Marigolds are loved for their bright and warm colors that add a cheerful aura to gardens. These popular annual flowers are not only admired for their appearance but also for their practical benefits.

Marigolds have a strong odor that repels many common garden pests like aphids and cutworms, making them a reliable choice for gardeners seeking to protect their plants.

Marigolds, with their natural pest-repellent properties, are ideal companion plants. They can be integrated into vegetable gardens, flower beds, and borders to create a protective barrier that helps keep harmful insects away.

By planting marigolds near compatible companion plants, you can enhance the health and growth of your garden.

Benefits of Marigold Companion Planting

Here are the remarkable benefits of marigold companion planting: it naturally enhances garden health, fosters biodiversity, supports pollinators, and minimizes the need for chemicals. Your garden will flourish like never before!

Benefit	Details
Pest Control	Marigolds help control aphids, nematodes, and whiteflies, acting as a natural pest deterrent.
Attract Beneficial Insects	They attract ladybugs and wasps, which are natural enemies of many harmful garden pests.
Soil Health	Deep roots improve soil structure and health, preventing erosion and reducing evaporation.
Biodiversity	Increase biodiversity by attracting various pollinators and supporting a healthy ecosystem.
Fragrance	The strong fragrance of marigolds acts as a natural repellent for many pests, keeping your garden healthy.
Practical Benefits	Provide dense cover to suppress weeds and reduce the need for herbicides, offering a practical solution.

Looking to learn about companion planting? Find more insights in my other guides:

• Collard companion plants
• Lavender companion plants
• Ginger companion plants
• Cauliflower companion plants

Best Companion Plants for Marigolds

Adding marigolds to your garden promotes a healthier, more productive environment. Discover the best companion plants to pair with marigolds for optimal garden health and growth.

Marigolds Companion Vegetables

1. Cucumbers

Growing cucumbers with marigolds is a great idea. Their musky fragrance and spicy scent repel pests like squash bugs, aphids, and thrips. Marigolds also attract pollinators, which helps your crop yield more.

Save space by growing cucumbers on a trellis or along a fence. This gives you more room for other plants and flowers. It’s very rewarding to see fresh veggies without worrying about flies and beetles.

Interplanting marigolds creates a natural barrier at the border of your planting area. This provides many benefits and makes your garden more enjoyable in the heat.

2.  Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes with marigolds is fun and easy. Marigolds repel pests that harm tomatoes and attract pollinators like bees and bumble bees to help pollinate them.

They also keep tomato-loving nematodes away from the roots, ensuring healthy plants. With sun and room, both will give great harvests. In my experience, marigolds’ underground work helps keep tomatoes safe and productive.

3. Squash

Gardeners love to plant squash in the summer. Marigolds can help combat pesky critters and insects like beetles and nematodes. When spring turns to midsummer, squash begins to blossom and mature.

Planting marigolds near squash can deter these pests. This partnership also attracts pollinators, which helps squash plants grow. Warm days in fall lead to bountiful harvests of mature crops.

4. Carrots

Carrots grow well at home with marigolds. When you interplant them, the bold marigold blooms look nice next to the fine-textured foliage. This system improves soil texture and aeration, making it easier for carrots to grow.

Marigolds absorb and release nutrients without competing for resources. They also aid in deterring pests like carrot rust flies and insects. This makes your carrots sweeter and more delicious.

The strong aroma of marigolds masks the enticing scent of carrots to pests. This natural pest control ensures a healthy harvest and increases the carotenoid content in your crop.

5. Radishes

I love planting radishes with marigolds. Interplanting them helps prevent weeds and loosens the soil. Marigolds attract pollinators and keep Flea beetles and aphids away from the radish crop.

Radishes grow well in rows or in between other plants. Their shallow roots don’t compete for nutrients, and the scent of marigolds scares off pesky bugs. This combination aids growth and keeps the crop healthy.

6. Lettuce

Marigolds help keep aphids and slugs away from lettuce. You don’t need much fertilizer or water because lettuce is easy to grow.

