Gardening expert Ellen Mary explains why you should plant marigolds near your tomatoes
Cultivating tomatoes is an incredibly fulfilling experience, yielding an abundance of fresh, nutritious produce that surpasses the flavor of anything found in the supermarket. Recently, I planted tomatoes alongside basil, hoping to enhance the flavour of my harvest.
The plant has already begun to produce an impressive amount of fruit, showing no signs of damage. Eager to expand my tomato crop and with June being the last opportunity to plant, I visited my local garden centre to get another tomato plant.
This time, I also picked up some marigolds, renowned for being one of the best companion plants for tomatoes, particularly in deterring pests.
Not only do marigolds provide vibrant, prolific blooms that add colour to any area, but they also offer numerous benefits.
According to gardening experts Jim and Mary Competti of This Is My Garden, marigolds are “pure gold”, helping you “grow your best crop of tomatoes ever”.
Marigolds are exceptionally resilient, withstanding drought, pests, and heat. They attract beneficial insects that enhance the flavour of tomato plants while repelling unwanted pests, reports the Express.
The potent scent of marigolds is particularly effective in repelling whiteflies and, even more impressively, mosquitoes, ensuring a safer gardening experience.
While some green thumbs prefer to pot their marigolds and position them next to their tomato plants, I decided to plant mine directly in the soil near the plant.
Both methods are acceptable – the objective is to situate those marigolds as close as possible to your plants to optimise their advantages.
I initiated the process by planting my tomato plant, which had already begun to bear fruit in its original pot.
I selected a sunny, sheltered location in my garden with soil enriched with ample well-decomposed homemade garden compost. During planting, I ensured the hole was sufficiently deep and that the plant was almost entirely buried up to its crown in the soil for stability.
Moving to the marigolds, I made certain to plant these vibrant blooms within 20cm of the tomatoes.
This proximity ensures they provide all the benefits of companion plants and makes watering straightforward when hydrating the tomato plants during the summer months.
Once planted, I watered both the tomatoes and marigolds deeply. Deep watering encourages plants to develop stronger and deeper root systems, enhancing their resilience to arid conditions as these roots can access moisture buried deeper in the soil.