Flowering pollinator & companion planting seed mix
Beneficial insects are to be encouraged as they not only help with pollination but can act against pests like aphids and whitefly in your garden. Three quarters of the crops we grow rely on pollinators like bees etc. In the horticulture we call this natural pest control - integrated pest management (IPM) and it removes the need for chemical spraying, indeed spraying will kill your beneficial insects as well as any pests.
Helpful insects include, not just bees and butterflies, but lacewings, dragonflies, ladybirds, moths and even spiders. In addition there are an array of ground dwelling bugs and beetles all ready to help in our gardens. By giving them their own flowering patch we can encourage them flourish and, in turn, assist us.
The quantity of seed in your packet will provide enough to sow one square metre of soil.
- The soil must be prepared well before sowing by removing all weeds and raking to a fine seed bed – remove any large stones by hand and keep in a pile nearby to provide cover for helpful ground beetles.
- Mix your seeds with an equal quantity of dry sand or vermiculite before sowing and continue to mix as you sow.
- Prepare shallow drills in moist soil for sowing in mid-April onwards once the soil is warm, and make sure the seeds are covered lightly with soil afterwards.
- Keep the area moist, but not saturated, to encourage germination and keep an eye out for unwanted weeds outside of the rows. We find it looks most natural to sow in semicircular rows rather than straight ones but you must be guided by the size and shape of your soil plot.
Further advice can be found in numerous websites online. Kew is a good example: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/how-to-attract-insects-garden