Plant lettuce in rows and use interplanting to keep bugs and critters away. Marigolds provide shade to cool the lettuce in the hot summer sun, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

With marigolds, your lettuce is safe from nematodes and beetles, preventing them from destroying your plants. Marigolds are the best companions, stopping pests in their tracks and ensuring a healthy harvest.

7. Potatoes  

When you plant marigolds near potatoes, they help keep away beetles and rabbits. This reduces damage and keeps your crop safe. Marigolds add color to the garden and don’t take too many nutrients, leaving more for the potatoes.

Marigolds produce a compound in the soil that fights nematodes. This helps the potatoes grow better with fewer blemishes and less risk. In the full sun, marigolds protect the potato leaves, making the summer harvest more productive and mature.

Marigolds also repel the Colorado beetle, helping your potatoes stay healthy.

8. Peppers 

Peppers are excellent companions for marigolds. These sun-loving plants enjoy the same growing conditions and provide mutual benefits. Marigolds help fend off common pests that afflict peppers, such as aphids and nematodes.

When you plant peppers with marigolds, the beneficial insects that marigolds attract can prey on the insects that trouble peppers. Both plants love full sun and do well when they have plenty of it.

In my garden, I found that marigolds helped protect my peppers from pests naturally. It’s one of the best combinations for a healthy garden.

Marigolds Companion Herbs

9. Basil

Basil is a great herb to grow with marigolds. The strong scent of marigolds helps repel insects like aphids and nematodes. This protects basil from pests.

Plant basil seeds in raised beds or gardens. It grows well in the fall and enjoys the heat. The fragrance of basil is pleasant for humans but keeps slugs and snails away.

Marigolds help prevent diseases like mildew caused by too much rain. The properties of marigolds and the variety of basil make them perfect companions in your garden.

10. Lavender

Lavender is a great companion for marigolds. It’s easy to plant and needs little care. The bright purple blooms attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

Together, lavender and marigolds form an insect-repelling barrier, protecting tomatoes, peppers, and other edible crops. Both plants can grow in various soil types and help keep your garden safe from harmful insects.

11. Sage

Sage loves the sun and partial shade. The purple flowers of sage add a nice pop to the garden. Its strong aroma can prevent harmful insects like aphids, mites, and spider mites.

Sage grows best in sandy soil and enjoys hot climates. It’s also drought-tolerant. Planting sage with marigolds creates a stunning garden with red, yellow, and orange colors. Both need similar growing conditions.

Adding sage to your garden gives you a delicious culinary herb that keeps your garden healthy and pretty. It handles tough conditions and its unique textures make it stand out.

12. Oregano

Oregano is a great plant to grow next to marigolds. These herbs are very beneficial and can help protect other plants. They attract good insects like lacewings and hoverflies that eat bad bugs like aphids and whiteflies.

In my garden, I planted marigolds and oregano together, and they did very well. The herb is very aromatic, compact, and perfect for cooking. Plus, it loves sunny and drought-tolerant conditions. This combination creates a harmful insect barrier, making the garden safer for other crops.

13. Thyme

This aromatic herb grows low and flourishes in full sun. It attracts good bugs like bees and ladybugs while repelling bad ones such as aphids and beetles.

In my experience, thyme and marigolds together form a powerful combination that can effectively protect herbs and veggies from harmful insects. I planted thyme along the border and edges of my flower bed and saw great results.

The thyme creates a pest-repelling fence when placed in front of the marigolds. This setup helps keep the garden healthy and thriving by reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

14. Dill

Marigolds are great for your garden because they help keep pests away. I love planting dill near marigolds. Dill is prone to pesky caterpillars, slugs, and rabbits. These critters love dill, but marigolds can deter them. This helps protect your homemade pickles from getting ruined.

Be careful when adding dill with other plants. It can stunt the growth of some vegetables, like carrots and eggplant.

Marigolds Companion Flowers

15. Salvia

Planting these sun-loving plants together is a delight. They both love heat and sun, blooming well in containers.

They attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making the landscape lively. Plant dill at the edge and marigolds in the center to create a nice height contrast and ensure enough space.

