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List Of French Marigold Flowers

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French Marigold flowers are a popular and ‘beneficial’ garden companion that will help your garden plants thrive because of their potent pesticide-producing root system and strong aroma to ward off pests.

Are all Marigold’s ‘French’ Marigolds?

I believe there may be some confusion out there (I know I was initially confused) about which Marigold flower to use for the greatest benefit for my garden.  There are lots of Marigold varieties with many different names. When I first discovered the benefits of this flower, I went out searching for them while looking for the word “French” in the name. I searched everywhere but didn’t find a one. Having returned home, I hopped online and began my search for an answer. Well, to my surprise, I discovered that there are allot of variety names that are ‘French’ Marigold’s!

There are two basic types of Marigold flowers, American and French. The French Marigold varieties are bushier, they generally do not grow as tall and do not have large full flowered heads like the American varieties.

The French Marigold has roots that exude a substance which spreads in their immediate vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you want to plant dense areas of them. These marigolds also help to deter whiteflies when planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses for the same purpose. Whiteflies hate the smell of marigolds.

French Marigolds are particularly helpful for tomatoes, squash, eggplant, broccoli, potatoes, and peppers (but don’t plant with beans). At the end of the season, leave their root system in the ground because their ‘anti-nematode’ effect is said to last for a few years afterward.

Here is a list of variety names that you can look for that fall under the classification of French Marigolds.

List of French Marigold varieties

• Aurora Series
• Bonanza Series
• Bonita
• Boy O Boy Series
• Brocade Mixed
• Colossus
• Disco Series
• Durango Series
• Dwarf Bonanza Blend
• French Brocade
• Golden Gate Series
• Golden Guardian
• Ground Control
• Gypsy Sunshine
• Harlequin
• Harmony
• Hero Series
• Honeycomb
• Jacket Orange, Yellow
• Janie Series
• Jolly Jester
• La Bamba
• Lemon Drop
• Little Hero Series
• Mars
• Moonlight
• Mr. Majestic
• Naughty Marietta
• Nema-gone
• Pesche’s Gold
• Petite Series
• Queen Sophia
• Red Marietta
• Safari Series
• Scarlet Sophie
• Solan
• Spanish Brocade
• Sparky Mix
• Striped Marvel
• Spice Series
• Troubador
• Yellow Boy

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Container Garden On Your Porch

Just because you may live in an apartment or rent or live in a home with little or no garden availability (or permission to dig up part of the yard), don’t let that stop you from trying your hand at growing some vegetables this summer!

There are lots and lots of things that you can grow in ordinary containers or pots that can simply sit out on your deck or somewhere sunny in whatever you have for outdoor space. Most places seem to have some semblance of a deck or balcony, which should be perfectly adequate for holding a few pots of choice vegetables.

My container garden currently consists of a few tomato varieties (Big Boy, SuperSweet), a dozen peppers (Sweet Pepper, Jalapeno), and several herbs (Oregano, Herb Chives, Garlic Chives, Sweet Basil, Rosemary) in container pots, all of which are setting on the back porch. I plan to add more, but this is my first start with it this late spring.

Container gardening is unique in that it makes for easy and controllable gardening. For example you can use purpose mixed soil or buy nutrient rich garden soil, weeds are easily controlled, the pots themselves act as a barrier for some pests or insects that may otherwise be in your yard soil, and having the pots on a porch or balcony will deter some of the 4-legged creatures who would otherwise munch on your bounty.

The procedure is simple. Buy the plants. Buy the pots. Buy the dirt. Of course you could’ve started your own from seed, and you could come up with your own dirt (be aware if it’s ‘good’ dirt or not). But for the sake of easy container gardening, it’s simple and cheap enough to buy what you need. Your vegetable bounty will more than make up for the costs involved.

I like to cut a piece of porous ‘landscape’ ground cover cloth-fabric material to put on the bottom of the container to keep the dirt from clogging the drainage holes. This year I’m trying something different with the tomatoes, and am filling the entire inside of the container with the fabric rather than just the bottom. The thought being to keep the container in good clean shape for next year (even though I could scrub it good next year).

Before planting, be sure to pick the roots with your fingers and pull them apart some, instead of leaving in a tight ball when you take them out of their original pot. It makes a big difference in how their root structure will end up and will promote better growth.

