Marigolds are not just for decoration! They offer several benefits to vegetable gardens that can’t be ignored.
These humble annuals look lovely in hanging baskets, containers and planters as well as borders around your home or garden – perfect if you have space on the ground too.
Marigolds will add color all summer long while providing some protection from pests like aphids.
Companion planting is an excellent way to ensure that your garden has the necessary nutrients for healthy plants. There are many different types of companion planting, but marigolds in vegetable gardens work well because they benefit from being near their complementary friends—vegetables!
Plus, this particular combination makes great ground cover and attracts pollinators like butterflies or bees who will help NATURAL pest control instead of using harmful pesticides.
Read on to find out why you should plant marigolds in your vegetable garden as soon as possible!
1.Attracts Bees And Other Pollinators
Planting marigolds in the vegetable garden attracts bees and pollinators. The bright blooms of this flower make a tempting treat for honeybees, butterflies, birds- even humans!
If you want to attract these beneficial creatures while also enjoying beautiful greenery from your own kitchen window; plant single-bloomed varieties near vegetables where they can easily reach their favorite snack: pollen!
2. Repel Some Pests
The bright colors of marigolds make them an attractive addition to the garden. They also come in many varieties, so you can find one that suits your taste and needs for repelling pests like deer or rabbits!
The strong scent of marigolds is one way they can help repel pests. The plant’s smell masks the smells coming from your vegetable plants, making predators go in another direction and attracting beneficial insects like lady bugs to feed on them instead!
3. Protect Tomatoes
In order to protect their tomato plants from pests, marigolds should be planted near the fruit.
Made out of a type if flower that attracts insects and other hungry things like slugs or nematodes which don’t want anything else munching away on your precious tomatoes; this colorful bloom will keep them at bay!
4. Ward Off Harmful Nematodes
Thousands of nematode species exist, but a few can wreak havoc on your garden. You’ll need to use them as companions plants in order stop this from happening; there’s no other choice if fighting back isn’t possible!
It’s said that marigolds help out neighboring plants by killing nematodes. However, there is a lot of confusion around this topic and not everyone believes it works.
Marigolds are an excellent addition to your garden, even if you don’t have worms. They won’t harm the plants and will slow down any nematodes that may be causing damage!
5. Companion Plants For Many Vegetables
Marigolds are a great companion plant for many types of vegetables.
They work well with beans, potatoes, broccoli and other leafy greens to help repel aphids in your garden while providing natural pest control themselves!
6. Add Color And Beauty
Do you want a colorful garden? If so, then it is important to add some flowers and plants.
Flowering herbaceous borders are not just for beauty; they also help with pollination by providing nectar sources that attract bees!
7. Low Maintenance Flower
In this day and age, who doesn’t want to be a little more eco-friendly? Marigolds are one of the most sustainable flowers you can grow. They only need plenty sunlight to thrive!
8. Marigolds Are Edible
Marigolds are not just a tasty addition to the home garden; they can also be cooked with and added as decoration on cakes or cupcakes.
Marigold petals offer bright color, which will please any palate in need of variety from their salad greens!
9. Act As An Effective Trap Crop
Some gardeners like to use marigolds as trap crops for specific pests.
They plant these around their beds where they know slugs will be, and hopefully keep them away from valuable plants that would otherwise suffer at this snail’s sharp teeth!
10. Medicinal Properties
Calendula and marigolds belong to the same family, so many of the same properties that calendula has are also present in these flowers. These include skin conditions like rashes or minor wounds; they can even help with bedsores!
They’re effective at treating sores caused from an infection as well as inflammation problems such eczema and itchiness – not forgetting how comforting its color may be when you have a bad day together 😊.
Best Vegetables To Companion Plant With Marigolds
So, you want to know the truth about planting marigolds in your vegetable garden? Science can’t back up all those myths about planting marigolds next to vegetables, but what experienced gardeners have said for years should be just as important.
Planting them alongside other crops will ensure healthy produce and vibrant colors throughout summer–so don’t underestimate this small flower!
That being said, we do know that marigolds can help some plants. For instance they will not hurt the vegetables if you plant them near their crops and for most part a neutral plant like this only does good things!
The best vegetables that do well with marigolds are:
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Eggplants
- Squash
- Potatoes
- Lettuce
- Pumpkins
- Tomatoes
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Onions
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cauliflower
How To Plant Marigolds In A Vegetable Garden
Marigolds come in a range of colors, from cream to bright yellow and variegated reds. They provide the perfect pop of color for your vegetable garden – whether it be shorter varieties that are only six inches tall all way up to three feet high!
1. Make Sure They Have Plenty Of Sunlight
Marigolds are a type of flower that commonly grow in sunny locations. If planted near to shady areas, they can be prone to powdery mildew and failure to bloom – so make sure you have at least six hours worth of sunlight per day for best growth!
2. Pick a Spot for Marigolds In The Vegetable Garden
One of the most important things about planting marigolds in a vegetable garden is deciding where to put them. You have plenty of options, and they can be as varied or basic as you like!
- Grow In Containers Or Hanging Baskets
Marigolds are a great way to keep pesky bugs at bay. They attract or repel insects with their scent, making it hard for any insect in your garden!
A wonderful alternative if you don’t have room for planting marigold seeds is hanging baskets filled with these beautiful flowers–just make sure they get enough sunlight.
- Strew The Seeds Wildly
Planting marigold plants in a shade of one color is not only bright, but it also makes for an easy and cohesive look. If you want to mimic nature’s way of spreading seedlings throughout your garden then scatter these seeds or young plants around among other veggies with similar colors—the more variety the better!
- Create A Border
A row of marigolds will help you create the perfect ambiance for your garden. You can either drop seeds along or plant a single line, but there are some who enjoy planting their Double or Triple rows with lush plants in between!
- Plant Near Specific Plants
The best way to use marigolds as companion plants is by planting them near the types of vegetables or flowers you want help promote.
3. Fix The Soil
Despite their common name, marigolds are not just for decorative purposes. One of the reasons they’re so easy to grow is that these plants will thrive in nearly any condition – new gardeners don’t need worry about creating ideal soil conditions but enriching with compost before planting can help them be happier and healthier as well!
The best soil conditions for marigolds would be well-draining soil and moderately fertile soil.
To prepare, dig deep to loosen the soil and remove any stones or large chunks of dirt that might prohibit root growth.
4. Sow Seeds
Marigolds are the perfect choice for beginners. They’re fast-growing, so you can expect your first flowers in just about two weeks!
If growing from seed is something that has never been done before then marigold seeds will be an excellent place to start with!
Sow the seed after the danger of frost is gone.
Place the seeds where you want them to grow. Either strew them by hand across a garden bed and let them pop up wherever, or place right at their natural spot so they can take root as quickly as possible with warm weather!
5. Plant Transplants Instead
Sometimes it pays to buy your flowers at the local nursery. With so many great options, marigolds should be one of them! Start out by planting flats or individual plants– whichever works best for you and where they’ll grow in relation with other garden decorations like perennials.
After making sure that there are sufficient roots on each clone before planting (just give those babies enough water!), just make sure they’re not too far apart from each other; 10-12 inches seems about right as most small annuals need some space between themselves.
After planting marigold transplants, water them thoroughly.