Flower · Pollinator / Companion Flower
Marigold
Tagetes patula
A cheerful, easy annual grown as much for its pest-deterrent reputation as its bright blooms. French marigolds in particular are commonly planted around vegetable beds to help repel nematodes and other pests.
At a glance
Water
Low
16–28 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–8 hrs/day
Space
Small
9 in
To maturity
45–70 days
Edible parts: Flowers
Family: Aster
A huge family including lettuce, sunflowers, and marigolds. Recognizable by composite flower heads made of many tiny florets packed together.
Harvest
Not typically harvested for food; deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant flowering.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 50–90 °F
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Soil type
- Average, well-drained soil - not fussy
- Climate
- Frost-tender annual.
- Growing season
- Direct-sow or transplant after the last frost.
- Nitrogen
- Low (≈10–25 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Seed
- Feeding schedule
- Little fertilizer needed; over-feeding produces more foliage and fewer blooms.
- Pest resistance
- High - roots are thought to repel root-knot nematodes, and the scent deters some insect pests
- Pests
- Root-knot nematodes
- Pruning
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Notes
Its reputation for repelling root-knot nematodes is best supported when grown as a dedicated cover crop ahead of planting, not just as a few companion plants tucked among established vegetables - see Companions & antagonists.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— Does well in pots on its own or alongside vegetables.
- In-Ground GardenIdeal
- Raised BedIdeal— Commonly planted along the edges of vegetable beds.
- HydroponicPossible— Workable, though it's grown almost exclusively in soil for its companion-planting role.
- WindowsillPossible— Needs 6+ hours of light; grow light recommended indoors.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
Companions & antagonists
- Beneficial: Tomato — French marigold roots produce compounds toxic to root-knot nematodes. The effect is best documented as a cover crop grown ahead of the bed; a few plants tucked among established tomatoes gives a smaller, less certain benefit.
Sources
- Marigolds — University of Minnesota Extension
- How to Grow and Care for Marigolds in South Carolina — Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center
- Nematode Management with Marigolds — UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County