Do marigolds keep bugs out of the garden?

Joe Lucas
by Joe Lucas
How do I keep bugs off my tomatoes?
  8 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 10, 2016
    Although in the past Marigolds were known to keep some insects away. New studies are saying the marigolds are doing more damage than good attracting insects such as spider mites. Gardening is trial and error.If you feel it will help you then go ahead and plant them.Should you end up with more insects then expected,simply pull them out.
  • Iberkeley Iberkeley on Jun 10, 2016
    I heard they do but find no evidence by experimenting with marigolds and tomatoes in the same pot. Still some bugs and snails. So my conclusion would be that it's another gardening myth.
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Jun 10, 2016
    Marigolds are wonderful insect repellent and have been considered a companion plant to grow with tomatoes for decades. The myth that they attract bugs is just that. If you do a little Internet search of "marigolds and tomatoes" you'll find more positives than negatives. Read about companion plants on www.tree-hugger.com just search "marigold and tomato" on the site search bar. There are also other flowers that you can grow with tomatoes to help deter insects. Remember that bees and other pollinators rely on flowers so don't be afraid to plant marigolds! If all else fails, you can always drape a vegetable/mosquito net over your tomato plants.
  • Donna Radtke Donna Radtke on Jun 11, 2016
    They really do work, not only for tomato plants. Couldn't have zucchini for squash bugs. Planted in new places but the bugs found them. Still move the plantings each year but with marigolds, no bug problem! Buy 2 trays each spring for the garden.
  • Holly Holly on Jun 11, 2016
    I'm third generation backyard farmer and we have always used fireplace or wood stove ashes. They have never failed. Marigolds have always worked too. We plant them around perimeter of entire garden.
  • Amy Amy on Jun 19, 2016
    I planted marigolds in my vegetable garden and so far so good!
  • I have always used marigolds too along with fireplace ash, as previously suggested. Works great on the tomatoes and all my veggies and herbs. My roses also like them. I occasionally get the green tomato worms, but I just pluck them off by hand and toss in the green waste bin. I also use a lot of eggs in my house and I wash the shells and grind them up and sprinkle around the tomatoes.