Trap Crop Border
A sacrificial plant border that attracts pests away from your vegetables, making them easier to control in one spot.
Estimated cost
$10 – $25
Estimated time
30 minutes
Lifespan
One season — replant each year
Soil needed
None — planted in existing bed edge
Weight empty
N/A
Weight full
N/A
Best for
Luring cucumber beetles, flea beetles, aphids, and squash bugs away from main crops
Placement
Plant the trap crop 2–3 weeks before the main crop so it is attractive when pests arrive.
Boards to Buy
| Boards to Buy | Quantity | What You Use Them For |
|---|---|---|
| Nasturtium seed | 1 packet | Aphid and squash bug trap |
| Radish seed | 1 packet | Flea beetle trap |
| Blue hubbard squash seed | 1 packet | Squash bug and vine borer trap |
| Yellow mustard seed | 1 packet | Harlequin bug trap |
- ·Optional: row cover for the main crop
- ·Optional: yellow sticky cards for monitoring
Steps
- 1Choose one or two trap crops based on your worst pests.
- 2Sow the trap crop in a band around or just outside the main bed.
- 3Plant it 2–3 weeks earlier than the main crop.
- 4Keep trap crops healthy and watered — stressed plants don't attract pests.
- 5Check trap crops twice weekly and hand-pick or spray pests there.
- 6Remove and destroy trap crops if pest pressure gets overwhelming.
- 7Rotate trap crop locations each season.
Tools needed
- ·Trowel
- ·Hose or watering can
Common mistakes to avoid
- ·Trap crop blooms before the main crop — timing is everything
- ·Not checking the trap crop — it becomes a pest nursery
- ·Planting trap crops too far from the main crop
- ·Using trap crops alone — combine with row cover or hand picking
Maintenance tips
Scout trap crops twice a week. Remove heavily infested plants before pests spread. Destroy trap crops at the end of the season.
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