Marigolds are beautiful and elegant flowers, and they belong to every vegetable garden. For those who aren’t aware, marigolds can offer our crops some immense benefits. Because of this, I’ve created a comprehensive list of why you need to plant marigolds in your vegetable garden today. Not convinced? Here’s why:
Apart from looking visually pleasing, marigolds should be planted in your vegetable gardens because they attract pollinators, fight nasty nematodes, can be used as decorative borders, and much more.
Without a doubt, if you’re looking for a flower to lift the mood of your vegetable patch, marigolds are the way forward. Apart from making your garden look much more visually pleasing, you’re also providing your vegetables with some great benefits that you may not be aware of.
To help you develop a better understanding of this, below, we list ten reasons why you should consider planting marigolds in your vegetable garden.
Are marigolds good for vegetable gardens?
After reading the above, you should be able to understand that marigolds are great for your vegetable gardens. However, apart from the above, there are more benefits you should be aware of. Because there’s such an astronomical amount, below we detail the ten significant advantages you’re able to receive from planting marigolds in your vegetable gardens.
1.Attracts pollinators
One of the main benefits that marigolds supply your vegetables is that they attract pollinators. Due to them being summer-loving plants, the primary source of pollinators they invite is bees. However, there are various other pollinator-like insects that they also encourage. Bees are just the most effective at this type of job.
Vegetable crops that produce fruit require pollen to develop fruit successfully. Failing to provide enough pollen to fruit-related crops will result in them not producing the outcome you were hoping for. After a growing season, this isn’t something you’d want to encounter. So, to minimize this from happening, it’s best to introduce pollinator-loving plants inside or near your vegetable garden.
If you’re planting marigolds to primary invite bees to your garden, you should consider the different variations this plant entails. Experts say that single-bloom varieties of this plant are much more effective at introducing bees to a specific location. This is because the single-bloom type has much easier access to the bloom for bees.
2.Natural repellent
Something that can be hard to comprehend is that marigolds can act as a natural repellent for some pests. I say some because it’s very little, but anything is better than nothing, right? Anyways, marigolds are sometimes planted because they can naturally repel pests such as Mexican bean beetles and cabbage moths.
Those who haven’t been near a marigold, they have a strong and distinctive smell. Although it isn’t enough to deter us or larger pests away, it’s certainly strong enough for small insects to think twice about coming closer.
Both cabbage months and Mexican bean beetles can cause havoc to your vegetable garden. So, being able to reduce the amount these occur is most definitely a significant benefit.
3.Fight’s nematodes
Researchers have discovered that marigolds hold a secret weapon under the surface. Surprisingly, these are their roots. This is because they produce toxic chemicals, which can ultimately kill harmful nematodes.
Nematodes or commonly known as roundworms are micro animals that feed off roots. Because of their size and how they attack our plants, they can be difficult to exterminate. However, marigolds work superbly at doing just that.
All marigolds can provide this benefit. However, different species of this plant have been proven to be much better than others. The best species that can aid the protection of nematodes are French Marigolds.
After the growing season has ended, you’re able to till, plow, or turn the marigolds into the soil to enrich it with this toxin that eliminates nematodes. From doing this, throughout the winter, your ground will be nematodes free.
4.They’re companions to some vegetables
Something many people are unaware of is that marigolds are companions to some vegetables. By companions, I mean they don’t affect the development of the vegetable. Because of this, they’re able to make your vegetable garden look pleasant to the eye and also bring in the benefits on this list. Which for any vegetable garden is most definitely a plus. Some well-known companion vegetables are below:
| Cumbers | Melons |
| Eggplants | Squash |
| Potatoes | Lettuce |
| Pumpkins | Tomatoes |
| Asparagus | Beans |
| Onions | Cabbage |
| Kale | Broccoli |
| Brussel sprouts | Cauliflower |
As you can see from the above, they’re an abundance of different vegetables that marigolds can be companions too.
5.Aesthetically pleasing
It goes without saying, vegetable patches tend to look rather bland. Most vegetable plants include rather basic colors, which aren’t that exciting to the eye. However, something that can counteract that issue is marigolds.
When I think of vibrant flowers, marigolds are almost at the top of the list. Typically, they’re equipped with an orange and yellow colorway. However, you’re able to get some marigolds that include red, gold, copper, and even brass colors.
Due to the vast amount of colorways you’re able to select, makes it almost impossible to find marigolds that won’t look good in your vegetable patch.
6.Marigolds are edible
Although marigolds aren’t classified as a vegetable, they’re edible. Because of this, many people choose to put marigold petals into salads or use them for cake decorations. So, if you believe you can benefit from this type of advantage, it’s another reason why you should introduce marigolds into your vegetable garden.
7.Low maintenance flowers
Apart from all of the benefits on this list, they’re also an extremely low-maintenance flower. This is ideal because the last thing you want is to apply special care to something other than your vegetables.
