Seed Blends, Plants and Sprays to Attract Beneficial Insects (C1, C2)

Blend

Planting information (from manufacturers/suppliers)

Supplier

Good Bug Blend™

Since the mix blooms nearly year-round, Good Bug Blend should be planted in areas that can go a little wild, such as field borders, ditchbanks, fence rows, etc. Generally, you need to plant only 1- 5% of your land with this mix for good results. Crimson, rose and sweet clovers, subclovers, alfalfas, gypsophila, Eriogonum fasiculatum, white alyssum, nasturtium, yarrow, carrot, dill, daikon, celery, radish, fennel, caraway, chervil, coriander, and more. Drill or broadcast seed at 10-15 lb./acre (1 lb. /1,000 sq. ft.) in any but the coldest months of the year. Large-scale growers: if you are planting in fall, add vetch at 5 lb./acre. If you are planting in spring, add 10 lb. of buckwheat and 10 lb. of cowpeas/acre.

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
P.O. Box 2209
Grass Valley, CA 95945

(916) 272-4769

http://www.groworganic.com/

Low Growing Good Bug Blend

A mix of annuals and perennials under 2 feet tall, for use below trees, cane berries, vines or along border areas with height limitations. This mix performs best with regular drip, sprinkler or furrow irrigation during dry periods. It blooms 6- 10 months/year and contains: carrot, chervil, coriander, clovers (crimson, white, rose), subclovers, nasturtium, parsley, alyssum and yarrow. Drill or broadcast at 10- 15 lb./planted acre (1lb./1,000 sq. ft.).

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
(see above)

Border Patrol™

For best results sow this mix 4- 6 weeks prior to planting your garden. Border Patrol has more color, but is less effective than Good Bug Blend. Species include white evening primrose, wild buckwheat, baby blue eyes, candytuft, bishop's flower, black-eyed susan, strawflower, nasturtium, angelica and yarrow.

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
(see above)

Good Bug Food (Spray)

This product is a food source for beneficial insects. In their adult stage, these insects need pollen and sugars, which are often not present in sufficient quantities. Beneficial insects especially need additional food during dry periods. Derived from Brewer's Yeast and powdered milk, Good Bug Food can attract and increase beneficial populations as much as tenfold. Mix one part food with an equal part of honey or sugar. Paint this mixture onto cardboard or wooden stakes and place in your garden or greenhouse.

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
(see above)

All Purpose Insectary Plant Blend™ (Pacific Seed)

Plant swaths through crop areas. White clover, yellow clover, yarrow, cilantro, caraway, fennel, parsley, sweet alyssum, tidy tips, baby's breath, cosmos. Use 1/2 lb./1500 sq. ft. or 10- 12 lb./acre.

Harmony Farm Supply
P.O. Box 460
Graton, CA 95444

(707) 823-9125

http://www.harmonyfarm.com/

Beneficial Blend™ (made by Lohse-Mill)

Barley, cereal rye, subclover, berseem clover, crimson clover, white clover, yellow clover, alfalfa, mustard, coriander, sweet alyssum, yarrow, buckwheat. Use 1/2 lb./1500 sq. ft. or 10- 12 lb./acre.

Harmony Farm Supply
(see above)

Border Patrol™

Beneficial insect attractant flowers. Formulated by Clyde Robin wildflower company, this is a mix of flower seeds specially chosen to attract beneficial insects and provide homes for them. One can covers 350 square feet and it's recommended for use as a border around the garden or between beds. Works best if it's planted a few weeks before the rest of the garden; first blossoms will appear in 45- 90 days. Many of the flowers are perennials which will bloom year after year; the mix includes evening primrose, wild buckwheat, baby blue eyes, black-eyed susan, straw flowers, nasturtiums, bishop's flowers, angelica, and yarrow.

Bountiful Gardens
18001 Shafer Ranch Road
Willits, CA 95490

(707) 459-6410

Haven™ Flowering Herbs

Haven is a blend of popular culinary herbs (dill, fennel). These herb varieties have small flowers (tiny predators can't reach the nectar of large blossoms), with abundant nectar and a long flowering period. The flowers attract a wide variety of the most desirable beneficial insects. Sow the seeds after danger of spring frost.

Gardens Alive!
5100 Schenley Place
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

(812) 537-8650

http://www.gardens-alive.com/

Haven™ Cover Crop

Blend of leguminous cover crops provides a habitat for beneficial insects. Sow in spring on soil that is to lie fallow for the season. When tilled under, the plants add nitrogen to the soil and reduce the need for additional fertilizing. Includes ladino, red clover, white clover, hairy vetch.

Gardens Alive!
(see above)

Bug Pro™ (spray)

BugPro provides the protein beneficial insects need to induce egg-laying, when a natural insect diet is not available. BugPro effectively attracts lady beetles and lacewings to your garden. 5 lbs. makes 10 gallons, covers 10,000 sq. ft. Spray or drop on foliage where you want to attract beneficials.

Gardens Alive!
(see above)

No specific blends

Nursery that sells plants at three different sizes, including many ornamental and useful plants from around the world. California lilac, willows, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses.

Forestfarm
990 Tetherow Road
Williams, OR 97544

(541) 846-7269

http://www.forestfarm.com

No specific blends

Niche Gardens is a mail-order and retail nursery. They specialize in nursery-propagated wildflowers and natives, perennials, ornamental grasses and unusual trees and shrubs.

Niche Gardens
1111 Dawson Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

(919) 967-0078

No specific blends

Specializes in native grasses, including: Bentgrass, Tufted Hairgrass, Slender Hairgrass, Squirrel Tail, Slender Wheatgrass, Blue Wild Rye, Idaho Fescue, Calif. Fescue, Meadow Barley, Calif. Barley, Junegrass, Creeping Wild Rye, Calif. Onion Grass, Hartford's melic, Deergrass, Nodding Needlegrass, Foothill Needlegrass, Purple Needlegrass, One sided Bluegrass. Sedges/Rushes: White Root Sedge, Slender Sedge, Torrent Sedge, Baltic Rush, Flat Bladed Rush, and Common Rush. Forbs: Yarrow, Narrow-leaf Milkweed, Purple Aster, Calif. Poppy, Gum Plant. Legumes: Small-flowered Lupine, Arroyo Lupine, Yellow Lupine, Bull Clover, and Tomcat clover.

Hedgerow Farms
21740 County Rd. 88
Winters, CA 95694

(916) 662-4570

Beneficial Blend™

Cereal rye, barley, subclover, common vetch, yellow clover, white clover, crimson clover, LM 331 alfalfa, mustard, Queen Anne's lace, coriander, baby's breath, buckwheat, baby-blue-eyes, bishop's weed, fennel, celery, yarrow, sweet alyssum.

Lohse Mill, Inc
P.O. Box 168
Artois, CA 95913

(916) 934-2157

Beneficial Insect Food (spray/paste)

Ready to use, just add water. Beneficial Insect Food supplies the pollen and nectar sources that beneficials (Ladybugs, Lacewings) need, to go with the protein they get from eating other insects. Helps attract beneficials, aids in increased reproduction, and keeps them in your garden and greenhouse. May also be made into a paste.

Garden City Seeds
778 Hwy 93 North
Hamilton, MT 59840

(406) 961-4837

No specific blends

West Coast natives including California lilac, grasses, perennial buckwheat and wildflowers.

Cornflower Farms
P.O. Box 896
Elk Grove CA 95759

(916) 689-1015

No specific blends

Herbs, mints, vetch, Queen Anne's lace, yarrow and other wildflowers.

Richter's
357 Hwy 47
Goodwood, ON
L0C 1A0
Canada

(905) 640-6677