Did you know that planting french marigolds in your vegetable garden is one of the best ways to both protect and power your plants to bigger and better growth – and an even bigger harvest?
It’s true! French marigolds are one of the best companion plants of all for the vegetable garden. Not only do they help to repel many of the common pests that can injure plants, they also serve as a calling card to bring in an enormous amount of pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden as well.
Marigolds have long been known as one of the most beneficial companion plants around. Not just for tomatoes, but for other vegetable plants, herbs, and perennial and annual flowers too. But as you will see below, French marigolds seem to take it to a whole new level!
Why You Need To Plant & Grow French Marigolds In Your Garden
The Power Of Companion Planting
Although all marigold varieties can be helpful in the garden, French marigolds are an even better choice due to some built in advantages. The secret lies in the natural compounds they release, which deter harmful insects without the need for chemical pesticides.
The vibrant flowers produce a strong scent that repels many common garden pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes. By planting French marigolds in vegetable or flower beds, gardeners can then help protect their plants from unwanted pests while promoting a healthier growing environment.
Marigolds can protect your garden from far more than just the dreaded tomato hornworm. Their smelly blooms and foliage also help repel and protect against squash bugs, cabbage worms and aphids as well.
In addition, they can also eliminate harmful nematodes in the soil that can decimate popular vegetable crops. Nematodes are extremely destructive pests, especially when it comes to tomato and pepper plants. Living in the soil, nematodes feast on the roots of plants.
The roots of the French marigold plant produce and secrete a chemical substance that is toxic and deadly to nematodes. In fact, in short order, it can wipe out an entire population of them. In the process, it can save not only your tomato and pepper plants, but many of the other vegetable plants they feed on as well.
Attracting Pollinators With French Marigolds
French marigolds, with their compact, brightly colored flowers, are also highly attractive to pollinators. That list includes honey bees, butterflies, ladybugs, lacewings and wasps. Their bright orange, yellow, and red blooms provide an excellent nectar source, ensuring that essential pollinators visit the garden regularly.
Many common animal visitors to the garden are not exactly fond of marigolds either. That list includes rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoon and even deer. But perhaps best of all – as you will see next – planting French marigolds in your garden is easy, quick – and very inexpensive!
How To Plant French Marigolds In The Garden
French marigolds are incredibly easy to grow from seed, so there is little need to purchase expensive transplants – or even to take the time to grow your own indoors from seed. They are also a very low maintenance annual flower.
French marigolds thrive in all types of soil conditions, require minimal maintenance, and can withstand long periods without watering far better than most flowers and plants. Affiliate Seed Link: Outsidepride French Marigold Seeds Mix
So where are the best places and locations to plant French marigold seeds in your garden. The short answer is anywhere and everywhere, including in the planting rows, in raised beds – and even in pots and containers to place all around the garden.
Planting For Success
We sow marigold seeds right in the same growing rows as our tomato plants, pepper plants – and around cucumber, zucchini and more. We usually sow the seed on the same day we plant. The soil at this point is warm, and it allows the seeds to germinate, grow, and begin to protect fast.
Marigold seeds can sprout in as little as 5 days after planting, especially if the soil is warm. Within a few weeks, they can already be a solid four to six inches tall. By that point, they are already emitting their unique and protective aroma from their foliage. And by six to eight weeks, they are usually blooming strong.
To plant, sow seeds directly into the soil and cover with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of soil. Water the seeds in gently and sit back and wait. If the soil is near 60° Fahrenheit or more, the seeds will usually pop up within a week.
For our row plantings, we sow 6 to 8 seeds about 12″ inches around the circumference of each plant. As they sprout we thin to 3 to 4 plants around each plant. At the same time, we usually seed containers and place them all around the garden to bring in the pollinators.
In you really want a colorful and robust defense system, you can plant the entire border of your garden in marigolds as well. We actually use a mix of zinnias and marigolds around ours to double the pollinator benefits!
Saving Seed From Your French Marigolds
As your marigolds bloom during the late spring and summer months, keep them deadheaded to allow blooms to continue coming on. Deadheading is simply the process of removing spent blooms. See: How To Deadhead Annual Flowers – The Secret To Keeping Plants Blooming.
But here is the really good news, those old blooms can keep you in French marigolds year after year. Each flower head of a marigold bloom contains hundreds of seeds. Simply allow the bloom to dry out and then remove the outer casing. You will be left with plenty of seeds for next year to grow again for free.
Here is to taking a little time to plant French marigolds in your vegetable garden this year – and to having your best garden ever! Happy Gardening – Jim & Mary
Old World Garden Farms
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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