The only primary requirement for a marigold flower is that they need at least 8 hours of sun each day. Apart from that, the other conditions are pretty standard, and you’ll perform this to your vegetables anyway. These include watering, applying fertilizer, etc.
Just like all plants, don’t allow these flowers to sit on soggy ground for too long. This is because being embedded within wet conditions can invite root rot and many other moisture-related diseases.
8.Pest deterrence
More plants mean more places for pets to venture to. Although developing marigolds hasn’t been proven that they physically deter pests in this way, many professionals within the gardening industry think much differently.
In the life of a pest, they’re much more intrigued by brighter and more vibrant flowers. Due to them being this way and being located near vegetables, pests gravitate towards them instead of attacking our adored crops.
9.Organic remedy
Thought you could only grow food in a vegetable garden? What about an organic remedy that can help with skin conditions, minor wounds, bedsores, rashes, eczema, and much more? Because this plant has such extreme benefits for you and your vegetables, it would be rude not to start introducing marigolds into your yard.
10.Can deter larger pests
Around your vegetable garden, you can also use marigolds as natural barriers. By doing this, you’ll reduce the chances of cats, rabbits, and maybe even mice getting onto your patch. Although it cannot eliminate this issue, it can dramatically reduce the chances of it occurring.
From the above benefits, I hope you’ve started developing an understanding of how much marigolds can benefit your garden. The advantages they offer are honestly immense and something everyone should implement today. If you’ve been persuaded by the above, and you’re eager to start planting marigolds in your vegetable garden, I suggest you read the below.
How to plant marigolds in a vegetable garden
Now I understand, once you’ve read the above, you want to start planting some marigolds. The maintenance for this plant is straightforward, and the same goes for planting them because they don’t require any extreme care and attention.
As mentioned above, marigolds come in an array of different colors ranging from cream, bright yellow, and red. However, either species you choose will be able to provide the vibrant colors you’re hoping to achieve in your vegetable garden. Here’s how you plant marigolds in a vegetable garden.
Positioning
Like with all plants, you need to get the positioning right. The main requirement for marigolds is sunlight. Therefore you’ll need to make sure they get at least 6 to 8 hours each day. Failing to provide a sufficient amount of sunlight may result in them struggling to bloom. However, once you’ve finally decided on an area, it’s time to finalize the location, here’s how:
Location
Once you have a solidified idea of where you’d like to plant your marigolds, you need to decide on the final location. It would help if you considered the below:
- Hanging pots – The first and best option to supplying your vegetable garden with marigolds is to plant them in hanging pots or containers nearby. Although they won’t enrich your soil this way, they can at least attract pollinators and deter pests.
- In your patch – If you want your marigolds to look natural, you could also scatter the seeds randomly in your vegetable garden. This way, it’ll look like they’re meant to be there. However, if you opt-in for this method, try to think logically about sunlight.
- Create a border – Something else that looks nice, and can act as a natural barrier, is constructing a border of marigolds around your patch. To achieve this, you can plant a single row of seeds around the edges.
- Think about companionships – As we mentioned earlier, marigolds are considered companions to many vegetables. After reading the above, why not plant them with their favorite companions? This way, they’re able to provide each other with benefits.
Soil
Marigolds are known to be easy growers. Because of this, they’re able to develop in almost any condition. However, it would help if you supplied them with enough sunlight. If you’re new to gardening, you don’t have to worry about a specific soil mix. But, while planting or potting, it’s always a good idea to provide the soil with some compost beforehand.
For the best results, grow marigolds in fertile and well-draining soil, but this isn’t a “must” requirement. When preparing the soil, you need to till around 6” of soil to loosen it up. When doing this, be sure to remove any large chunks of rocks or intrusive roots, as this will give it sufficient room to grow.
Start sowing
Now you’ve decided on the location and prepared the soil. It’s time to start sowing your seeds. If it’s your first time growing anything from seeds, marigolds will undoubtedly give you that added confidence.
Sowing should only occur after the dangers of frost have passed. This usually is mid to late spring in most climates. Once this has, you’ll need to place your seeds where you want to grow them. This could either be through scattering them through your vegetable’s beds, along the border or in pots.
After a few days of being planted, marigolds should germinate if the weather conditions are right. Failing that, I would give It a few more days. As you’re able to see, when planting marigolds, it isn’t rocket science. It’s as simple as planting, watering, and monitoring the development stages.
Consider transplants
If you don’t fancy growing marigolds from seeds, you can always head over to your local garden nursery and grab some pre-grown marigolds for pretty cheap.
But, if you do choose this route, remember that they should be planted at least 10-12 inches apart. That sounds questionable, but marigolds are known to bloom and expand in good conditions. After planting, you’ll want to monitor their development stages and provide them enough water to grow.
Tips on growing marigolds
As you’re able to see from the above, developing marigolds is pretty straightforward. However, below are some helpful tips you should be knowledgeable about to ensure you’re taking proper care of your new adored plants.
