A season of Marigolds

by Daniel
(Spring Grove, IL.)

To pick your favorite season, most people would say Summer. But I am not like most people and the more I look, the more I notice the differences.




I like Spring, not the rainy, cold and muddy spring but the new life, warming air, new spring flowers and greening trees. This is when we plant our gardens, we get out and rid ourselves of the effects of cabin fever and we feel free again.

I love the cool nights--good sleeping weather and warm afternoons. I love the opportunity to plant my garden--earlier than most gardeners; I become impatient and want to extend my growing season. I love the trees growing their new leaves, and birds that come home after migrating down south.

Though my garden may be small and just getting started, I know that it is growing when I get my annual flat of Marigolds. I plant several Marigolds around my garden because my grandpa did in his garden when I was a kid.

But now I plant them to ward off all those pesky insects and it also adds color to a green garden. I had no problems with insects last year so I guess Marigolds do help in a veggie garden.

So for about $11, I help protect my garden and add some good color among the veggies. So run over to your favorite garden center and pick up a flat of Marigolds and put them in your garden and see if they protect your veggies this year.

Comments for A season of Marigolds

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Apr 29, 2010
 Where to Plant them?
by: Kim

I always plant mine as a border on the outside of the garden so the critters don't even want to go in. If you wanted to plant them between rows or elsewhere, I am sure they wouldn't hurt anything. To my knowledge they get along with all other plants.
Apr 29, 2010
 Re: location
by: Daniel Skidds

I put the Marigolds around the outside of my garden, since I plant in raised beds made of 2x6" boards. My boxes are small 6x12' and 4x8'. So I create a Marigold border around the garden from outsiders. But if you plant in large plots I would make my border and then plant every 3rd row for extra protection. Thank you so much for your comments on my page. It's great to read your comments.
Apr 28, 2010
 location?
by: Audrey

Does it matter where I plant my marigolds in the vegetable garden? Are there certain plants that do not like them? My grandmother always had flowers planted in between some of the rows. I can still picture the two or three rows of tiny orange poppy flowers delicately growing at the end of her garden.

Thanks for the reminder!
Apr 28, 2010
 I agree
by: Kim

Marigolds really do help not only with insect pests but rabbits. They hate marigolds. Last year I had several rabbits in early spring and they continued to wreak havoc on my early crops until it was finally warm enough that I could plant marigolds. Once they were planted the rabbits were gone.
Apr 28, 2010
 Great Idea!
by: Sue Merriam

Great idea, Daniel! :-)

I love marigolds, and I've found they help keep the pests away from my garden as well. There's nothing more cheering than seeing those beautiful blooms among the veggies.

Thanks for sharing!

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