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Posted: Aug/20/2006 10:55 PM PST
I had found out years ago about the trick of planting marigolds next to tomato plants to keep bugs away, but a question just hit me today: Is it better for the tomatoes to plant the marigolds first and leave them there for a year or so before planting tomatoes? Just curious. |
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Posted: Aug/20/2006 11:04 PM PST
Marigolds are annuals though. |
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Posted: Aug/20/2006 11:12 PM PST
Oh. So I'd have to plant them each year? lol Guess that would answer my question then, huh? lol |
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Posted: Aug/21/2006 12:33 AM PST
Ted, If you let the marigolds self-seed, you may find that you will get new ones coming up the next year anyway. I had some that came up from seed from last year in my containers that I use for tomatoes. BTW, it really helps with the tomatoes too! I swear by it. Also works near roses.....aphids can't stand marigolds. |
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Posted: Aug/21/2006 2:51 AM PST
Oh, so I wouldn't have to plant new marigolds each year then? That's good. Trying to keep a simple thing going. My mom sometimes likes certain plants, but we'd have to replant them every stinkin' year. I HATED it. lol |
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Posted: Aug/21/2006 11:07 AM PST
Ted I have marigolds come back every year . If when your are dead heading them you pull the petals off of the base of the bloom and split the base open your will see the cluster of the marigolds flat seeds, (they are black tipped) just loosen them up and broad cast the seeds . the seeds will germinate the next spring and you will never have to buy another marigold . swindyi |
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Posted: Aug/21/2006 11:36 AM PST
Depending on snow cover you may get some of the seeds coming up from the previous year. But its not as successful as plants that are known as self sowers. I usually harvest a mountain of seeds.....whenever I deadhead....and then plant them in long trough-like windowbox containers in the spring. In 3 containers about 8" x 30" I can usually start about 750-900 seedlings without any trouble. Much easier than using the cell packs if you need allot of them....and far cheaper than buying that many, that's for sure! |
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Posted: Apr/21/2007 1:50 PM PST
I have used this for years and I just plant the marigolds along with the tomatoes...also borage is a good plant to use...both borage ...white and purple...and you can eat them along with your tomaotes or in your tea... here are a few site with great information on companion planting.. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/ vegetables/vcomp.asp if you can not click on them ...just copy and past |
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Posted: Apr/21/2007 7:10 PM PST
I have been reading on a few different sites about companion planting. A couple of them mentioned that besides bugs not liking the smell of the marigolds they also kill bad nematodes in the soil around them. One also said that they may have an herbicidal effect on beans and cabbage. Don't know if thats true or not. My mom always wanted marigolds in her garden too, as do I. Last year I had them all though the garden and collected tons of seed. When we tried to grow some this spring they wouldn't germinate. I am pretty sure we collected properly so I'm sure what is going on there. |
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Posted: May/25/2007 1:18 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by AngelsGarden I have been reading on a few different sites about companion planting. A couple of them mentioned that besides bugs not liking the smell of the marigolds they also kill bad nematodes in the soil around them. One also said that they may have an herbicidal effect on beans and cabbage. Don't know if thats true or not. My mom always wanted marigolds in her garden too, as do I. Last year I had them all though the garden and collected tons of seed. When we tried to grow some this spring they wouldn't germinate. I am pretty sure we collected properly so I'm sure what is going on there. You have to make sure that the seed head (dead bloom) stays on the plant long enough for the seeds to mature. When you open the seed head up, the marigold should be tightly packed with flat black tipped seeds. If they're whitish or not as dark as they should be you might not get any germination as these seeds haven't matured enough. Not sure if its possible to do anything to help them at that point. But considering how many you can get from even one plant, let alone dead headed bloom, they're not worth keeping or worrying about. |
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