Jessica Walliser

“It was once thought that the odor of certain companion plants deterred pests from feeding. For example, commonly recommended companion plants, such as marigold, peppermint, sage, and thyme, were often chosen for their strong fragrance. But over many years, multiple studies have shown that the scents of these plants don’t necessarily repel pests. Instead, further data are suggesting that these odors mask the volatile chemicals emitted from host plants. This points to the fact that the mechanisms of how certain companion plants deter pests (or don’t, as the case may be) are still being researched and debated among scientists. However, plenty of pest-deterring strategies are backed by solid scientific research, and those are the ones we will consider here.”
― Jessica Walliser, Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden