Companion Planting & Why Marigolds are Rock Stars

Marigolds in my flower garden add a pop of bright color

Companion Planting? The first time I heard that term I was like "Huh?... Uh is that where you and your spouse/significant other do gardening together?" Needless to say, I was way off.  That was quite a long time ago. Since then I have strived to learn a fair amount about this. I use it in my garden and it I have found it really does make a difference in 3 major areas. Production, Pest Control and Presentation. 

Marigolds hanging out with Squash

Marigolds are hands down my most favorite companion plant. If you are wanting to keep it simple and get the most bang for your buck, marigolds are the way to go. They have been used as natural pest control in gardens for centuries and are a pest control powerhouse. Here are just some of the benefits they help provide:

First and foremost they attract pollinators. If you want to have heavy production in your vegetable garden this will be a great addition. They bloom for a long time and right into fall. For those who do succession planting this is particularly helpful as is great for attracting pollinators at all stages of your garden.  

Some gardeners swear they can help deter mosquitos. I tend to listen to experienced gardeners. They have lots of years of experience and many times information has been handed down through generations. I am a mosquito magnet so I will take all the help I can get. 

Marigolds hanging with the beans

They help ward off harmful nematodes, bean beetle, cabbage moths, slugs, tomato hornworm, and some other pests that like to munch on tomatoes.   How does this work. Well for some pests they don't like the strong smell. Meaning it can mask your desired crops from pests. For other pests they function as a trap crop. Slugs love marigolds. Often this means that your other crops are saved from loss because your marigolds will draw them away from those crops. Regarding harmful nematodes, marigold roots do the work here. 

They are natural companions to the following: cucumbers, melons, potatoes, lettuce, beans, asparagus, tomatoes, brassicas (ie broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts), squash/pumpkins, egg plant and onions. Natural companion can also mean they enhance the growth, flavor or health of these plants.  For many other plants they are considered a neutral companion. This means they nether particularly help or harm. At the very least for those plants they act as a pollinator attractant.

They bring beauty and a pop of color to any garden. I do love the lush green of my kale but that pop of the oranges, yellows and reds always brings a smile to my gardeners heart. Gardens are meant to be enjoyed for many purposes including the visual aesthetics. Marigolds come in many different colors, sizes, varieties and variations so there are lots of options to choose from. I really love the two toned varieties.

My little guy sampling 
some Okra last year and a little
marigold peeking in the
bottom right with

The flowers are edible. Making this a harvestable crop. Want to add a splash of color to your salad? Pop the petals off a bloom and sprinkle them in your salad or you can add them to a vinaigrette. There are lots of ways to use them.  They are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants (antioxidants are cancer fighters). 

I also have small children and I want them to enjoy and experience the garden in lots of ways. Gardening can be so much fun for little ones and a great way to teach them skills. This means when I am planting things I want them to be non toxic to my tiny people. 

Just a lovely French Marigold
(my favorite)

They have many medicinal uses as well. Calendula and marigolds are of the same family. Thus marigolds also have many of the same properties.  Some of the things they have been used for are sores, inflammation, some skin conditions and itching. I could write an entire blog on that alone, but for today I will say, if that interests you there is much information available on the internet and in books. Do your own research before using herbal medicine or work with a trusted and trained herbalist.

The seeds are VERY easy to harvest. Let the flowers dry out when they are done blooming and there you go. You have a handful of seeds that can be saved for the next season.

So yes this plant knocks it out of the park when it comes to earning it's keep in the garden. For all of the reasons stated above marigolds get my vote for best companion plant. That said it is not the only plant that is a companion plant. There are lots more. I also use onions mixed in with my brassicas to help reduce pest pressure. (Oh you pesty cabbage moth... we just can't be friends.) 

If you would like to learn more about companion planting here are some great resources:

List of resources / books / sites:

BOOKS:

• Companion Planting: The Beginner's Guide to Companion Gardening - M. Grand 
• Carrots Love Tomatoes - Louise Riotte
• Vegetables Love Flowers - Lisa Mason Ziegler
• Companion Planting for Beginners: Pair Your Plants for a Bountiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden - Brian Lowell

WEBSITES:

• Companion Planting Chart (Interactive)
• Urban Farmer
• Farm Homestead