April: Trap Crops

A trap crop is one that you plant to attract pests away from a crop that you want to protect.  For example, you could sow a row of white turnip in advance of sowing your lettuce crop.  The flea beetle will be attracted to the white turnip crop and leave your lettuce crop alone.  The key is to have the trap crop in place before the crop requiring protection is planted. The trap crop selected will depend on the pest and the crop requiring protection.