MRS FAQs Post: July 18, 2005

Charlee Curtis, July 18, 2005 Have you heard that if you plant alyssum around roses, it deters aphids? I have a couple of roses I think I will try this on. But once you plant alyssum, it reseeds itself where ever it wants. One more thing to pull out.

7/18/05 In response to planting alyssum around roses to deter aphids: I had never heard of that. I've always planted chives and more recently these Egyptian Onions which can get as tall as the roses, to deter aphids. I'm hoping that because the Egyptian Onions are up near the top of the plant where the aphids mostly are, they will do a better job of keeping the aphids away. I will try the alyssum because I think it will make a good ground cover, helping to keep the soil from drying out because I think they are very shallow rooted, and look better than what I am using now for mulch. It should be perfect in my window boxes with the minis. Has anyone heard of planting tomatoes with roses to prevent blackspot? Someone told me about it last year so I'm trying it out. If anyone else wants to try it out, I would think tomato plants would be cheap now. Wendy White MRS Member

7/18/05 Wendy: I have never tired to grow tomatoes next to roses, I guess it is the size of the tomatoe which stop me by doing it. I will go get a few and try this experiement. I will let you know this fall to see if there is any difference. I do notice that the rose bushes next to my garlic bed do not seem to have any aphids. In my garden, those roses which grow in the partial shade have a lot of sphids on them. I will try to grow a few egytian onions next season to compare note with you. Sari Hou MRS Member

7/19/05 When we went to Mike Lowe's for the hybridizing demo in June, I noticed he had those Egyptian Onions around his gardens. Now I know why! Thanks for the tips, Wendy! Joan Gotlibson MRS Member