Most Marigold Companion Plants prefer sun-kissed, moist soil with plenty of organic matter and snug comfortably with Marigolds due to constant needs.
So, read on and jot down some Marigold-friendly plants, which are a must-include for your spring and summer garden!
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Why Are Marigolds Good Companion Plants?
Marigold (Tagetes sp.) is a member of the Asteraceae family and native to South-Central America.
Their members are loaded with many phytochemicals that support the health of other plants.
Likewise, all the Marigold varieties stand as strong protectors of the garden and improve the soil quality.
So, let’s look at some benefits of Marigold companion planting!
- Marigolds are hostile toward pests such as aphids, beetles, earworms, mosquitoes, etc. Hence, they keep their neighbors safe from opportunistic pesky bugs.
- They release a chemical called thiophene from the roots that repel 14 types of soil-dwelling nematodes. But French Marigold (Tagetes patula) cultivars are the most effective.
- The scent of Marigold flowers attracts other beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, along with the pest-hungry ladybirds.
- You can utilize the sun-loving feature of tall Marigold varieties to offer shelter to shade-loving companion plants.
- Phytochemicals from Marigolds are powerful enough to cease the growth of certain fungal species and nullify some significant plant diseases.
- Sometimes Marigolds help to improve the taste of certain herbs if you plant them nearby.
Some popular varieties to enlist are African Marigold, Mexican Tarragon, Lemmon Marigold, Mountain Marigold and Signet Marigold.
Marigold Companion Plants (With Planting Methods)
To intercrop other plants with Marigolds, choose the ones with similar growing conditions, which can mutually benefit both plants.
So, mind spacing, lighting, watering, and soil requirements while keeping Marigolds as companions for herbs, vegetables, and other flowers.
1. Marigold Companion Herbs
Some aromatic herbs serve as the best Marigold Companion Plants because the fragrance of these herbs is unappealing to some pests.
Moreover, Marigolds amplify the pest-repelling quirk using their own.
Also, Marigolds attract the bugs responsible for pollination and keep your herbal garden prolific.
Let’s discuss some herbs that pair well with Marigolds in your garden.
a. Basil (Ocimum species)
Requirements
- Bright to Partial Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Porous, Slight Acidic to Neutral, Organic Loamy Soil (pH 6-7.5)
- Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Plant by encircling Basils around Marigolds 12-16 inches far from each other to form an aromatic barrier.
Mutual Advantages
- The pairing helps repel harmful pests and forms an aromatic shield to protect nearby non-companion plants.
- Marigolds call out pollinators for non-aromatic Basils and give them a shot in pollination.
- Additionally, Marigolds are responsible for improving the flavor of the Basil leaves.
b. Mint (Mentha species)
Requirements
- Direct or Partial Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Rich and Moist Soil (pH 6-7)
- Watering every 3 days or twice a week (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Use Mints as ground covers by planting them at a distance of 18-24 inches from Marigolds.
Mutual Advantages
- Pungent Mint leaves and Marigold flowers will fend off pests and keep diseases in check.
- Low-growing Mint will suppress the growth of unwanted weeds around Marigolds and other plants.
- Likewise, tall Marigolds will shelter the Mints from the scorching sun.
c. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Requirements
- Direct Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Well-draining and Moist Soil (pH 5.5-8)
- Watering every 1.5-2 weeks (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Plant Rosemary together with Marigolds in rows at a distance of 24-36 inches apart.
Mutual Advantages
- The aromatic properties of both plants fend off pests and diseases together.
- Rosemary plants fortify the soil by surging the abundance of advantageous free-living nematodes.
- Colorful Marigold flowers attract pollinators for Rosemaries to boost their pollination.
d. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Requirements
- Full Sunlight (5-10 hours daily)
- Sandy, Loamy, and Porous Soil (pH 5-8 or 7)
- Watering every 2-4 weeks (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Row or ground planting Marigolds and Thymes about 12-24 inches apart will benefit both.
Mutual Advantages
- Thymes suppress the growth of weeds around other plants and Marigolds due to their low-growing habit.
- The root chemicals of Marigolds and Thyme deter root-boring worms from each other and neighboring plants.
2. Marigold Companion Vegetables
Not only do Marigolds look lovely in the flowering garden, but they also make a beneficial impact in vegetable patches.
They attract pollinators, deter pests and diseases and bolster the soil quality for your vegetables.
However, some vegetables like Beans and Cabbage are Marigold bad companion plants!
Let’s look at some of the best vegetable companions for Marigolds.
a. Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
Requirements
- Full to Partial Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Porous and Rich Organic Soil (pH 6 or 6.5-7)
- Every 2-3 days or Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Space Pepper about 18-36 inches apart in rows with Marigolds.
Mutual Advantages
- French Marigolds enhance the taste of Pepper fruits when planted together.
- Marigold flowers will saturate the vegetable gardens with pollinators and cooperating Peppers during the blooming spells.
- Moreover, Marigold’s root exudates will help deter pathogenic nematodes and eelworms that target the Pepper roots.
b. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
Requirements
- Direct Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Seeping Soil Amended with Drainage Elements (pH 6 or 6.2-6.8 or 7)
- Weekly Watering or Twice Daily (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Thin out Tomatoes and Marigolds about 12-24 inches apart in rows.
