edenhana

Marigold

One of the best vegetable-garden companions - its scent is believed to deter whitefly and aphids and it draws in beneficial insects. Wait until the soil has properly warmed in late spring before sowing; deadhead for continuous blooms.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
25cm
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Mature height
40cm
Flowering season
Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Attracts wildlife
Bees
Companion plants
Tomatoes, Carrots, Pumpkins, Beans, Onions, Broccoli, Kale, Cucumbers
Common diseases
Powdery mildew
Common pests
Whitefly, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: October-November. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: November.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & plantingLate spring, once soil has properly warmed

    • Wait until the soil has properly warmed in late spring before sowing, cold soil slows germination
    • Space seedlings around 25cm apart

  2. Establishment

    • Watch young seedlings for aphids and whitefly before they build up in numbers
    • Keep soil evenly moist while roots establish

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Bushy growth to about 40cm; pinch tips for a fuller shape if desired
    • Its scent is believed to help deter whitefly and aphids from nearby companion crops like tomatoes and beans
    • Powdery mildew can appear on leaves in humid, crowded conditions

  4. Flowering

    • Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep blooms coming through the season
    • Bees visit the flowers, so avoid spraying insecticide on open blooms

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