![]() In fact the USDA lists a total of 15 pests that attack marigolds included on their list are aphids, Japanese beetles, snails, and spider mites, just to name a few. Research conducted at Rutgers University concluded that marigolds failed to repel cabbage, carrot and onion pests. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support the notion that marigolds actually repel pests. Their pinnate leaves with toothed, lance-shaped leaflets are aromatic.įor generations, many vegetable gardeners have planted marigolds in their vegetable patches to repel pests. Tagetes patula, commonly called French marigold, is a compact annual that typically grows 6-12” tall and features single, semi-double, double or crested flowers (1-2” diameter) in shades of yellow, orange, red and bicolor. However, regardless of their name, all marigolds are native to subtropical America and have been cultivated in Mexico for over 2,000 years. Approximately 50 species are known, but in general, the three most common are African marigolds ( T. Their natural range extends from the southwestern United States into Argentina, with their greatest distribution being in south central Mexico. Marigolds belong to the aster family ( Asteraceae), genus Tagetes. Do they really benefit the garden as a repelling machine or are they just pretty and their repelling powers just a gardening myth? This sunny annual has been employed as a companion plant for generations just to do that - repel pests from the garden. I’ve heard marigold stories for years, how marigolds will repel every garden pest known to mankind, including bugs, snails, rabbits, ground hogs, and deer! I’ve even heard that it has been used to target and kill selected weeds. The seed catalogs are starting to show up in the mail, and the planning for next year’s garden is in the beginning stage, so before ordering a ton of marigold seeds, now would be a good time to do a little research on the magical repelling powers of the marigold plant. Did I mention weeding? Anyway, now that I have a little time to reflect back on the garden season as to what may or may have not worked well, I’ve been returning to that conversation with my neighbor about the wonders of the marigold. Now that the gardening season is over and the cover crop is planted, I’ve got a chance to catch my breath from sowing, planting, mulching, weeding and harvesting. I just had to ask, “You’re not having a beetle problem on your green beans?” He smiled and said, “Of course not I plant marigolds with my beans, and they keep the bugs out of the bean patch.” WOW! Could this be the silver bullet in controlling this obnoxious pest? Last July I was out in the vegetable garden, when a neighbor gardener approached and asked, “What are you doing?” I responded, “Smashing Mexican bean beetle larvae.” My neighbor gave me a puzzled look, followed by a smirking smile, as if I was committing a gardening no-no. ![]()
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