Pesticides do not always stop pests and can pose risks to human health, as studies have shown. Yet there are natural and far cheaper ways to defend crops. Verdcamp Fruits, a farm located in Cambrils, Tarragona, illustrates a simple shift: replace pesticides with flowering plants. By weaving a variety of wild species among watermelons and other crops, pollinators are attracted, pests are repelled, and yields can rise. This approach aligns ecology with agriculture, a practice known as Floral Intercropping.
Ernest Mas, the company’s manager, notes in Ae Magazine that the idea began in 2014 with watermelon farming. He explains that aphids were hard to control and that heavy chemical treatments harmed bees and other wild pollinators essential for pollination. The moment that determines production and quality is when growers decide how to treat crops. Harsh treatments that hurt pollinators eventually limit potential yield.
Watermelon cultivation is evolving with mixed-planting techniques, a trend showcased by the company as it experiments with biodiversity to support crop health.
To find a practical, low-cost solution for controlling aphids without relying on pesticides, Verdcamp Fruits turned to native beneficial fauna. A key realization was that natural allies exist in the surrounding ecosystem and can be encouraged to thrive in farming areas by providing food and shelter through flowering plants.
Wild plants mixed in cultivation
The team conducted a survey and compiled a list of 27 flowering plants that could help. Among the candidates were Borago officinalis, Fagopyrum esculentum, Calendula officinalis, Vicia sativa, Achillea millefolium, and Lobularia maritima. Plants were placed in unproductive zones near the watermelon beds, and their effects were monitored closely. Five essential considerations guided the process:
1. Shelter flowers must not compete with watermelon blooms for pollinator attention. 2. The auxiliary fauna needed should actually appear. 3. Flowering and fauna activity must align with crop stages and needs. 4. Plants should not self-sow aggressively to avoid invasive spread. 5. They must resist local diseases and viruses that could threaten crops.
Three candidates emerged as promising options, but sowing them posed substantial complexity. The team pivoted to a synchronized approach: instead of sowing large seed batches, they used seedlings to streamline establishment and timing. Lobularia maritima was tested because its blooms come early and endure, inviting a different set of pollinators and predators. In trials, pollinator visits were initially modest, but beneficial insects—mirids, cocinellids, and hoverflies—showed strong activity. Seedlings were transplanted with the watermelon plants and distributed gradually to maintain fertility while leveraging irrigation. The result was a balanced distribution that created a favorable habitat for the auxiliary fauna. A density of about six hundred Lobularia plants per hectare yielded a noticeable floral pattern across the field and supported widespread positive effects when spread uniformly.
A process that reduces economic costs
The financial side is compelling. A kilo of Lobularia seeds is inexpensive, and the plant grows like lettuce. The integrated approach means crops and flowering plants are planted together, cutting costs substantially. The strategy keeps maintenance simple and affordable, enabling operations to stay under a tight budget—often under twenty euros per hectare in total expenses.
Flowers sprinkled through a watermelon field also expand the presence of beneficial fauna. Farmers report a consistent message from visiting insects: fields with diverse flowering plants host more helpful species. Aphid management becomes a balance rather than an elimination drive. In practice, most crops—about 95 percent—can be kept free from severe outbreaks without active intervention. The remaining five percent may receive targeted organic adjustments when a balance has not yet been achieved, focusing on preserving ecological harmony.
The interaction between watermelon blossoms and early-open, noon-close flowers like Lobularia creates a daily rhythm: bees visit Lobularia as its nectar sources are abundant, and this visitation drives pollination for nearby watermelons. The more resources available to bees early in the day, the stronger their populations grow, enhancing pollination and ultimately boosting yield and quality.
With this approach, yields have improved in many cases, offering a meaningful step toward sustainable farming. The company continues to explore new combinations and intermediate practices, seeing vast potential in floral intercropping. Lobularia maritima stands out as a robust option for various crops because it is hardy, long-blooming, and easy to establish. Other companions, such as Tagetes patula with brassicas and gourds or arugula, are also being considered to broaden applications.
Verdcamp Fruits already operates with a large share of organic-certified production and aims to reach full organic certification within a five-year plan. The guiding aim, however, is not merely a label but a broader commitment: to do farming differently with less environmental impact and to create sustainable value across the farming system. The practice of floral intercropping exemplifies this philosophy and demonstrates how a thoughtful blend of crops and flowers can support both productivity and biodiversity.
Note: The original discussion on this topic has been adapted for clarity and updated to reflect current agricultural practices in North American contexts. The primary source for the concept and its early experiments remains Ae Magazine’s coverage of Verdcamp Fruits’ floral intercropping approach.