The key is to ensure both plants have similar requirements. The vivid yellow and orange flowers of marigolds with purple salvia create a stunning garden. Enjoy creating a beautiful space with enthusiastic effort.

16. Zinnias

Zinnias make a striking combination with their brightly colored bloom. These flowers attract many pollinators, adding more life to your garden.

Zinnias and marigolds can withstand heat and drought. Their strikingly vivid colors look amazing together all season long. Plant them under full sun for the best display.

These flowers have the ability to stay beautiful in hot summer months. Zinnias don’t necessarily benefit from marigolds, but they make the garden more colorful and lively.

17. Nasturtium

Nasturtium plants can grow in clumps or vines, adding beauty. They bloom all the time and attract beneficial insects like pollinators. Plus, they are edible and can be a nice addition to your veggie patch.

Nasturtium also helps in repelling harmful insects, keeping your garden safe. I’ve found that planting nasturtium near my marigolds has made a prolific difference. They add flowering beauty during dull periods and make the garden lively.

How to Plant Marigolds with Companions

Planting marigolds with companion plants is a fantastic way to ensure a healthy and vibrant garden. Here are some practical tips to help you get started.

• Soil Preparation

Use a spade to loosen the soil thoroughly. A balanced mix of organic matter is important for healthy growth. Good drainage is essential to prevent waterlogging and rot.

• Planting

Sow marigold seeds or seedlings in sun-facing spots that receive at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Ensure the soil is moist but not too wet. Plant marigolds directly into the ground or in pots, making sure the roots are covered but not too deep. Space the plants about 6-12 inches apart to allow for good air circulation and to prevent overcrowding.

• Watering

Water the plants thoroughly after planting to help them establish. Use a water butt to collect rainwater for a more organic approach. Moderate watering is key; ensure the soil is moist but avoid waterlogging.

• Fertilizing

Apply a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients. Nitrogen is particularly important for healthy foliage and blooms. An organic compost can be added as a layer at the base of the plants to boost growth.

• Companion Planting

Interspersing marigolds with other plants like basil, tomatoes, and peppers can improve the overall health of your garden. These companion plants can help repel pests and enhance moisture retention.

• Care Tips

Pinching off the tips of the stems can promote bushier growth and more blooms. Keep the area free from weeds to reduce competition for nutrients. Adding mulch around the plants can help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.

• Check Regularly

Inspect your marigolds and their companions weekly to ensure they are free from pests and diseases. Healthy plants will produce beautiful flowers and add attractive colors to your garden.

FAQ’s

Q: What Should You Not Plant Next to Marigolds?

A: Beans and cabbage don’t grow well next to marigolds. They can negatively affect each other’s growth and health. To ensure a healthy garden, keep these plants separate.

Q: Do Marigolds Grow Better in Pots or in the Ground?

A: Marigolds grow well in both pots and the ground. They are great outdoor plants with long-lasting color and texture. Use ordinary commercial potting soil, especially clay pots, as they help marigolds establish roots quickly and respond well to transplanting.

Q: Do Marigolds Come Back Every Year?

A: Marigolds, such as French and African types, are annuals. They sprout, grow, flower, and die within one year. However, they often self-seed. Their seed drops overwinter and germinate in the spring. This means they can come back without the gardener replanting them.

Q: What Month Is Best to Plant Marigolds?

A: Marigolds should be planted in the spring after the last frost. Start seeds indoors about 2 months before the expected last frost. They will germinate in warm soil within 14 days if the temperature is between 70°F and 75°F.

Q: How to Make Marigolds Bushier?

A: To make your marigolds bushier, pinch off the tops of the plants once they are established. This will encourage them to grow fuller and prevent them from getting leggy. Doing this helps the marigolds to keep blooming.

Conclusion

Planting marigolds as companion plants is highly beneficial. They protect vegetable patches and flower beds from pests while enhancing soil health. Their sunny disposition adds beauty and harmony to the garden. By attracting pollinators and supporting other plants, marigolds help create a balanced and flourishing ecosystem. Use these nurturers to ensure a healthy garden.