Kitchen Garden Forum

It would appear from previous postings that the answer is, a resounding NO!

Mazmezroz, with regard to whitefly, we have been using the companion planting method of putting marigold plants in with the tomatoes, and it has seemed to work for the past five years, at least. I hope, having said that, that this year is not going to prove me wrong.

Pidgeons are "flying rats" and gray squirrels are "tree rats". Unfortunately, do not have a 'scaring apparatus' for either.

One thing I find irritating, is the man from the RSPB stating that spadgers are on the decline. If he planted a runner bean row in his garden, come the summer, when they are in full flower, he would find just how rare they were, picking the flowers off the plants.

Rant over!!

valmarg

Completely with Valmarg on the effectiveness of companion planting with marigolds. We noticed aphids on our outdoor tomatoes early in their season, so put a few marigolds at middle and ends of each row. The aphids disappeared and didn't return.

Further, we found when we interplanted our broadbeans with marigolds (just to see what would happen), we only had one plant out of about 50-ish, with blackfly for the entire season. The rest were absolutely clean. We didn't chop the tops out either.

Needless to say, I have saved vast quantities of seed and will be planting marigolds all over the place this year!

As my polytunnel is going to be stuffed with tomatoes I feel that I had better get some seed in ready to help banish whitefly. I have two double rows of broad beans as well so will interplant there also with marigolds. Thanks for the possitive suggestions

Hi Chez,
Would these be Pot Marigold or Tageties that you planted. I plant Pot Marigold around and the Blackfly loooove them and also Nasturtiums which have the same effect. Some people use Tageties which to me do not seem to have the lure of the others.

Hello Johnboy

They are French Marigolds, 'Red Brocade' and were from Suttons Seeds. Mostly burnt red colour, with petal edges and flower centre in yellow. I know the more yellow they are, the more they attract some insects so maybe it is because they are predominantly red? Hmmm, it will be interesting to see what happens this year then.

The marigolds I have planted in with the tomatoes have all been bright yellow. One of the varieties I have used is French marigold, Safari Primrose from Moles Seeds. I have used other French marigold varieties, but they have all been bright yellow, because they are the only colour marigold I like. They still seem to work!

valmarg

i wus told its the english marigold you need, as Johnboy says pot marigold. calendula...rgds paul.

Interesting. Have just found on loads on French Marigolds being used for pest control. I knew it worked, but didn't know why. Do a google search and you will see what I mean - BBC website, Allan T mentions them and they are used in the student gardens at Kew, to name a few. The point of using French Marigolds appears to be that they they repel greenfly and blackfly by producing an offensive scent. From what I understand, Calendula attracts ladybirds and hoverflies which feed on blackfly. Makes sense to me and our experience with FM confirms this. We have grown broad beans for about six years now and until we planted our French Marigolds amongst them for the first time last year, always had blackfly on them.

As an aside, OH loves Calendula and marigolds in general. Like Valmarg, he loves yellow flowers. I just happen to be more of a pink, purple, deep red, lilac, etc., person and don't like marigolds at all. Red Brocade was a compromise, so OH got his marigolds and I didn't have to have yellow flowers. Unless they're daffodils, of course.

looks like theyre both useful in different ways. rgds paul.

Does that mean Mabel and Bert get their notice to quit or redundancy?
What's that worth then?

I use small and large marigolds around the tomatoes and I plan to use them this season with everything. I gathered loads of seed and bought another few packets.

The ones I grew last year were a burnt orange with almost burgundy tips to the petals. The centres were yellow and some were burgundy (i think)

Anyway, it seems to work and seed is easily harvested.

As for Mabel and Burt, maybe they can be re-deployed to another department.

Sorry Ches, but I am not a yellow flower lover. I'm with you on the pinks, purples, blues, etc.

I only grow marigolds for companion planting now. I used to grow them to sell, and used what was left for companion planting. My customer has moved away, but having found the companion planting worked, that's the reason I now grow them. The reason for the bright yellow comment, was that I am not a lover of bicolour flowers.

Hope this makes sense!!

valmarg

Bottles of water do NOT scare off cats. Similarly, CD's only work for a while.

Hello Valmarg - I don't like bicolour flowers either

So bottles of water don't work. Hmmm.. Another thing I've heard scares cats away is lengths of old hosepipe - makes 'em think there literally are snakes in the grass. Anyone gonna disillusion me about that one?

Personally, I have a dog, which I find is the very best deterrent anyway. She only wants to play, but the cats don't know that (as she tanks towards them at 100 mph).