flowerAnnualEdible

Marigold

Tagetes spp.

Also known as: African marigold, French marigold

Bright-flowered companion plant that repels many garden pests. Easy to grow and blooms all season until frost.

Growing Requirements

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

Soil Type

Soil Drainage

Soil pH

Plant Spacing8–12″

Row Spacing12–18″

Planting Depth0.25″

Height8–36″

Spread8–18″

✓ Container Friendly✓ Raised Bed Friendly

Planting Schedule

Start Indoors

6–8 weeks before last frost

Direct Sow (Spring)

0–9 weeks after last frost

Transplant Outdoors

1–9 weeks after last frost

Germination

5–10 days

Days to Harvest

50–70 days

Zone Suitability

USDA Hardiness Zones

Zones 2–11

Cannot overwinter outdoors

Root exudates suppress nematodes. Deadhead to prolong blooming.

Companion Plants

Good Companions (16)

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

vegetable

Suppresses root-knot nematodes that damage tomato roots

Confidence: High

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

vegetable

Deters cucumber beetles with strong scent

Confidence: Medium

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

vegetable

Nematode suppression and general pest deterrent

Confidence: Medium

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

vegetable

Deters cabbage moths and white butterflies

Confidence: Medium

Bell Pepper

Capsicum annuum

vegetable

Repels aphids and whiteflies from pepper plants

Confidence: Medium

Zucchini

Cucurbita pepo

vegetable

Attracts pollinators needed for squash fruit set

Confidence: Medium

Green Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

vegetable

Nematode suppression in the root zone

Confidence: Medium

Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

vegetable

Deters cabbage moths and aphids from brassicas

Confidence: Medium

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

herb

Both repel pests and attract pollinators together

Confidence: Medium

Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica

vegetable

Deters nematodes and general pests

Confidence: Medium

Pole Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

vegetable

Nematode suppression in the root zone

Confidence: Medium

Jalapeño Pepper

Capsicum annuum

vegetable

Deters pests and suppresses nematodes near peppers

Confidence: Medium

Yellow Squash

Cucurbita pepo var. recticollis

vegetable

Attracts pollinators and deters squash pests

Confidence: Medium

Pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima

vegetable

Deters pests and attracts pollinators for fruit set

Confidence: Medium

Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus

fruit

Deters pests and suppresses nematodes in melon beds

Confidence: Medium

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

herb

Both deter a wide range of garden pests

Confidence: Medium

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