvae, and slugs.
You can plant chervil between rows of vulnerable plants like lettuce, broccoli, carrots, radishes, cabbage, and kale.
Chervil also attracts hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
4. Dill
The pests that dill attracts are varied. Some of these pests that like dill include parsley worms, aphids, and tomato hornworms.
Another beauty of this herb lies in its ability to attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewings. Plant it between rows of good companion plants.
5. French Marigold
You won’t go wrong with French marigolds. They are highly effective and practical trap crops.
Slugs, Japanese beetles, and many bugs love French marigolds.
Another perk is that French marigolds may help suppress certain root-knot nematodes in the soil. Plant them between the rows of crops or at the garden’s edges.
6. Radish
Plant radishes near your prized crops. They provide food for insects like aphids, cabbage maggots, cutworms, flea beetles, and harlequin bugs.
When planted near vulnerable vegetables, radishes can attract pests away from nearby crops.
Plant squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers with your radishes. They grow well together.
7. Blue Hubbard Squash
You also can’t go wrong with Blue Hubbard squash.
This squash works well as a trap crop. It attracts pests like cucumber beetles and squash bugs. Squash vine borers are also fond of this plant.
Gardeners often plant it a short distance away from the main crop so pests gather there instead.
8. Sunflowers
Sunflowers draw many pests. These include weevils, earwigs, snails, and cutworms.
Specifically, they may help reduce pest pressure on nearby vegetable crops when planted between rows or at garden borders. They also attract birds, which can help keep harmful insects under control.
9. Millet
Grasshoppers, midges, thrips, and other pests (including hairy caterpillars) generally attack millet plants.
Plant some millet near your vegetable plants. Many pests may gather on millet rather than on nearby vegetables.
10. Amaranth
Cucumber beetles, leaf miners, and beet webworms are known to attack amaranth.
Therefore, plant it near the crops these pests target, and they may gather on the amaranth rather than on nearby crops.
11. Sorghum
Pests like armyworms, corn earworms, white grubs, sugarcane borers, and corn aphids will target sorghum.
The trick is to keep it in a different part of the garden so pests won’t spread to your other plants.
12. Zinnias
Zinnias also help protect your vegetables by luring away harmful pests. In particular, zinnias attract aphids, thrips, beetles, caterpillars, spider mites, and scales.
By planting a few of these bright flowers around the garden beds and affected plant plots, you can help draw these pests away from nearby vegetables.
13. Mustard
Mustard attracts several pests, including diamondback moths, aphids, flea beetles, and grasshoppers.
You can plant mustard crops as part of a “decoy trap plant” strategy in your vegetable garden.
14. Eggplant
Eggplant is also particularly susceptible to attracting a wide variety of pests.
It is an attractive resting spot for hornworms, leaf-footed bugs, Colorado potato beetles, and stink bugs. Two-spotted spider mites and some beetle species also like eggplants.
Plant it next to crops with which it is compatible.
15. Geranium
Geraniums may attract some garden pests, which can help divert attention from nearby ornamental or vegetable plants.
You can plant them in and around your yard.
16. Okra
Okra is another ideal choice [2]. It’s great for attracting stink bugs, corn earworms, beetles, leaf-footed bugs, and caterpillars.
Okra flowers are great because they attract helpful insects. Wasps, dragonflies, green lacewings, and ladybugs will come to your garden. These insects help keep pesky bugs under control.
17. Tansy
Tansy is especially good at attracting the ragwort seed fly, cinnabar moths, and tansy beetles.
Planting tansy around affected crops may help draw certain insects away from nearby plants.
However, note that tansy is invasive in some areas and toxic if ingested [2].
18. Collards
Collards are one of the best trap crops for cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, diamondback moths, aphids, and harlequin bugs.
These pests are strongly attracted to collards and may leave nearby crops alone. Gardeners often use collards to help protect cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and other brassicas.
Plant collards a short distance away from your main crops so pests gather there first.
Where to Buy Seeds
SeedsNow and Seed Needs are popular online seed suppliers. You can also check local garden centers and farm stores.
Takeaway
Trap cropping is a clever way to manage pests in your garden, a technique used for centuries. By planting a crop that’s attractive to pests, you can keep them away from the good stuff and reduce the damage they do.
However, trap crops work best when monitored regularly. Remove heavily infested plants or pests before populations spread back to your vegetables.
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