Mutual Advantages
- Intercropping with Marigolds will elevate the fruit yields in Tomato plants.
- Root phytochemicals from Marigold will seep into the soil and slay the gall-causing root-knot nematodes.
- Marigolds act as a trap crop to ensnare mites, slugs, and snails, thus saving the Tomatoes from their ordeal.
- Additionally, Marigolds save Tomatoes from several fungal diseases.
c. Squash (Cucurbita species)
Requirements
- Full Sunlight (6-18 hours daily)
- Nutrient-Rich and Fluffy Soil (pH 6 or 6.5-6.8 or 7)
- Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Row Squash about 24-48 inches apart from Marigolds. You can use a trellis to prevent overcrowding of Squashes.
Mutual Advantages
- Marigold’s pungent help to repel pests like vine borers, beetles, pickle worms, aphids, and whiteflies from Squash.
- Also, Marigold attracts recurring plant visitors in summer, like Squash bees and butterflies.
- Weeds bother Marigolds, but the populous Squash prevents them from getting out of control.
d. Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae)
Requirements
- Full to Restricted Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Organically Rich and Porous Soil (pH 6-6.8 or 7)
- Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Plant Marigolds and Cauliflowers about 24 inches apart in succession.
Mutual Advantages
- Marigolds repel pests like aphids and nematodes away from Cauliflowers.
- Likewise, Marigolds help to trap soilborne worms that drill Cauliflower roots.
- Also, Marigolds enrich the garden with pollinators for Cauliflowers during spring and summer.
- Marigolds don’t dry up the soil like other plants, leaving the moisture for water-loving Cauliflowers.
e. Onion (Allium cepa)
Requirements
- Direct Sunlight (11-16 hours daily)
- Well-draining and Highly Organic Soil (pH 6 or 6.2-6.8 or 7)
- Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Keep Onions and Marigolds about 12-18 inches apart in rows, or situate Marigolds as border plants to surround Onions.
Mutual Advantages
- The pest-repellant activity of Onions and Marigolds complement each other to secure them from annoying bugs.
- Marigolds act as a food source for certain wasps that feed on the pests of Onions.
- Onions are light feeders like Marigolds, rarely competing for nutrients and legroom.
3. Marigold Companion Flowers
The colorful Marigold flowers pair beautifully with other flowers, enhance pollinator luring activities, and act as a trap crop.
So, let’s learn about some ornamental plants that fit perfectly beside Marigolds.
a. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Requirements
- Direct Sunlight (6-8 hours daily)
- Well-draining Soil with Plenty of Organic Matter (pH 5.5-7.5)
- Water Every 5-7 Days (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Space Zinnias and Marigolds about 8-18 inches apart in rows or clumps.
Mutual Advantages
- Zinnia and Marigolds’ color contrast and fragrant flowers attract pollinators, like butterflies and bees.
- Also, parasitic wasps and ladybirds often visit the flowers in search of pests and keep them in control.
- Marigolds kill the soil-borne nematodes and keep the soil secured.
b. Lavender (Lavandula species)
Requirements
- Direct Sunlight with Afternoon Shade (6-10 hours daily)
- Sandy, Well-percolating Soil (pH 6.5-8)
- Watering Every 1-2 Weeks (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Border Lavenders around Marigolds by spacing 12-36 inches between the plants.
Mutual Advantages
- Aromatic Lavender flowers form a shield around your garden that repel pests and critters like mice, rabbits, and deer.
- Meanwhile, the Marigold blooms draw the pollinators beneficial for Lavenders like hoverflies, butterflies, and bumblebees.
- The pungent smell of Lavender scares away parasitic bugs like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
c. Cosmos (Cosmos species)
Requirements
- Full Sun to Partial Shade (6-14 hours daily)
- Well-draining and Medium Wet Soil (pH 6 or 6.5-7 or 8)
- Weekly Watering (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Plant Cosmos and Marigolds about 6-18 inches afar and adjacent to each other.
Mutual Advantages
- Pollen and nectar of Cosmos flowers attract lacewings that hunt down aphids, scales, and thrips for Marigolds.
- Similarly, Marigold blooms tempt crucial pollinators for Cosmos flowers during summer.
- The color varieties of both plants create vibrancy in your backyard garden beds with other similar colorful flowers.
d. Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea cyanus)
Requirements
- Full Sunlight (6-15 hours daily)
- Well-drained and Moist Soil (pH 5.5-7.8)
- Water Weekly (spring and summer)
Spacing and Planting
Keep Marigolds about 8-18 inches far from Bachelor’s Button in rows or as borders.
Mutual Advantages
- Bachelor’s Button and Marigold flowers mutually enchant bees and butterflies with sweet nectar keeping the pollinator count in check.
- Marigolds clear the harmful nematodes from the soil, protecting the roots of Bachelor’s Buttons.
- Likewise, the insect-repelling activity of Marigolds keeps the pests away from Bachelor’s Button and other flowers in your garden.
From Editorial Team
Growing Marigolds with other plants can foster their individual growth and add diversity to your garden.
But it’s equally vital to identify good and bad companions while managing proper sunlight, spacing, water, and soil together with Marigolds.
