What plants will attract beneficial insects to my allotment garden?

I'm planting Marigolds and Nasturtiums and have heard that the Poaced Egg plant is good for attracting hoverflies. Anything else I should be thinking of?

What plants will attract beneficial insects to my allotment garden?
To attract beneficial insects to your garden you'll need:


Shady, protected areas for laying eggs


Low growing plants as cover for ground beetles (thyme, rosemary, or mint)





Tiny flowers for tiny wasps, like plants from the Umbelliferae family: fennel, angelica, coriander, dill, clovers, yarrow, and rue.





Composite flowers (daisy and chamomile) and mints (spearmint, peppermint, or catnip) to attract predatory wasps, hover flies, and robber flies.





Companion plants are great but you have to be careful. Garlic deters Japanese beetles, but if planted too close to anything in the pea and bean family it will inhibit their growth.


http://gardening.about.com/od/naturalorg...





Borage helps almost everything, especially strawberry, cucubits (cucumber, gourds), tomatoes. Lovage is thought to improve the health of almost all plants, %26amp; like borage and geraniums, is considered a "magic bullet" of companion planting. Marigolds helps most plants, especially tomatoes and peppers, cucumbers, gourds, squash,broccoli, kale, cabbage. Tansy is good for cucumbers, squash, raspberries %26amp; relatives, roses, corn. Repels flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs and ants.


http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter...





Here's some companion plants that can benefit your garden:


http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html


Herb Companions in the Garden %26amp; kitchen:


http://www.almanac.com/garden/herbs/comp...


Herb Companion Chart:


http://www.herbalgardens.com/companion.h...


Using Herbs As Companion Plants to Deter Pests:


http://gardening.about.com/od/naturalorg...


Here's another companion planting guide:


http://www.mi.ca/compendium/





Good luck!! Hope this helps.
Reply:You're welcome! Thanks so much for the positive comments :) It makes my day! Report It

Reply:Anything that flowers. My dad used to plant dahlias on his allotment, one, to attract the bees etc. two, to provide cut flowers for the house without denuding the house garden of flowers.
Reply:look up insect repelling plants because nasturtiums and marigolds will be under that category. oregano, rosemary, lavender and sage are a few other common ones but you will find heaps more searching under "insect repelling plants "
Reply:not knowing your planting region, I strongly suggest a visit to your local nursery to find out which ones will strive in your area.