[mandycharlie]

I know marigolds are meant to be good for companion planting.

But I've forgotten what for and why?

anyone...

[milkman]

keeping whitefly away from brassicas?

[steampig]

I keep a few pots of marigolds in the greenhouse, keeps whitefly off my toms, peppers, chillis etc

[mandycharlie]

Oh thank you darlings,

white fly...  :idea:

both good tips,  

[wellingtons]

... marigolds (as in pot marigolds) or marigolds (as in french marigolds or tagetes)?

Tagetes have a strong smell and that's supposed to deter cabbage white butterflies and basically anything that is attracted to the crop of it's choice by smell.  The roots are also supposed to kill nematodes and deter couch grass and bindweed.

Both will cut down on aphids because they attract hoverflies which eat the aphids!  But if that's what you want you might be better of with fennel or dill ... bigger plants means more hoverflies ...  

[mandycharlie]

I think these are dwarf french marigolds..

(packets up the lottie)

thanks for the tip Wellingtons..

[wellingtons]

... so they're good!

[muntjac]

plant loads as welllies say. n let em go to seed and thye wil revert to wild and grow twice as big n smelly next year  

[purplebat]

french maroglds deter carrot fly (apparently) I have 2 separate lots growing at the mo, to test this out, one with marigolds and one under fleece

[king cauli]

and of course you can eat calendula,the leaves and the flower,nice bit of colour in a poncy salad,mmmmmm........