Marigolds in tomato beds

[Dynamo]

I recently watched a You Tube video that looked around a bed in a greenhouse with tomato plants in it. What surprised me was that the bed was covered in what looked like marigold plants so you couldn't actually see any of the ground beneath the tomato plants for green marigold foliage. I've been reading that marigolds are beneficial in many ways for the garden in that they repel aphids and they'll also attract pollinating insects. The only downside that I can figure is that they'd diminish the amount of nutrients going to the tomato plant in much the same way as allowing weeds to grow around the tomato plant would. I'm guessing that maybe adding extra fertilizer would compensate for this though. What I'd like to know is if anyone here does a similar thing around their tomato plants. I'm really keen on growing marigolds around the based on my plants so I think I'll do it in these beds around my tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers etc.

[Mr Bones]

We grow French marigolds round toms (all over the place really) and can't say I've noticed any nutrient robbing. They look nice too

[4Shoes]

We grow French marigolds round toms (all over the place really) and can't say I've noticed any nutrient robbing. They look nice too

Do you just sow a few seeds when you transplant the tomatoes, or grow in modules as you grow the toms?

[Bren In Pots]

I grow basil as well as French marigolds amongst my toms, I did try nasturtiums one year but they took over

[Small pumpkin]

I do the same as Bren. Marigolds, basil and I do nasturtiums ( just one plant). The nasturtium gets trained up and tied in and heavily pruned at least once in the season. Never noticed the tomatoes suffering because of it. But they are all very good companion plants.

[Thelma Sanders]

Do you just sow a few seeds when you transplant the tomatoes, or grow in modules as you grow the toms?

I grow mine in modules, but often as not self sown seedlings to appear, but a bit later in the year (just when the self sown tomatoes appear, funnily enough

I think if I didn't want tomatoes as early as possible, and I stopped all the early cossetting - I'd still get toms and marigolds in the greenhouse, along with the rocket that self seeds.

[Dynamo]

Thanks for the advice folks. Looks like my beds are going to be quite decorative

[ecudc]

Marigolds are great for keeping out aphids and whitefly. I had about 10 plants in my 5m by 3m poly last year and that was enough to cause quite a whiff when you went in.

[Snoop Puss]

Do marigolds deter pollinators?

I don't have a greenhouse, but am thinking of dotting them about the veg patch.

[Thelma Sanders]

Never noticed them deterring bees and hoverflies here

[muck lover]

I have french marigolds in my tunnel. I like the scent. I also have a few limnanthes plants and borage. Borage self seeds prolifically in a tunnel but pollinators go crazy for it and if it gets too much I pull it up and use the plant in a similar way to comfrey. They are in the same family. Flowers are edible too although really only a decorative novelty. Unless of course you like Pimms...
Besides,all the above companion plants are cheerful and that’s a good reason to grow them too.

[bramble]

I grow tomatoes in buckets and always plant marigolds along side them.
Havnt had aphids in years.
It might just be luck but I think they must help.

[Dynamo]

Do marigolds deter pollinators?

I'd assume they don't seeing as the flowers are there to attract them.

[Dynamo]

Marigolds are great for keeping out aphids and whitefly.

That's good to know about whitefly. They decimated my sprouts a couple of years ago. I think I'll be planting marigolds around them this year.

[Snoop Puss]

I'd assume they don't seeing as the flowers are there to attract them.

Duh! Of course. Thanks.