Posted on 02/17/2024 5:36:12 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
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Wise Pairings: Best Flowers to Plant with Vegetables
Grow a profusion of pollen- and nectar-rich flowers among your crops to help boost pollination, control pests, and provide eye-pleasing pops of color.
By Rosalind Creasy
In the 1970s, when I was a budding landscape designer newly exciting about strategizing the best flowers to plant with vegetables, I attended the garden opening of one of my clients. As I walked around anonymously, wine glass in hand, I overheard many guests exclaiming, “Do you see that? She put flowers in the vegetable garden!”
In the United States, segregating vegetables from flowers still seems like such a hard-and-fast rule that when I lecture on edible landscaping, one of the first things I mention is that I’ve checked the Constitution, and planting flowers in a vegetable garden is not forbidden. Not only can you put flowers in with vegetables, you should.
I admit that, in the ’70s, I first intermixed my flowers and vegetables because I was gardening in the front yard of my suburban home and hoped the neighbors wouldn’t notice or complain as long as the veggies were surrounded by flowers. Soon, however, I discovered I had fewer pest problems, I saw more and more birds, and my crops were thriving.
It turns out that flowers are an essential ingredient in establishing a healthy garden because they attract beneficial insects and birds, which control pests and pollinate crops. Most gardeners understand this on some level. They may even know that pollen and nectar are food for insects, and that seed heads provide food for birds. What some may not realize is just how many of our wild meadows and native plants have disappeared under acres of lawn, inedible shrubs and industrial agriculture’s fields of monocultures, leaving fewer food sources for beneficial critters. With bees and other pollinators under a chemical siege these days and their populations in drastic decline, offering chemical-free food sources and safe havens is crucial. Plus, giving beneficial insects supplemental food sources of pollen and nectar throughout the season means they’ll stick around for when pests show up.
Envision an Integrated Edible Landscape
One of the cornerstones of edible landscaping is that gardens should be beautiful as well as bountiful. Mixing flowers and vegetables so that both are an integral part of the garden’s design is another key. Let’s say you have a shady backyard, so you decide to put a vegetable garden in the sunny front yard. Many folks would install a rectangular bed or wooden boxes, and plant long rows of vegetables, maybe placing a few marigolds in the corners, or planting a separate flower border. In either case, the gardener will have added plants offering a bit of much-needed pollen and nectar.
Integrating an abundance of flowers among the vegetables, however, would impart visual grace while also helping beneficial insects accomplish more. Plentiful food sources will allow the insects to healthily reproduce. Plus, most of their larvae have limited mobility. For example, if a female lady beetle or green lacewing lays her eggs next to the aphids on your violas, the slow-moving, carnivorous larvae won’t be able to easily crawl all the way across the yard to also help manage the aphids chowing down on your broccoli.
In addition to bringing in more “good guys” to munch pests, flowers will give you more control because they can act as a useful barrier — a physical barrier as opposed to the chemical barriers created in non-organic systems. The hornworms on your tomato plant, for instance, won’t readily migrate to a neighboring tomato plant if there’s a tall, “stinky” marigold blocking the way.
More at link: https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/best-flowers-to-plant-with-vegetables-zm0z15fmzsto/
Really look forward to these Saturday morning images.
I like posting the ‘Spring Countdown’ best these days! :)
Nice pic. Looks like marigolds, amirite? The only drawback I’ve experienced with marigolds is spider mites. Any tips on how to either prevent them in the first place, or to quickly send them straight to Spider-Mite Heaven?
Those evil things destroyed several of my rosemary plants too, a couple years back. Not fond of them at all.
Meanwhile, garden remains fallow, with 3 months to go till planting toms (if I do), by the grace of God.
Flowers like marigolds also deter rabbits and deer some.
Since deer don’t like strong scents, I like to plant marigolds and dill in the garden.
Daniel:
That shrub is a Euonymus. They are VERY hardy; a great landscaping plant.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/euonymus/euonymus-plant-varieties.htm
I ran a bar of soap all along the top rail of our fence...and put chips along the edge of the garden.
I think you’re in a warmer Zone than me. I’ve never had Spider Mites on my Marigolds up here (Zone 5a) and they’re supposedly a ‘sacrificial plant’ that is used to lure Spider Mites in to keep them off of other plants, mainly tomatoes.
However, here are some things they say to do if you get them:
https://seedsandgrain.com/spider-mites-on-marigolds/
There are several organic concentrates or extracts that are good for gardens and around the house and can be used indoors. Also useful for things around (literally) the house like ants, mosquitos and for the perimeter of the house for pets like fleas. Also for a double whammy one might use chrysanthemum flower varieties (check local availability or buy effective seeds and are perennial) will help. Most of these 'organic' pesticides are made from chrysanthemum extracts or synthetic products, again check the product. Neem oil is OK but not useful in bigger plants, messy, and does not last very long.
I had an indoor Meyer lemon tree with spider mites all over it, didn't notice them until most of the leaves and blossoms fell off - yes, aphids too were hiding and likely did the most damage. I probably brought them in on something else, being winter there a few ways: Put plants in a garbage bag and whisk them into the garage for treatment (above 32°) or in my case put them right in front of a sliding glass door on the threshold and quickly blast/rotate them, best of luck!
I have Irish Spring, which I heard works the best, waiting in the wings to use.
Is Euonymus a native plant or invasive?
That’s what I use, too.
Anyone know how many days to daylight savings?
Snow storm at the new house last night - had to cancel a trip tomorrow (bummer - my brother was going to take his trailer, too).
Thursday was a trip day - hoping maybe the daffodils were blooming, but they’re just taller, no flowers yet. The house is on a knoll & the wind was really blowing - whipped my hair around so hard/much I almost got a sore head! I will be sure & take a hat & a band for putting my hair in a pony tail next time.
Truck needs an oil change, mower needs servicing, golf cart needs new batteries - all on the ‘to do’ list this week.
Spring will be most welcome.
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