After spending hours planting tomatoes in the greenhouse, carefully trying to fit every plant into its “perfect” place, I stood there looking at the remaining empty spaces between the beds and thought…
“Well… surely I can still squeeze something else in here.”
And that is how I ended up scattering calendula and marigold seeds all around the greenhouse.
Mostly because:
- these flowers are actually good companions for tomatoes,
- I had empty spaces bothering me,
- and I had few paper bags full of seeds I collected myself last year.
So naturally… into the soil they went.
The funny thing about self-collected seeds is that they always come with a tiny surprise. I honestly have no idea what colors or varieties will appear anymore. Over the years everything has happily mixed together. Maybe bright orange marigolds. Maybe pale yellow calendulas. Maybe something strange in-between. Future greenhouse me will find out eventually.
Calendula and marigolds are often recommended as companion plants because they can help attract pollinators and beneficial insects, while also making the greenhouse feel a little less like a tomato jungle. Whether they truly work magic or not — honestly, I just enjoy seeing flowers growing among the vegetables.
Also, if they all will grow I can always plant them outside or in the pots!
Gardening at this point feels like: “Let’s put this here and hope everybody survives.”
Now all that’s left is waiting to see what actually decides to grow!
Ilze
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When I used to grow tomatoes, I always planted marigolds along with
them, and never had any problems with pests. I love the concept of
companion planting, just love it.
I can relate!!! It always make me feel so rich when I have seeds in abundance. My experience is that marigolds make a huge difference when it comes to deterring pests. I usually have them all over my garden.
I hope these will grow and I can plant them out all over my garden 🙂 Will see! There is planty to do… and I might forgot to water them or prick out… How is the weather – did you get the rain?
I am sure they will. I sprinkle them over the garden beds I want them, usually while there’s still patches of snow out. Marigolds are so tolerant to everything.
No rain yet…
Fantastic – fewer possible bugs and a smiley surprise view every time you walk into the greenhouse . . . hope you get enough plants to repot and make the garden happy also 🙂 !
Thank you, Eha! How are you today!?
Thanks for asking . . . but a few too many problems at the moment to ‘moan about’ – day-by-day . . . one does the best possible . . .
I hope you have someone that can come and help!
Thanks – amongst a number of problems I have had inoperable rotor cuff in both arms for nearly two years – can only move my arms downwards and barely rotate them – had to move into a serviced studio as I could no longer garden or do major housework . . . the cleaning gets done and lunch and dinner ( not quite ‘my style’) brought in and I just ‘garden’ on the patio growing herbs and a few flowers 🙂 ! Que sera, sera !!!
Oh Eha, I knew you had problems with your arms, but I didn’t realise things had become so difficult that you had to move into serviced accommodation.
Still, I’m glad you have support around you now, even if the meals are “not quite your style” 🙂 And your little patio garden sounds lovely — herbs and flowers are still real gardening in my eyes.
Sending warm thoughts all the way from Latvia to Australia… through Estonia 💛
Oh, I am vereee stubborn. Love life and have may interests . . . There are always a dozen things
to ‘do’ even if I cannot race around the world the way I used to 🙂 ! Good night – I better find the bed 🙂 !
Goodnight!
I’ve also had both Calendula and marigolds (Tagetes) growing amongst my tomatoes for the past few years, seeds also collected from the plants I enjoy the most, ie the darker red Tagetes flowers, the double Calendula. Sometimes they even produce the next generation of flowers that I had hoped for!
That is my plan – to grow them around tomatoes forever! 🙂
I seeded few in raised beds from packets I bought in local shop. Will see. I think Marigolds are the ones that can be planted anywhere!
So good to know, Ilze! Thank you for sharing this guidance.
You are welcome, Mary!