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Growing marigolds offers all sorts of benefits to you and your garden, so they should be considered when planning your yearly landscape. Look below at the 7 reasons you should grow marigolds and see why these colorful flowers are a must-have for any yard.
1. Marigolds Are Easy To Grow
The first reason that marigolds are such a popular choice is that they are so easy to grow.
Marigolds will grow in a wide range of soil types and conditions. All they really demand is plenty of sunlight. As long as you plant them in areas of full sun, they should be particularly trouble-free plants.
Marigolds can be started from seed around 4-6 weeks before the last frost date in your area and will usually germinate within 1-2 weeks.
2. Marigolds Attract Bees & Other Pollinators
Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the potential efficacy of marigolds in nematode control, there are still plenty of very good reasons to use them as a companion crop in your vegetable garden.
Marigolds can bloom over quite a long period of time. Their blooms are therefore an excellent resource for bees and pollinators throughout the growing season.
Some marigolds are better than others for certain pollinating insect species – but many can help to draw them into your garden.
For a number of pollinators, single flower types are better than doubles, as it will be easier for them to reach the heart of the flowers. But always try to choose as many different flowers for your garden as possible, to encourage all the different pollinators that live in your area.
3. Marigolds Attract Predatory Insects
They don’t just draw in those pollinators, they also draw in insects to help you in organic pest control.
Marigolds can help to bring in ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic mini-wasps and other predatory insects that will eat aphids and other pests which can damage your crops.
Attracting such beneficial insect species to your garden will help to keep the ecosystem in balance and should make it less likely that any pest problems will get out of control.
4. They May Repel Certain Pests
There are all sorts of claims out there for the pests that marigolds repel when planted in your vegetable garden.
There is, however, some evidence to suggest that marigolds may be at least partially successful in repelling certain pests – such as cabbage moths and Mexican bean beetles. And scientists have determined that marigolds secretion of limonene can help (at least a little) in repelling whiteflies.
5. They Attract Butterflies To Your Garden
Marigolds can also be a great plant choice for attracting butterflies to your garden. Tagetes patula can be particularly successful in drawing in these beautiful creatures.
Note, single flower varieties will be more beneficial for butterflies, as they will be more easily able to access their nectar.
6. Marigolds Can Be Used To Make Natural Yellow Food Colouring
Marigold petals are often used to bulk out saffron, or as a ‘poor mans’ saffron alternative. They can impart a natural yellow colouring to food.
They can be used in soups, stews etc., or to make a natural colored icing for cakes or confectionary.
7. Marigolds Can Be Cut For Floral Displays
Marigolds will, of course, add a beautiful pop of colour in your garden. But you can also cut them for floral displays inside your home. You can also string marigolds to make beautiful garlands for your home or garden, or for a special event. Such garlands are popular for weddings and other special occasions in India, and are also popular for the Mexican Day of the Dead.
This Content has originally written by Elizabeth Waddington and published on April 22, 2020. No Copyright/IPR breach is intended.
Photo by Rubaitul Azad from Pexels
