Cover Crops and Deterrent Plants

Cover crops are plants that are grown in between seasons or between the main crops in a field. They have a number of benefits for growing cannabis outdoors, including improving soil structure and fertility, suppressing weeds, and attracting beneficial insects. Some examples of cover crops for outdoor cannabis cultivation include legumes (such as beans and peas), brassicas (such as mustard and turnips), and cereals (such as oats and rye).

One way to use cover crops in outdoor cannabis cultivation is to plant them as a "green manure." This involves planting the cover crops, allowing them to grow for a short period of time, and then tilling them into the soil before the main cannabis crop is planted. The cover crops will decompose in the soil, releasing nutrients that can be taken up by the cannabis plants.

Another way to use cover crops is to plant them in between rows of cannabis plants. This can help suppress weeds and improve soil structure, as the cover crops will outcompete weeds for light, water, and nutrients. Cover crops can also attract beneficial insects, such as pollinators and predatory insects that can help control pests.

In addition to cover crops, there are also a number of plants that can be used as deterrents in outdoor cannabis cultivation. These plants produce chemicals that can deter pests or inhibit the growth of weeds. Some examples of deterrent plants for cannabis cultivation include marigold, basil, and chrysanthemum.

Marigold is a popular deterrent plant for cannabis cultivation because it produces a chemical called pyrethrum, which is toxic to many insects. Basil is also a good deterrent plant because it produces a chemical called citral, which can deter pests such as aphids and mites. Chrysanthemum is another effective deterrent plant because it produces pyrethrins, which are toxic to many insects.

There are a few other points to consider when using cover crops and deterrent plants in cannabis gardening:

1. Choose the right cover crops and deterrent plants for your climate and soil type. Some plants may not be well suited to certain climatic conditions or soil types, so it's important to do your research and choose plants that are appropriate for your area.

2. Pay attention to timing. Cover crops and deterrent plants should be planted at the appropriate time of year to ensure that they have time to grow and provide benefits to your cannabis garden.

3. Use cover crops and deterrent plants in combination with other pest control methods. While these plants can be effective at deterring pests and inhibiting weed growth, they may not completely eliminate these problems. It's a good idea to use cover crops and deterrent plants in combination with other pest control methods, such as crop rotation, mulching, and mechanical control (such as hand-weeding).

4. Monitor the effectiveness of cover crops and deterrent plants. It's important to keep track of how well cover crops and deterrent plants are working in your cannabis garden. If you notice that pests or weeds are still a problem, you may need to try different plants or consider using additional pest control methods.

List of Deterrent Plants

Plant	Chemical
Basil	Citral
Borage	Mucilage
Caraway	Carvone
Catnip	Nepetalactone
Chrysanthemum	Pyrethrins
Cilantro	Dodecenal
Dill	Carvone
Fennel	Anethole
Garlic	Allicin
Horseradish	Allyl isothiocyanate
Hyssop	Pinocamphone
Lad's love	Thujone
Lavender	Linalool
Lavender cotton	Linalool
Lemon balm	Citral
Lemon grass	Citral
Lemon verbena	Citral
Lime basil	Citral
Marigold	Pyrethrum
Marjoram	Thymol
Mugwort	Thujone
Nasturtium	Mustard oil
Oregano	Thymol
Parsley	Apiol
Pennyroyal	Pulegone
Peppermint	Menthol
Rose geranium	Citronellol
Rosemary	Camphor
Sage	Thujone
Summer savory	Carvacrol
Tarragon	Estragole
Thyme	Thymol

 

It's important to note that while these plants can be effective at deterring pests, they may not completely eliminate pest problems. It's a good idea to use deterrent plants in combination with other pest control methods, such as crop rotation, mulching, and mechanical control (such as hand-weeding). Additionally, some of these plants may not be well suited to all growing conditions, so it's important to do your research and choose plants that are appropriate for your setup.