Shungiku

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

.

Attract Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

to keep them in check — plant CarrotGreat, LovageGreat and ParsnipGreat nearby.

🌼 Beneficial companion — draws Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

that help control

Aphids

on neighbouring plants.

Growing from seed

Direct-sow Shungiku outdoors about 2 weeks before your last frost. Seeds usually come up in around 10 days. Grow in partial sun, spaced about 20 cm apart. Expect to harvest in roughly 45 days.

Keep track of the seeds you own.

Companion Planting

• 
  Chaytor's Lavender
  

  Chaytor's LavenderExcellent pair

  • ❧Chaytor's Lavender attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps and more, which prey on the Aphids and Whitefly that attack Shungiku
  • ❧Shungiku draws Bees and Bumblebees and more that improve pollination for both
  • ❧Chaytor's Lavender roots deep while Shungiku feeds near the surface — no competition
• 
  Sainfoin
  

  SainfoinExcellent pair

  • ❧Sainfoin attracts Ladybugs and Parasitic wasps and more, which prey on the Aphids that attack Shungiku
  • ❧Sainfoin fixes nitrogen in the soil that Shungiku feeds on
  • ❧Sainfoin roots deep while Shungiku feeds near the surface — no competition
• 
  Alfalfa
  

  AlfalfaGreat pair

  • ❧Shungiku attracts Hoverflies and Lacewings and more, which prey on the Aphids that attack Alfalfa
  • ❧Alfalfa fixes nitrogen in the soil that Shungiku feeds on
  • ❧Shungiku draws Bees and Bumblebees and more that improve pollination for both

How to grow Shungiku

1. Sow-2 weeks from frost
2. Germinates10 days
3. Space20 cm apart
4. GrowPartial sun
5. Harvest~45 days

Water: Medium · Height: 60 cm · Soil: Moist, fertile, well-draining