When finished, water very deeply.

Here’s the thing to remember about container gardening… they tend to dry out fairly quickly because everything is exposed to the sunlight. One thing that helps maintain the soil moisture is to add about two inches of wood chips on top. So, be sure to leave some room at the top for this (don’t fill the pot all the way with dirt).

You will need to be diligent about checking the moisture of the soil. If you see any signs of wilting, they are probably running dry.

Enjoy!

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Beneficial Companion Plants for Tomatoes

Companion planting can discourage harmful insects and pests in your garden without harming the beneficial ones. Many plants have natural substances in their roots, flowers, and leaves that can repel or attract insects and can enhance the growth and flavor of other varieties of plants. This combination is called companion planting, and when applied throughout the garden or landscape, it is an effective form of pest management, allowing nature to do its’ job.

There are many varieties of plants, herbs, and flowers that can be used for companion planting, and could be used as a border, backdrop or planting within your vegetable garden.

Companion plants for tomatoes include Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Carrots, Marigold, Geraniums, Petunias, Borage, any type of Onion or Chives.

Consider planting these easy companions with your tomatoes

BORAGE: Borage is one particularly good companion plant for tomatoes because when planted nearby, it deters tomato hornworms. It also has bright blue flowers. Borage is considered the magic bullet of companion plants (predict a square yard for its adult size).

BASIL:  Basil repels flies and mosquitoes, and studies have shown that Basil growing around 10 inches apart can increase the yield of tomatoes by about 20%. Basil also does well with peppers, oregano, asparagus and petunias. Basil can be helpful in repelling thrips. Do not plant near rue or sage.

CHIVES: Chives improve growth and flavor of carrots and tomatoes. A friend to apples, carrots, tomatoes, brassica (broccoli, cabbage, mustard, etc) and many others. Help to keep aphids away from tomatoes, mums and sunflowers. Chives may drive away Japanese beetles and carrot rust fly.

FRENCH MARIGOLD: French Marigolds (list of varieties) have roots that exude a substance which spreads in their immediate vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you want to plant dense areas of them. There have been some studies done that proved this nematode killing effect lasted for several years after the plants died back. These marigolds also help to deter white-flies when planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses for the same purpose. White-flies hate the smell of marigolds. Do not plant French marigolds next to bean plants.

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3 Herbs To Try in Your Survival Garden

As spring approaches, time draws closer to gardening. This year, take the big step and grow some herbs. Listed below is a random list of just a few that are easy for beginners and great for your culinary dishes. Not only are they  delicious in your culinary concoctions, but they also have medicinal purposes as well. These are the ones I felt like discussing today, and as time allows, I’ll talk about more.

Garlic – Garlic is easy to plant and to grow. The individual cloves are used as seeds. One ‘clove’ of garlic will grow a ‘bulb’ of garlic. The cloves should be planted individually, and they like a lot of sun. They are ‘winter’ hardy so generally planting is done in the fall before the first frost. But garlic can also be planted early in the spring as well, with the difference being that the final bulb size will be less due to the fact that they start to bulb at a certain time in the summer, no matter what. We’ve all heard garlic is good for you, but do you really know why? Recent Scientific findings have shown that garlic raises HDL cholesterol, lowers LDL cholesterol, offers anti-oxidant protection to cell membranes and inhibits cancer cell formation.

How to grow Garlic? Plant individual cloves, root side down, in 2 inch deep holes, about 8 inches apart. Ideally planted near the Autumn equinox (Sep), but very early spring is okay. Harvest when most of the lower leaves have turned brown (don’t wait for all the leaves to turn brown).

Ginger – Many of us already use fresh ginger in our cooking. If you don’t, please give it a try! Ginger can also be grown in a pot as many herbs can. They grow up to 2 to 3 feet tall in height, but they also have a nice ‘tropical’ look. Ginger is commonly used in the preparation of Chinese food. It can be found in the produce department of your local grocery store. Ginger tea also makes a great upset stomach remedy. It is used to treat indigestion, flatulence and motion sickness. It also has an anti-inflammatory activity which helps to ease arthritis pain. This is just a brief summary of some of ginger’s benefits. Give it a try!

