Basil and Mint

[Frank Woolf]

Basil attracts hover flies and hover flies eat aphids. Last year my father in law's lanzones crop was wiped out by aphids so I want to try planting lots of basil and mint around the trees. I do often see hover flies around the basil in my garden so looks like it will work.

[Doc]

Hey Frank

Did you plant the Basil and Mint around the trees? If so is it working out? I had heard of Basil keeping away mosquitoes but only now did my own research. During which I found that there are many plants that drive away the little blood suckers. If you are interested, this site was informative: http://doubledanger.com/pictures/simple-organic-ways-to-repel-mosquitoes

[Frank Woolf]

Yes I know of those on their list and can add a few more like chives, limes, lemon balm and any type of mint. :)

When I planted the seeds from the first basil plant I got maybe 5% or less germination. I recently put a generous Amount of third generation seeds in a seed tray and got 100% germination. There are hundreds of seedlings jam packed together.

I took them to the beach to plant some on Friday but never got around to it so I asked the caretaker to do it. I told him to plant them all around the house and everywhere else on the lot. Most will still not be used so I hope to take the remaining seedlings to the Toril lot and plant them around some of the lanzones. I also notice an unusually high number of ladybugs around the basil at the beach.

Basil also apparently improves tomatoes and peppers if growing nearby. I have have plenty of both at the beach.

I have basil, English mint and Indian mint around the beach house and never see mosquitoes. If I am going out around the lot at dusk I grab a few Indian mint leaves and rub them on the my legs and arms. It keeps the mosquitoes well away.