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Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) Are hardy, bright small flowers grown for their non invasive blooming. Marigolds come in hundreds of varieties. Some species are also beneficial: French marigolds (Tagetes patula) secrete a substance from their roots which kills nematodes and repels whiteflies. But all insects will not repel out of your own herbs.

Herbs and Pests

Herbs are resistant to pests and diseases. Their strong odor keeps many pests away, as well as those bugs which do bother the plants seldom seriously damage them. However, herbs are not completely pest-free: Aphids, spider mites and whiteflies all commonly infest herbs. And although marigolds might repel whiteflies, they will not repel aphids or spider mites; both of which can infest herbs grown inside and outside.

Plant Them Anyway

Marigolds may not repel all insects which come near your herbs, but they are still beneficial. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, you can treat them as annuals in cooler climates. French marigolds kill nematodes and blossom continuously until frost. Small and bushy, they don’t usually grow taller than 12 inches and make an attractive edge and contrast for your herb garden without overpowering the herb plants. Marigolds thrive in full sun and adapt to all kinds of soil as long as they are watered during times of drought.

Be , Bugs

You’ll likely have to take different steps to eliminate pests in your herbs. The easiest way to do this is to blast them off with a solid flow of water. This has the additional benefits of rinsing the leaves off of your herbs and additionally watering them. You can even remove aphids, spider mites and mealybugs off the plants by dipping a gentle brush into a solution of 2 teaspoons of mild liquid detergent added to 1 gallon of water. Or, make an all-natural pesticide — one which will not harm your herbs or cover them with chemicals — by adding 15 garlic cloves and one pint of water into a blender. Puree until it’s smooth, and then strain it through a piece of cheesecloth. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and thoroughly coat the top and bottom of the leaves of infested plants.

Other Alternatives

It is not just marigolds that can repel specific insects in the own herbs. Petunias (Petunia spp.) , which increase as perennials in USDA zones 10 through 11, but are often treated as annuals, repel various types of aphids and other insect pests. They thrive in full sun and light color and, like marigolds, petunias will bloom all summer when cared for properly. Dill (Anethum graveolens) is useful in the kitchen and repels aphids and spider mites. This yearly herb thrives in full sun and in well-draining soil and has the added plus of being deer-resistant.

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In companion planting, different plants’ capacity to grow and prosper together leads to a naturally healthy and vigorous garden. Under this principle, specific plants get along well with other plants, even to the point of enhancing and stimulating development. But not each pairing is a great one. Some plants, such as sunflowers, don’t develop well with pole beans. Cucumbers and sunflowers, on the other hand, are a joyful marriage.

The 3 Sisters Principle

Sunflowers look as though they should be the perfect host for a climbing plant such as the rod bean. Underneath the 3 sisters principle, beans are positioned to grow up the corn stem; consequently, beans improve the soil by fixing nitrogen; squash, meanwhile, rises below the beans and maintains the soil shaded. This mutual aid society, however, does not seem to work as well when sunflowers are involved. The sunflower is a bad companion for pole beans and also will hider their growth when planted close by.

Sunflowers and Competition

Chemical compounds in the seed husks as well as the leaves and stalk of the sunflower ensure it is incompatible with certain crops. This chemical procedure, known as allelopathy, is a plant’s capacity to produce and excrete natural compounds into the soil that discourage seed germination and development of certain other plants. And pole beans aren’t the only incompatible plant; potatoes additionally suffer from the chemicals in sunflowers.

What to Plant Under Sunflowers

If you’re looking for something to plant below your sunflowers, try cucumbers. Cucumbers aren’t affected by the chemicals in sunflowers, and there’s also a mutual benefit to this marriage. The cucumber produces lots of lush foliage near the ground that shades the soil, keeping it cool and slowing moisture loss. The sunflower, with its tall stem and large leaves, which provides needed afternoon shade to the tender cucumber plants, maintaining the leaves and developing fruit from being scorched.

Pole Bean Companion Planting

Some relationships work nicely for the rod bean. Crops that stimulate and encourage strong increase are eggplants, radishes and cucumbers. And also to keep insects at bay, try planting rosemary or catnip close by. There are some other incompatible plants for the pole bean. Avoid planting onions, beats, any member of the cabbage family members and kohlrabi as well as fennel and gladiolus among the rod bean plants. One of the greatest companions for pole beans is corn. Beans climb the corn stem and attract beneficial insects that attack insects in your corn plants. Combine that with the nitrogen-fixing properties of beans, and you have a truly happy marriage in the garden.

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The precise shade of jalapeno seeds (Capsicum annuum) can vary slightly, depending on the variety and how mature the pepper is. The most noticeable difference in color is between fresh seeds and dried seeds. Although jalapenos and other hot peppers are generally treated as annual crops, they’re potentially perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.

New Seeds

When you cut into a fresh jalapeno, miniature, moist seeds have been exposed. These seeds ought to be an cream or lemonade color with a slight yellow tint. Brown-colored fresh seeds may be a indication of rotting seeds.

Dry Seeds

When jalapeno seeds have been dried, the cream color darkens or turns light brown. Dry seeds using a light brown shade are normal.

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