How to grow Ginger? Plant a piece of ginger root about 2 to 3 inches deep. Since they do not like cold temperatures, a container works well so you can bring it indoors for colder climates. Keep the soil slightly moist, but not too moist or muddy. When the weather is above 70 regularly and warmer than 50 at night, then outdoors is Okay, in the warmest spot of the yard. When the plant has grown after a time, some of the roots can be harvested or replanted. They produce lush gorgeous flowers too. It may take a few years to get an established plant.

Turmeric – This herb is widely used in India. It’s a rhizome, or underground root like ginger. Most people that grow turmeric grow it in a pot indoors as it doesn’t like temperatures that are below 65 degrees F. They are planted by using the roots, turmeric does not produce seeds for propagation. It’s very aromatic and potent when used fresh, so to get it’s peppery zest in your meal, go easy. Turmeric is an herb that has anti-inflammatory properties like ginger. In India, it is used to treat anorexia, liver disorders, diabetic wounds and arthritis. Juice from the rhizome (root) applied to recent bruises, insect bites, and cuts reduces swelling. Recent scientific studies are showing that turmeric has anti-carcinogenic properties. Ken and I started incorporating it into our diets several years ago.

How to grow Turmeric? Plant the root cuttings of another turmeric plant. Plant the root 2 inches under the soil. If there are any knobs or buds on the root, turn it so they are facing upwards. The majority of people who are going to grow turmeric will have to do so indoors, and it does grow fine in pots. It will likely grow too large for a windowsill but can thrive in a sunny room. Eventually, the plant will start to turn yellow and the leaves will start to dry out (8 to 10 months). That’s when your turmeric is ready to dig up. Just dig up the plant and cut the rhizomes away from the stems. Wash off the dirt and it’s ready to use. For more turmeric, take one or two pieces of root and start another plant. If you are careful, it is possible to harvest a few root pieces without having to dig up the entire plant.

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It’s Almost Garden Time Again

It’s mid-February, and many of us are thinking about or are already doing something about this years spring garden. Now is a good time to begin gathering the supplies that you will need to get started indoors. Why not challenge yourself this year and germinate your own seeds indoors? I know that it is entirely easy to just wait and buy the young vegetable plants in the store, but, learning the ins and outs of starting your own seedlings indoors will be a valuable and possibly life-saving skill should the SHTF.

It’s not as easy as you might think. Seeds and young seedlings need particular tender-loving-care, and without it they will surely fail.

The seeds need healthy, disease-free soil to germinate. Here is an article how to pasteurize your own soil, perfect for starting seeds.

The seeds/soil need moisture to germinate. Not too much, not too little. Here is an article suggesting to use covered trays to germinate your seeds.

The seeds/soil need to be kept warm enough to germinate. You can place the seed trays near a warm source of heat keeping them between 70-80 degrees, or you can purchase a heat mat to keep your seeds warm.

Once the seeds germinate and begin to grow into little seedlings, it is very important that they get lots of sunlight. A lack of light will cause their stems to become thin and wiry, which will eventually lead to sudden-death when the seedlings fall over from their own weight and fold their stems near the thin base. Here is an article suggesting to use a grow light for your seedlings.

It is not uncommon to start seeds indoors, 2-months early, while transplanting them once from their seedling trays when they are ready, to a larger set of seedling pots until they are entirely ready to be trained to go outdoors.

Another great idea is to use heirloom seeds rather than hybrid seeds. Here is an article that explains about heirloom seeds. Growing heirloom variety plants may have some disadvantages such as being more prone to their natural diseases, but you should learn how to deal with that because the rewards for heirloom variety plants are the resulting seeds that can be used over and over indefinitely whereas hybrids cannot. In a SHTF scenario, the hybrid seeds will vanish, leaving only the heirloom varieties for ongoing production. Plus, they taste just like your grandparents vegetables!

Growing your own vegetable plants from scratch is a lot of fun, and is very rewarding (at least it is for me). For you city-dwellers, all hope is not lost. Consider growing a small container garden, as exemplified in this article including a video from yours-truly as well as a guest appearance by my little dog, Sampson, at around 7 minutes in as well as him showing off at the very end.

So, what are you waiting for? Lets get going with your indoor planning for your outdoor vegetable garden this year!

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