When you’re planning out your garden for the year, it can be easy to think that each type of plant needs its own space. But, what if I told you there was an easier way? A lot less obsessive and more colorful!
One of the best ways to get more out of your vegetable garden is by planting flowers. Not only will you have a spectacular looking space, but growing them in with everything else has other benefits as well!
Here are a few flowers you can plant directly in the vegetable garden – as well as why doing so is an excellent idea.
But, first, let’s se why is it beneficial for you to have flowers next to your veggies?
Why You Should Grow Flowers in the Vegetable Garden
Flowers in your vegetable garden can do more than just look pretty! Flowers attract pollinators and loosen up soil. They also help to produce vegetables with less difficulty, like squash or cucumbers who might not be able to set fruit without adequate bees buzzing around them.
There’s no better way to get rid of those pesky pests than by attracting these beneficial insects! Whether you plant them in rows or use some spilled flower pot methods, they will make your garden worth its weight.
The beauty and diversity of flowers is unparalleled. Some attract predatory insects that prey upon common garden pests, others serve as living mulches to help improve the soil’s ability to retain moisture or even provide nectar for honeybees!
With their delicate beauty and elegant appearance, flowers can be a great addition for any garden. But did you know that they also add both beauty and fragrance? The next time your cucumber plants are looking droopy- do some research into what type of flower might work well there!
21 Flowers You Can Plant Into Your Vegetable Garden
A garden is the perfect way to bring beauty and nature indoors. Imagine a room filled with your favorite flowers, vegetables or greenery all in one space!
Create an expansive living herbaceous border for increased productivity while enjoying its stunning appearance from every angle – even up close on sunny days when they’re at their fullest bloom.
1. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a great way to keep your garden from becoming overrun with pests.
These plants have been known for their ability not only in repelling certain insects, but also as natural fertility boosters due to the nastic oil they produce, which helps discourage weed growth around food crops like tomatoes and cucumbers!
2. Roses
Many gardeners are interested in growing roses among chives. For example, they may enjoy the strong scent from these plants which can discourage aphids and beetles alike!
There’s a variety of different types you could choose for your landscape – I love Lavender Veranda Roses as well as Dublin Bay Rose.
3. Chamomile
You can use chamomile in your garden to attract beneficial insects. It will help cabbage and other brassicas grow better by attracting certain types of bugs!
Leave some chopped up leaves out for the winter, too-it’ll enrich soil quality while decomposing over time
4. Calendula
Calendula or ‘The pot marigold’ is known for its beautiful calendar-like flowers. These delicate plants are perfect to grow in a vegetable garden, and you can save the seeds too!
5. California Poppy
The California poppy is a bright and beautiful flower that blooms quickly, making it an ideal candidate for planting in clay soil.
Not only does this plant loosen up compacted earth but also attracts beneficial insects thanks to its lacy leaves as well!
6. Borage
Borage is a plant that many people use to help their plants fight off pests and diseases. The flowers on this herb are beautiful, but what makes it really special in my opinion is how well-known its roots have been for centuries as an effective remedy against various ailments from insomnia to constipation!
7. Marigolds
Not only do flowers mentioned in the previous passage help repel insects, but there are many that will keep them away.
Mexican marigolds have been known to be destructive against a wide variety of different bugs while French Marigold can kill nematodes and serve as trap crops for snails or spider mites depending on where you plant it!
8. Lavender
Lavender is a great herb for gardening because it can repel pests. If you want to garden with peace of mind, lavenders essential oils are not only therapeutic but also pest-repellent!
9. Sweet Pea
The delicate sweet pea is another flower that can be planted directly in the vegetable garden. Although they aren’t edible, as the seeds are poisonous, pollinators love visiting these flowers!
These plants seem perfect for beginners because their care requirements are minimal – just water regularly to keep them alive (and filled with color).
10. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum is an easy-to-grow plant that has tons of color and flavor. It’s popular in landscaping for its pleasant scent, but it can also be used as part of your vegetable garden border or buried under other plants like lettuce to keep them upright without letting weeds take over!
The roots grow shallow so they don’t disrupt too much earth around them – making this great mulch material if you want more than just pretty flowers in your garden.
11. Sunflowers
The largest flowers in your garden will be sunflowers! These beautiful blooms can attract bees and butterflies, while keeping aphids away.
12. Zinnias
Zinnias are great additions to the garden because they come in just about any color and their five inch flowers attract butterflies. They also deter pests from harming your vegetables, which is an added bonus!
13. Cosmos
The cosmos flower is easy to grow, and it’s the perfect plant if you’re looking for a midsummer hit with bees or butterflies. The flowers can be as tall as five feet!
14. Daisies
One of the most popular flowers in our area, daisies attract a variety insects. Suitable for almost any planting preference or situation we find ourselves with an abundance on these cheerful little plants!
My personal favorites are Daisy May Shasta Daisies but you can also go ahead and plant Becky Shasta Daisies if that’s what catches your fancy this year – just make sure they have full sun exposure so their color stands out nicely throughout summer.
15. Poached Egg Plant
The poached egg plant is a great choice for those looking to add more diversity in their gardens. Not only does it attract bees and hoverflies, but this particular species helps to improve fertility as well!
16. Phacelia
The most beautiful flower on earth, the lupine is a tough perennial that can withstand harsh conditions and winters. It offers bees valuable sources of food in its nectar when they hibernate through cold seasons without it being harmed or covered by snow!
17. Mexican Heather
The Mexican heather is a beautiful, hardy perennial that attracts beneficial pollinators like bees. It can be grown in the south and will withstand zone 9 temperatures or higher.
18. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are a versatile flower with large, beautiful flowers in shades of yellow that can help deter pests. Some people like to use them as an organic alternative because they don’t have any negative effects on living things or the environment- unlike pesticides do!
19. Dahlias
Dahlias are a great addition to any garden! There is so much variety, they can repel nematodes and attract pollinators. Add some dahlia flowers this summer for color that lasts all season long.
20. Petunias
Petunias are perfect for drawing pest aphids and other troublesome insects away from your plants. They come in many different colors, so you’ll never run out of choices!
21. Four o’Clock Flowers
Four o’clock flowers are not the most common blooms you’ll see in a garden, but they can be great for preventing Japanese beetles. They’re also poisonous to pets and people so make sure these plants aren’t confused with edible crops!