Grow These Fragrant Herbs In Your Kitchen To Deter Fruit Flies - Tasting Table

"Nothing gets in the way of enjoying time in the kitchen like a swarm of fruit flies. Luckily, in addition to keeping the space clean, there are ways you can deter fruit flies from ruining your zen while cooking. Certified garden coach and founder of Seed To Sanctuary Sara Rubens suggests fragrant herbs like basil, mint, and sage for a natural and handy solution."

"Introducing the scent of fresh herbs to your kitchen can produce the opposite effect, deterring the bugs from the space. Rubens says, "Basil, for instance, grows well in a pot with plenty of drainage near a sunny window, and as an added bonus fruit flies hate the strong smell of basil!" So, you can grow a pot of the herb to both ward off the insects and harvest the plant as needed to make a delicious pesto pasta."

Fragrant herbs such as basil, mint, sage, lavender, and rosemary can deter fruit flies when grown indoors. Fruit flies congregate near produce scraps, waste, and rotting foods, and introducing strong herbal scents into the kitchen repels them. Basil thrives in a pot with plenty of drainage near a sunny window and emits a smell fruit flies dislike. Sage’s earthy, pungent aroma and menthol-scented mints also discourage flies. Growing herbs provides fresh ingredients for cooking while reducing pests without chemicals. A simple complementary trap uses a glass of fruit or red wine vinegar with a few drops of dish soap.

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