Is it possible that my Marigolds are damaging my other veggies?

[AnitaRL]

I have several different vegetables growing in big planter bags. I was told that planting Marigolds as companions would help to keep my veggies healthy.

Yet, ever since I planted the Marigolds next to the vegetables, fruit has been turning yellow and dropping off the plants. Is this just coincidence or are the Marigolds trying to kill off my other veggies??

[rustylady]

What sort of veg are you growing? And what sort of marigolds? French marigolds are very strong smelling and supposedly help to deter whitefly and other pests. I've never heard of them harming other plants.

[AnitaRL]

I had French marigolds (3 small-ish plants) growing next to tomatoes and chili peppers. And Mexican marigolds (2 per planter bag) growing next to courgettes & cucumbers, and bell peppers & aubergine respectively.

I thought the fact that the fruit were falling off could have been a pollination issue.....but my cucumbers for example are self-pollinating.

I've removed the marigolds anyway, just in case. I guess I'll find out whether the flowers and the problems were related in the next couple of weeks!

[lainey lou]

Do you think you could be overwatering?

[rustylady]

Or underwatering?

[AnitaRL]

Of course both under- and over watering could be a possibility...but I'm quite meticulous and systematic when it comes to watering - I always check the soil beforehand. Plus in every other respect, all the plants look super, super healthy.

[Snadger]

I have several different vegetables growing in big planter bags. I was told that planting Marigolds as companions would help to keep my veggies healthy.

Yet, ever since I planted the Marigolds next to the vegetables, fruit has been turning yellow and dropping off the plants. Is this just coincidence or are the Marigolds trying to kill off my other veggies??

June drop perhaps? What 'fruit' do you mean Anita?

[AnitaRL]

The 'fruit' of the plant of course.....the bit that comes after flowering (hopefully). (in my case that would be, baby cucumber, tomato, pepper and aubergine)

Now that I come to think of it....the concept of 'june drop' (though not strictly applicable to cucumbers and tomatoes) might make a bit of sense. If the vegetables and the marigold were competing for space, water and especially nutrients, it sounds feasible that the veg simply couldn't cope. Perhaps they put so much energy into 'fighting' the marigold, that they had to sacrifice some of their offspring.

[Patchninja]

No, I don't think the marigolds have hurt your plants. People have been growing them with their toms for donkeys. I do.

[zazen999]

More than likely not being pollinated rather than 'fighting the marigold'. Are you sure it's a marigold?

Which cucumbers are self pollinating?

[Florence Fennel]

I grow tomatoes in flower buckets and grow a marigold and a bit of basil in each bucket with no problems.

[maypril]

The 'fruit' of the plant of course.....the bit that comes after flowering (hopefully). (in my case that would be, baby cucumber, tomato, pepper and aubergine)

I don't know about Germany, but here in Britain we've had a long, hard winter that has delayed our growing season by a few weeks. It's still a bit early for those summer veg fruits. You can expect to have a few early drops if the season is late.