Lady bugs as a weapon against other bugs and diseases

Hello all forum members and viewers.

I'm really new to this all gardening thing. I'm having a real problem with all kinds of tiny harming bugs and I've found out that ladybugs would be a good solution against those. I was thinking (based on the weather in my area) about planting "Calendula", "Fever Few" and "Cosmos Bipinnatus", in order to attract the ladybugs and planting "Nasturitum Tropaeolum" for attracting the harmful bugs, so the ladybugs would have a steady food supply.

The question is: What should be the ratio between all the plants mentioned above? and especially the ratio between the plants intended for attracting the lady bugs and the plants intended to attract the hurmful bugs?


Thanks in advance

You do not need a lot of beneficial plants to help or attract ladybugs. Farmers will leave a hedgerow through a field and that can be enough, with a mild pest problem. Beneficial bugs will hang out there, safe from harvest, and with extra food available in between crops.
Similarly a trap crop to attract the pests away from the desirable plants does not need to be a lot. I think I would make it a mixed area, though. Unless you know for sure that the major pest is very strongly attracted to Tropaeoleum majus.
Hope these links work. The first is about planting a trap crop. The second is about encouraging beneficial bugs. The bugs in your area may be different species, but I think the same basic concept works: Many beneficials will eat pollen or nectar in between waves of pests, so having useful sources of these extra foods can help keep them around. Mostly they feed off small, easy to access flowers. Not deep tubes. Plants that flower over a long season are best, or multiple plants that will flower through the main pest season. Especially good might be plants that bloom early, before the pest becomes a major problem. This might attract and feed the beneficial bugs so they get a chance to build their population before the pests get out of hand.

http://ipm.uconn.edu/documents/raw2/Perimeter%20Trap%20Cropping%20for%20Cole%20Crops/Perimeter%20Trap%20Cropping%20for%20Cole%20Crops.php


http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_attract_benefi.html

Hi gardengame, welcome to Dave's garden forums, your going to meet and enjoy your time here and dont be afraid to ask any gardening questions you need answers to, even if YOU think it sounds daft or silly, always remember there are other new gardeners here who just might be wondering about the very question you have just asked.

Regarding the bugs you have, we all get an imflux of them at some time, I personally dont like using chemicals so I use home made remedies like for green / white / black flies, (tiny little bugs that sap out the moisture from your leaves and flowers) I use a mixture of dish washing up soap liquid, mixed with water, spray it onto and the underside of your plant leaves. it might take a few sprays over a period of a few weeks to get rid of a large infestation of these small flies (aphids) but it works, this is good while waiting the arrival of the good bugs finding you out, you wont kill the larvi or the adult Ladybugs, it is harmless to hmans and animals.
If there are other bugs / insects you are having problems with, get back as there are other different home made chemical free remedies you can use, the best way to go is to act long before you have a mega problem.
I cant profess to know all the bugs you have in your area BUT from experience and travel, the most common ones are like the aphids, and diseases are world wide.

I think Diana has given your the best ideas regarding working towards attracting the good insects to feed off the pests.
My Old Dad used to tell me,IF an insect or bug moves slow, It's going to eat your plants, IF it moves fast it's going to eat the pests that like your plants, I dont know if this is true BUT it's always worked well for me.

Hope this helps you out a bit.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.