You should plant flax next to your potatoes!

We've all had our troubles in the vegetable garden! And from one year to the next, they're never the same. Diseases, parasites, fungi...all these problems can go so far as to wipe out your crops. There are, of course, solutions, but they are not always good for our planet. Let's try to combine efficiency and respect for biodiversity.

The potato, we love it in all sauces

The potato is a much-loved vegetable whether in winter soups, for the famous raclettes or even in summer, accompanied by a spoonful of cream topped with chives. There are a multitude of potato varieties on the market. There's something to suit every taste. There are firm-fleshed varieties like "Amandine" or "Bernadette" and softer varieties like "Mistral" or "Monalisa". You can also choose early, old or late varieties.

Potatoes are generally planted from April onwards, once the risk of heavy frosts has passed. If you want to plant them earlier, you can install them under a tunnel. It's best to plant them in a sunny spot in the garden, and the soil should be well loosened and prepared for growing this vegetable. Despite all the love you give your plants, some pests can devastate them. This is the case with the Colorado beetle, which generally makes its appearance as summer approaches.

The Colorado beetle

This small insect, originally from America, arrived in France in the 1920s. It feeds mainly on plants in the Solanaceae family, of which the potato is a member. These insects lay eggs and the larvae feed on the plant's leaves. They burrow into the soil and emerge as adults. In turn, these adults will devour the aerial parts of the plant until there is nothing left.

If you have aubergines near your potatoes or in your vegetable garden, they too are at risk of being infested by this parasite. As well as feeding on your plants, the Colorado beetle can encourage the transmission of bacterial diseases such as brown rot. So even if it adds colour to your vegetables, it would be better to get rid of it before it trashes everything!

Flax near your potatoes!

Flaxseed is well known today for all the minerals it provides, but also for its high vitamin and fatty acid content. Undeniable benefits for our bodies and our health! But did you know that flax is also a useful plant in the vegetable garden? Flax is said to act as a beetle repellent. You can plant potato plants and flax seeds alternately. They'll give you beautiful blue flowers and protect your potato plants from CPB infestation. The flax can then be used as mulch. It's a plant that's not only good for our plates, but for our gardens too!

The combination of vegetable plants and flowering plants is commonplace in the garden. They protect us from pest invasions and add colour to your vegetable garden, as well as attracting pollinators. A boon for our biodiversity!