Tip 1 – Deadheading
Marigolds shouldn’t need deadheading because it’s doubtful that they’ll become damaged or diseased. However, if you do, just snip the dead blooms off the plant or pull them off gently. From deadheading, you can encourage growth for more blooms which will lead to a prettier and more bushy plant.
Tip 2 – Watering
As mentioned above, marigolds are extremely low-maintenance flowers. However, you need to be sure you’re not over or underwatering them. Doing this will decrease the chances of them flowering successfully.
Be sure they have moist soil. Soggy or dry ground isn’t ideal growing conditions. When watering, you should always target the base of the marigold. Watering the leaves can result in a build-up of powdery mildew, which could lead to infections.
Tip 3 – Fertilizer
If you’re going to use fertilizer, I recommend only using it at the beginning of the development stages, when it’s either the seed or seedling. This is because, as the marigold ages, most fertilizers will offer too much nitrogen, which will make it grow more foliage rather than actual flower. Because of the massive amounts of nitrogen, you’ll end up with bushy marigolds that have no or only a few blooms.
Tip 4 – Mulch
Mulch is excellent, as it offers an astronomical number of benefits to our plants. For pretty much all plants or vegetables, mulch is great to layer around them. This is because mulch can help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and offer great nutrients to our grounds.
Because mulch helps retain water, it actually reduces the amount you need to water your marigolds. If you want to add mulch, some of the primary organic resources are bark, compost, and wood chippings.
After reading the above how-to and tips, you should have enough knowledge to grow marigolds without any issues at all. Remember, marigolds flourish in all types of conditions, and they’re considered a relatively easy flower to grow.
What is the purpose of planting marigolds in a vegetable garden?
Something that many gardeners fail to comprehend is the purpose of planting marigolds in their vegetable gardens. However, as you can see from the above, they provide a sheer number of benefits. To help people better understand both marigolds and vegetable gardens, I’ve discussed some of the key points below.
It makes it look more pleasing to the eye
It’s evident that vegetable gardens just don’t look all that appealing. You could construct some rather fancy fencing, gates, cold shelters, and so on, but they’ll never look amazing. The obvious solution to making your veggie patch look much more pleasing to the eye is to plant vibrant flowers around it.
However, a big issue with this is that some flowers will cause adverse effects on your vegetables. To avoid this and make sure it doesn’t become problematic, marigolds are the way forward. This is because they’re small plants, and they don’t require many nutritional resources, meaning they won’t steal any from your adored vegetables.
Can reduce damage caused by pests and disease
Many people love marigolds because it can dramatically decrease the damage caused by pests and diseases. This is because they act as the “shield.” Because they’re dotted in-between or around your vegetable patch, pests will have another option of plant to feed on.
At the end of the day, it’s much more forgiving if pests infest your marigolds rather than your vegetables which you’ve been growing throughout the season.
Apart from gravitating pests towards them, they also have toxic roots which can completely eliminate nematodes. This is a significate benefit as these nematodes are the most common culprits of damaging roots, stems, foliage, and even flowers. Exterminating these any other way is usually tricky because you’ll need a rather strong microscope to see them.
Invites pollinators to your crops
If you’re thinking about growing vegetable fruits, then pollination is a crucial variable of how well they develop. Failing to offer them enough pollen will result in them developing but not producing any fruit. After a growing season, this can be devastating and certainly a waste of time.
To avoid this, you should introduce plants like marigolds in your garden and around or in your vegetable patch. Doing this will invite pollinators, like bees, which will happily fly in and share pollen around your garden.
Apart from bees, it’ll also introduce other pollinators. But, as bees are the most effective at this type of process, it’s a huge bonus to invite more of them into your garden.
Organic fences for larger pests
Something that hasn’t been proven, but the logic behind it certainly works. If you create a border of marigolds around your vegetable gardens, it may stop larger pests from intruding. Pests like cats, dogs, rabbits, mice, and much more could see the plants, and instead of going over your patch, they’ll go around it.
Creating a fence-like structure from these will look much more appealing than just your ordinary wooden one. If you think about this wisely, you’re able to incorporate a multitude of different species of marigolds that share a diverse range of colors. This will really make your vegetable patch look phenomenal and most definitely something you should consider.
From the above, you can see that planting marigolds can offer you an array of different benefits. Apart from the above, another significant benefit these plants can offer is that they’re super cheap, widely available globally, and easy to maintain, making them an obvious option to opt-in for.
Conclusion
As you’re able to see from the above, the reasons why you should plant marigolds in your vegetable garden are endless. Without a doubt, every gardener reading this post will gain some type of advantage from introducing these into your garden.
Although you may not be able to see the changes, apart from it looking a lot better, be assured that your vegetables and the environment around them are undoubtedly happy.
Now you’ve developed a deeper understanding of why you need to plant marigolds in your garden, what is the next thing to do? You’ve guessed it. You need to start sowing them seeds right away!
