1. Forum News
    NEW SOFTWARE & SERVER IS COMING!
    Please click on the link below to get the most up to date information: CLICK HERE

Growing flowers with veg?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by amymac78, Apr 14, 2015.

  1. amymac78

    amymac78 Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    109
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Kent
    Ratings:
    +130
    Hi all

    I'm growing veg for the first time and wondered if there are any flowers I should (or shouldn't!) be planting near my veg? It will all be in 1 metre sq raised beds (I have 2 for now) and will have the 'usual' stuff in :)
     
    amymac78, Apr 14, 2015
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    34,583
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +55,548
    Lots of folk grow french marigolds as a good companion to tomatoes, to repel greenfly.

    Nasturtiums are good with cabbages as the caterpillars go for these instead.

    What veg are you growing?
     
    • Like Like x 1
      JWK, Apr 14, 2015
      #2 Quote in Conversation
    • amymac78

      amymac78 Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 22, 2015
      Messages:
      109
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Kent
      Ratings:
      +130
      I have tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beetroot, carrots, radishes, cabbages, corn and lettuce. The children are attempting watermelons, brussels and broccoli :)
       
      amymac78, Apr 14, 2015
      #3 Quote in Conversation
    • miraflores

      miraflores Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Apr 16, 2006
      Messages:
      5,484
      Location:
      mean daily minimum temperatures -1 -2
      Ratings:
      +2,389
      hi amymac78, I know it can be of benefit to both growing flowers near vegetables, I'll see if I can find some good matches... (for example if one plant needs sun, the other shadow. One needs a certain nutrient, the other a different one and so on)
       
      miraflores, Apr 14, 2015
      #4 Quote in Conversation
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jun 3, 2008
      Messages:
      34,583
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Surrey
      Ratings:
      +55,548
      Out of your list: Corn, Cabbage, Brussels and Broccoli all need a lot of growing space. Sweetcorn needs to be planed in a block and nine plants would fill up one of your raised beds. If you planted any less than that they wouldn't pollinate each other and you'd get no cobs. Sorry to say but I'd cut out all those space hungry veg and concentrate on the others. Tomatoes with marigolds and cucumbers in one bed (as these plants will last all the season) and successional sowings of carrot, lettuce, radishes and peas in the other bed. By 'successional' I mean just sow one little row of each every 3 or 4 weeks. The faster growing ones (radish/lettuce) will be ready to eat in a 4 or 5 weeks then you replace them with a row of something else. Peas last a bit longer so you won't want so many sowings of those.

      I'm not sure about watermelon, I've grown them in a greenhouse and again they needed a lot of space, I'm not sure how well they would do outdoors in our climate, maybe someone else will be along to advise about those :blue thumb:
       
      JWK, Apr 14, 2015
      #5 Quote in Conversation
    • amymac78

      amymac78 Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 22, 2015
      Messages:
      109
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Kent
      Ratings:
      +130
      The tomatoes, corn, cucumbers and watermelon will be in the greenhouse, whether they ever make it out depends on the weather! :SUNsmile: :dunno:
       
      amymac78, Apr 14, 2015
      #6 Quote in Conversation
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jun 3, 2008
      Messages:
      34,583
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Surrey
      Ratings:
      +55,548
      Ah you have a greenhouse, is that where your raised beds are?

      Tomatoes, cucumber and melons will love it in there.

      However I would advice not to grow sweetcorn in a greenhouse, they get really tall for a start, you'll be taking the glass out! Also they need wind pollination, they are temperate plants and will grow perfectly happily outdoors.
       
      JWK, Apr 14, 2015
      #7 Quote in Conversation
    • amymac78

      amymac78 Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 22, 2015
      Messages:
      109
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Kent
      Ratings:
      +130
      The raised beds aren't in the greenhouse, not enough room. They are waiting to be filled (hopefully today or tomorrow) so still deciding where is best to put them, my garden is SE facing so one side gets sun until about 14.30 and the other side from then on :noidea:
       
      amymac78, Apr 14, 2015
      #8 Quote in Conversation
    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

      Joined:
      Dec 5, 2010
      Messages:
      16,524
      Location:
      Central England on heavy clay soil
      Ratings:
      +29,001

      I've been growing a sea of French Marigolds around my polytunnel tomatoes, they don't seem to need much more watering, really add a splash of colour and you notice their fragrance when grown in a tunnel. 5 packets for £1, or 29p(?) each from Lidl, then save you own seeds.

      Slugs love them, so will eat the marigolds first and bare stemmed plants will alert you to their presence before they can wipe out other stuff.
       
      • Like Like x 1
        Last edited: Apr 14, 2015
        Scrungee, Apr 14, 2015
        #9 Quote in Conversation
      • miraflores

        miraflores Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Apr 16, 2006
        Messages:
        5,484
        Location:
        mean daily minimum temperatures -1 -2
        Ratings:
        +2,389
        Marigold flowers alienates the nematodes from the soil, but you can also place some climbing plants structures between zucchini to allow climbing to the colorful nasturtiums. Some people grow nasturtiums directly on the supports of tomatoes and beans to drive away aphids.
        Near apple trees and the pear trees you can put whatever you want (as long as you do not do chemical treatments to your fruit trees, but I hope not!), Surely the aromatic will look great and in general their aromas help to keep out unwanted insects.



         
        miraflores, Apr 14, 2015
        #10 Quote in Conversation
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

        Joined:
        Dec 5, 2010
        Messages:
        16,524
        Location:
        Central England on heavy clay soil
        Ratings:
        +29,001

        280 French Marigolds coming on for planting in tunnel beds

        marigolds.jpg
         
        • Like Like x 2
          Scrungee, May 14, 2015
          #11 Quote in Conversation
        Loading...
        Similar Threads - Growing flowers veg
        1. Aesculus

          Woman, 89, to lose allotment for growing flowers not vegetables

          Aesculus, Jul 1, 2009, in forum: Allotments Discussion
          Replies:
          17
          Views:
          2,186
          rosa
          Jul 19, 2009
        2. Mattyp

          Growing wild flowers in a container

          Mattyp, Apr 5, 2024, in forum: NEW Gardeners !
          Replies:
          11
          Views:
          1,220
          BB3
          May 6, 2024
        3. Logan

          mike Kincaid YouTube videos growing flowers and rooting cuttings

          Logan, Nov 13, 2021, in forum: Other Plants
          Replies:
          31
          Views:
          3,998
          Logan
          Sep 7, 2022
        4. Shaneoak

          Growing Cornflowers

          Shaneoak, Mar 10, 2016, in forum: Herbs and Wildflowers
          Replies:
          19
          Views:
          5,288
          CharlieBot
          May 16, 2016
        5. Asgars Garden

          Help in growing flowers/Roses

          Asgars Garden, Jul 21, 2012, in forum: Roses
          Replies:
          6
          Views:
          1,147
          merleworld
          Jul 22, 2012

        Share This Page

        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
          Accept Learn More...
          Dismiss Notice