Neither Basil Nor Lavender: Grow This Herb To Help Keep Cabbage Flies Away

There are some helpful insects you want to keep around in your garden: ladybugs, bees, butterflies, and even beetles. Others, like aphids, weevils, and cabbage flies, are considered garden pests for several reasons, mostly because of the fact that they eat and destroy the plants you've worked so hard to grow. In particular, cabbage flies, also known as cabbage moths, can be detrimental if you're trying to grow a vegetable garden with 'cole crops' like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or, of course, cabbage. If you want a natural alternative to pesticides, then you may want to try planting an herb that will help keep these flies away. Thanks to its strong smell, mint (Mentha) can be an excellent form of pest control, as it can repel some insects like cabbage flies from your garden.

Cabbage flies are particularly common in northern, cooler USDA Hardiness Zones, as they typically feed on cool-season crops. You can spot their white maggots usually on the roots of your vegetables, which is where they feed. The adult flies look similar to regular flies you might find in your home. If you're unsure whether or not you are dealing with cabbage flies, keep an eye on your plants appearance. If they are damaged by cabbage fly maggots, they will start showing signs like wilting and discolored leaves. Adding mint as a companion plant to your garden is an easy way to repel cabbage flies with its strong oils. Note that when the oils or leaves are crushed, the scent becomes more powerful. You can crush a few leaves of your mint plant every day to help keep away these pests. 

Mint is a beneficial companion plant option for many flowers and vegetables in your garden, from beans and carrots to tomatoes and roses. Besides assisting cabbages with cabbage fly prevention, mint can also be used to provide pest control for the rest of your garden, repelling not just cabbage flies, but also white cabbage moths, fleas, aphids, and ants. It can also attract predators like ladybugs, which can take out some of your pests for you. 

Despite their name, cabbage isn't the only plant that cabbage flies attack. These pests are also especially attracted to other brassica crops, such as turnips, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and radishes. Thus, mint can also be used as a helpful companion crop for these veggies, providing them with cabbage fly pest control as well as boosting the health of your soil.

When using mint as a companion plant, it's usually recommended to plant the herb either in pots near your intended companions or directly into the ground. Since mint tends to spread, container planting may be your best option to ensure this plant doesn't take over your garden.