Marigolds add vibrant pops of color to any vegetable garden. Their easy growth from seeds or seedlings makes them great for deterring garden pests.
Cacti can make excellent companion plants for tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables; they’ve even been said to repel certain types of nematodes or even help eliminate them entirely!
Location
Marigolds are an easy and attractive addition to your vegetable garden, adding vibrant color and personality. Their cheerful blooms bring happiness into any plot while their benefits such as protecting from certain pests, attracting beneficial insects, and deterring disease can only increase as their value in your plot increases. By selecting an optimal location for marigolds in your plot, they’re sure to flourish and add value beyond just their blooms alone.
Marigold plants require full sun to thrive and prefer well-draining soil. Amending it with compost or organic matter before planting will enhance drainage and fertility while spacing 8-12 inches between each plant will allow adequate air circulation without overcrowding.
Marigolds’ vibrant hues attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, helping your vegetables produce and maintain a healthy harvest. Furthermore, marigolds help protect crops from harmful insects like nematodes; both African and French marigold flowers produce alpha-terthienyl that repels these tiny worms that damage roots of plants; this feature is particularly helpful when growing tomatoes which are especially prone to these parasites.
Though not necessary for optimal growth, adding a layer of mulch around marigolds will keep weeds at bay and retain moisture in the soil. You could also prune to encourage bushier growth or remove dead blossoms as they appear; best time would be after flowering to minimize any interruption to reproduction of new seeds.
Marigolds tend to be resistant to common garden diseases like fusarium wilt and powdery mildew; however, if the leaves start losing color or the plant begins wilting unexpectedly, consider applying a fungicide to mitigate the issue. Also try growing it somewhere new each year so as to limit disease build-up in its roots.
Soil
Marigolds can do more than add color to your vegetable garden – they also help protect it against common garden pests! According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, planting marigolds near vegetables susceptible to root-knot nematodes such as tomatoes and peppers (because their compounds are toxic), as well as crops which could otherwise attract aphids, beetles or caterpillars.
Marigold plants require full sun with well-draining soil that has a good water supply, such as amended soil rich in organic matter. An application of balanced fertilizer before planting will ensure healthy, vibrant blooms. Marigolds do not need much water, but should always remain moist to prevent dry and brittle leaves from developing. Marigolds should be regularly checked for signs of insects such as aphids, beetles, caterpillars and spider mites to ensure optimal performance. At-the-right-time insects can be easily eliminated using soapy water spraying or brushing off. Marigold plants may enter a rest period during the hottest part of summer and stop producing flowers altogether, in which case more frequent watering should be applied in order to stimulate new flower buds and revive production.
No matter if you are sowing seeds directly or transplanting seedlings, marigolds should be spaced 12 inches apart. As they can become quite tall with time, place them somewhere that allows their full height. Marigolds require little in terms of care once established but will benefit from receiving an application of balanced fertilizer once every month.
If you’re starting marigold seeds from seed indoors, sow the seeds six to eight weeks prior to the last frost date. A tray or small pot filled with regular commercial potting soil that has been lightly dampened should be used, then cover your seeds with vermiculite before placing in a warm, bright location for germinating seeds and once they emerge to continue encouraging their development – either during late spring or fall planting! Once they reach an acceptable size they should be planted outdoors when conditions allow.
Water
Marigolds require ample sunlight and regular watering in order to thrive. Although drought tolerant, they will still need regular irrigation in order to get established and keep the soil damp. Marigolds thrive best in sandy, loamy or clay soil that drains quickly but they can adapt well to most garden soil types; just mix compost or organic matter into the soil prior to planting.
Marigold seeds should be planted indoors 6-8 weeks prior to your area’s last frost date. Sow the seeds in seed trays or small pots containing standard commercial potting mix and lightly mist it to dampen without compaction; planting about 1/4″ deep works best. Keep these in a warm location with indirect light and stable temperatures until their seeds germinate; this usually takes two or three weeks.
Once it comes time to plant outside, carefully thin the seedlings to eliminate weak or unhealthy plants before transplanting them to your garden and spacing them 12 inches apart for more formal planting or leave as loose planting for a more natural appearance.
Add marigolds as companion plants in your vegetable garden to protect against certain pests and diseases, like slugs and root rot nematodes, that threaten your harvest. It has been demonstrated that marigolds repel many types of pests including slugs and root rot nematodes by emitting chemicals known as nematicides that kill or reduce these troublesome organisms in soil near them.
Marigolds add a great visual element to your vegetable garden and attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects that help pollinate it. Not only do they attract pollinators like butterflies and bees; but also natural predatory insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps, lacewings and dragonflies which will feed on any harmful pests that damage your vegetables – this makes using marigolds in your garden much safer and healthier than using insecticides!
Pests
Marigolds have long been used as companion plants to protect vegetables from various pests that could otherwise cause damage, including tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Due to their ability to repel these insects they are an excellent way to keep pests at bay – ideal companion plants for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers as well as leafy greens which could otherwise become exposed. Marigolds produce a strong scent which keeps these pests at bay by sending out powerful signals through smell.
Marigold flowers bloom for an extended period, and their long bloom time attracts pollinating insects that help pollinate your vegetables and other crops. Furthermore, marigolds also attract beneficial predatory insects like lacewings, ladybugs, and beetles which feed on harmful pests in your garden.
Use of marigolds in your vegetable garden can also help control nematode populations by secreting chemicals through their roots that will kill off these pesky bugs that cause so many vegetables to fail and die. Marigolds provide another key benefit when it comes to controlling these harmful invaders in soil environments; their roots secrete an anti-nematode substance which works wonders against nematodes – the main culprit behind failure and deaths among crops!
Marigolds require regular watering in your vegetable garden, yet too much rainfall could lead to overwatering and result in fungus problems. For best results, water early or late in the morning or evening for reduced evaporation and better moisture absorption by the soil. You could also utilize a soaker hose or drip irrigation system which directly delivers moisture directly to root areas.
Plant marigolds in rows around your vegetable garden for a more formal or orderly appearance. For instance, create a border around its edge using marigolds to give it color while discouraging pests from damaging your veggies. Alternately, plant random groups throughout to give a more natural appearance – mixing different colored marigolds together adds even more variety!