When Steve’s Mom heard we were planning a garden, she suggested we incorporate some flowers.
“Has someone told you to put marigolds in with your tomatoes to keep the bugs away?” she emailed me. “Works.”
Steve, who went to visit her shortly after that for Mother’s Day, said he’d bring home some marigold seeds we could plant around the tomatoes. He forgot them, but that’s probably for the best. This experiment has not yet involved actual planting of seeds, and I think that gets us one giant step closer to success, at least this first time around.
However, on the same trip to the nursery that garnered us the lavender, basil and parsley plants, we picked up a five-pack of marigolds and scattered them through the garden.
Of the five, one had a blossom, two had buds, and two were simply greenery. However, by now, they’re all cycling through the blooming process, forming beautiful yellow and red flowers, then, after we deadhead them, slowly bringing new buds into the sunlight.
Honestly, I wouldn’t know an aphid if it hit me in the face. But if these pretty little warriors are keeping them away, that works.
on Jun 6th, 2006 at 10:28 am
I always mean to plant marigolds witht he veggies, but never get around to it. This year I started them from seed with everything else so I’d be more invested in doing it.
on Jun 6th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Steven, did you end up planting them?
Genie
on Jun 7th, 2006 at 6:26 am
I just read in my latest hort society newsletter that marigolds attract slugs. I hadn’t heard this. I’ll be interested to hear if you find this is true.
on Jun 7th, 2006 at 7:04 am
Melissa,
Hmm…that’s unfortunate. So far, I haven’t seen any, but if they arrive, we’ll just have to be ruthless. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on it and keep everyone informed.
Thanks for visiting!
Genie
on Jun 7th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
[...] Flowery introduction [...]
on Oct 19th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
[...] One plant that’s been rocking and rolling is one of our marigolds. It’s probably the one that was best placed, at least for getting sunlight and air and water—most of our other marigold plants were subsumed by zucchini leaves or cucumber vines. [...]