Marigolds...

[Just-Moxie]

Is there any other use for marigolds besides just companion plantings? I have ended up with a bunch of very productive plants. They are pretty now, but, winter is coming. I will have seeds. Or, is there something I can do with the flowers themselves?

 

[Ridgerunner]

After saving whatever seeds I want, I pull the plants and put them in the chicken run. Marigolds are not their favorites, they prefer kale, cabbage and such, but they will eat them. I figure it helps the egg yolk colors.

 

[Just-Moxie]

Ah ha...chickens. Now why didn't I think of that?!?

 

[lesa]

If you have any in the veggie garden, it is best to till them in. That is where there benefit lies. I am sure the chickens will enjoy them!

 

[hoodat]

Marigolds tilled into the soil kill root knot nematodes. It also has several uses as a medicine herb.

 

[Just-Moxie]

I haven't come across much yet, except soap. I didn't know about that it kills nematodes.

 

[digitS']

(click) Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) for Nematode Management, University of Florida

digitS'

 

[Ridgerunner]

(click) Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) for Nematode Management, University of Florida

digitS'

Thanks for the link. The way I read this, the marigold root gives off the substance that helps, not the rest of the plant. Please correct me if I read it wrong. So I guess I'll keep feeding the tops to my chickens. At least I won't have as many volunteer marigolds next year that way.

I really appreciate that list of French Marigolds. I had heard they are the most effective and the article says they are one of the best. Have you ever tried to find "French" marigolds? I don't remember where I got them, Burpee I think, but I had to mail order some to get "French" marigolds. That's not the type of thing I see on the seed packets at the gardening store. At least, I've saved my own seeds now for next year.

It was also interesting that companion planting was not considered effective, though they were a little wishy washy on that, saying it may have not beed studied the proper way. To gain the effect, you need to plant the marigolds a couple of months before the crop as a pre-cover crop. I had not seen that before.

Thanks again for the article. VEEEERY Interesting.

 

[digitS']

I don't really know anything about the subject but . . .

. . . keep in mind that they are advising growers in sub-tropical Florida. It seems likely that organic matter of most any sort would not last long in Florida soil.

I think that root-knot nematodes may be a real problem in the soil here. My most productive tomatoes are ones with nematode resistance. It would be fun to use marigolds as a green manure crop and see if crops do better in that soil the following year .

Steve

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Hahaha -my chickens stick their necks out really far, smell the marigolds, and then run the other way. They hate them!