Johnplotman's Journal

Is mint good for keeping the pests away?

One of the pests that are not to fond of the Mentha are ants Myrtle.A form of beetles dont also like the smell of it.Both it and the parsley herb dont get on well beside each other.

Do you mean you shouldnt put parsley and mint together?

Like other things in the garden Myrtle,it can be done.The big snag will be is when one goes to companions the other,this will either enhance growth or flavour,or indeed pests in some cases.To plant two enemies will be more than likely the opposite.With veg for example,tomatoes and potatoes might be like brother and sister but if together in the garden bed and one gets blight so will the other.Similar with the herbs,only one will setback the other in different ways.On the other hand,parsley loves carrots and tomatoes and the chive herb.

Thats very interesting. I dont grow veg but I do usually have a pot with parsley and a pot with chives but not mint.

Another useful pointer for us novice veg growers.

Myrtle,should you ever decide to get some and times comes to plant them out of the pots be a little careful.They might be ok in the pots but when it comes to splitting time for them here for example,they go into bottom less flower buckets.Those roots will close in on everything and be dalm hard to remove if they are free in the clay.

I have catmint which has got too big in the garden.  As I have no choice but to divide it, can I use it with my vegs or must it be mint? 

Food for thought as always, John thanks. Very interesting.

Thanks everyone.

Mairinn if that was me,with the catmint,personally i would leave it at the sunny borders.If you can recall the curry herb for example to mention one,it might smell like the curry but it is for the garden end.So with both of them for example i would not move them from their areas.Split the catmint,and if the roots are very severe then after you split one,place it in a bottomless flower pot,but leave the pot level with the soil.That will keep the roots under control a lot of the time

Mairin,when the pot is buried level with the soil,it will be ok also if  the catmint happens to be in a slight shady spot.