Pesticides do not always stop pests and they can pose risks to human health, a fact supported by scientific studies. Yet there are natural, cost-effective strategies to protect crops, as demonstrated by Verdcamp Fruits, a Cambrils farm in Tarragona. Their approach swaps chemicals for flowers. By weaving wild plants among watermelons and other crops, pollinators are attracted, pests are deterred, and yields are improved. This is ecology at work in service of agriculture, and the method is known as Floral Intercropping.
Ernest Mas, the farm’s manager, described to Ae Magazine how the idea began in 2014 with watermelon farming. He noted that aphid control required intense, repeated treatments that harmed bees and other wild pollinators. Reliable pollination is crucial for crop potential, he explained, and treatments that damage pollinators ultimately harm production. The key moment for their watermelon program was identifying practices that balance plant health with high-quality fruit.
Consequently, the team sought an easy, effective way to manage aphids without relying on chemical sprays. Native auxiliary fauna offer support when conditions allow, and a meaningful share of the local ecosystem can assist in pest control.
Much of the area suitable for aphid management is polyphagous, feeding on pollen when infestations are light. Planting flowering species alongside crops was chosen to craft a favorable habitat that supports helpful insects and provides shelter.
Wild plants mixed in cultivation
A survey was conducted to compile a list of 27 flowering species that might fit the system. Among them were Borago officinalis, Fagopyrum esculentum, Calendula officinalis, Vicia sativa, Achillea millefolium and Lobularia maritima. Planting occurred in unproductive zones adjacent to the watermelon plots, and the team tracked five key points from the study. The points are as follows:
1. Bees are selective; the shelter plant should not compete with the watermelon for forage.
2. The target auxiliary fauna must appear reliably in the habitat.
3. Flowering and insect activity should align with the crop’s timing and needs.
4. The plants should avoid excessive self-sowing to prevent invasive behavior on the farm and future crops.
5. The chosen species must resist diseases and viruses that could threaten crops.
Three candidates emerged, yet sowing them presented significant complexity. The realization followed this insight: synchronize the entire process rather than planting large seed batches. This synchronization became the technique’s core. Instead of spreading many seeds, the team began using seedlings.
Lobularia maritima was tested for its early, long-lasting bloom. Earlier trials showed modest pollinator visits but strong activity from mirids, cochineal insects and flying flies. By transplanting flowering plants with the watermelon and scattering them strategically, the system could maintain fertile areas while leveraging irrigation from the same crop. The result aimed for a simple, scalable approach. A density of about 600 Lobularia plants per hectare created a visible floral pattern, and a well-distributed mosaic produced a favorable environment for auxiliary fauna.
A process that reduces economic costs
The overall cost drops substantially: a kilo of Lobularia contains thousands of seeds, and the price remains modest. The Lobularia plant grows in a lettuce-like fashion, enabling a synchronized approach with the crop and lowering expenses. The system can operate for under 20 euros.
Yet the best part of the process comes next. Sharing agricultural resources across the field boosts the presence of auxiliary fauna. Reports from the fields consistently note a surge in beneficial insects.
The goal is not eradication of aphids but balance. When hot months hit, some outbreaks may occur, but the aim is to prevent unchecked growth. Roughly 95 percent of the crop can remain untreated while a focused approach handles the remaining 5 percent of cases with organic, targeted actions, Mas explained.
An intriguing observation is that the watermelon blooms early in the day, closing near noon. After that, bees begin visiting Lobularia, creating a symbiotic system. With more food for bees, populations grow, leading to more pollination and better fruit set for watermelons.
In Mas’s words, the results show improved watermelon production in many cases, marking a meaningful advance for the farm. The company continues to explore new intermediates and broader possibilities.
Lobularia maritima is a sturdy choice for flower strips in diverse crops due to its resilience and long flowering period. Similar combinations, such as Tagetes patula with brassicas, cauliflower, cucurbits and leafy greens, illustrate the wider potential for integrated floral strategies in modern horticulture.
Verdcamp Fruits manages about 40 percent of its production under organic certification, with the remaining 60 percent under integrated production. The goal is to reach full organic certification within five years. Mas stresses that the objective goes beyond branding; it is about changing practices to reduce impact and create sustainable value.
Notes from the project highlight that floral intercropping can align with low-input farming while enhancing ecosystem services and crop resilience. The approach underscores a shift toward ecological agriculture where plants, insects and crops form a cooperative system rather than a battlefield.
This example demonstrates how intercropping with flowering plants can support pollinators, suppress pests and contribute to a healthier, more productive farming model.
The broader takeaway is that thoughtful plant pairing can deliver ecological and economic benefits, inviting growers to consider floral intercropping as a practical path to sustainable harvests.
The principles behind this method show promise for a wide range of crops, offering a blueprint for farmers seeking to balance yield, biodiversity and long-term soil health without heavy reliance on chemical controls.