Posts Tagged ‘beneficial-plants’

List Of French Marigold Flowers

Permalink




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

Appreciate topics of survival, emergency preparedness – or planning for disaster?
Read our current articles on Modern Survival Blog
twitter: MSurvivalBlog
Facebook

Aloe Vera – For Your First Aid Kit

The Aloe Vera plant is a great supplement item to have in addition to your first aid kit. It has been used since centuries ago during Cleopatra’s time when Aloe was used to treat burns. The healing properties of Aloe Vera as well as the moisturizing properties of Aloe Vera helped it to become widely used. Centuries ago, Aloe Vera was first brought over from places like Barbados, Aruba, the Dutch West Indies and even Africa. Today, you can grow an Aloe Vera plant in your own home or your yard if your climate suites.

We always have an Aloe Vera plant in our home. Not only do they look great, but they serve a function as part of our overall first aid kit. Primarily, Aloe is used as an analgesic (pain reducer) for burns, sunburns, insect bites  and scrapes or cuts. Although you can buy products, that ‘contain’ Aloe, to treat sunburn and scrapes, nothing works better than the gel or mucus from inside the Aloe Vera plant.

All you have to do is cut off one of the Aloe plant’s leaves. Right away, you will notice some of the gel coming out of the bottom of the leaf you just cut. If this gel is not enough to cover your area in need of treatment, then cut about an inch or two of the leaf off and slice those pieces in half. You should see plenty of the plant’s gel. Simply apply it right onto the burned or scraped area of skin. You should instantly start to feel relief.

Aloe Vera has recently become a subject of scientific study in treating inflammation and wound healing. So far, the results are promising. Results so far are showing that Aloe Vera seems to speed up wound healing by increasing the availability of oxygen and collagen. One research group in Pennsylvania is using the Aloe Vera gel to treat radiation burns. They have significantly found the Aloe Vera gel to be the most effective treatment for minor radiation burns.

Studies are still being done, but so far, Aloe Vera is looking like a very effective, safe and inexpensive way to treat burns and wounds. If we hear any further study results, we’ll pass them along!

Enjoy topics of survival, emergency preparedness – or planning for disaster?
Read our current articles on Modern Survival Blog
twitter: MSurvivalBlog
Facebook

Survival Garden Potato Companions

Permalink


Potatoes are easy to grow and is a beneficial survival food to grow in your own in-ground garden or container garden.

Potatoes are the second most consumed food in the United States at an average consumption of 120 pounds per year (about one a day).

The potato used as a survival food staple is ideal because it is easy to grow,  nutritional, and able to store well for months at a time. It is a nutrition dense food with substantive calories.

Potato Nutritional Value

• Calories (110)
• Protein (3 grams)
• Carbohydrate (23 grams)
• Fat (o grams)
• Fiber (3 grams)
• Sodium (10 mg)
• Potassium (750 mg)

Potato Beneficial Companion Plants

Horseradish is a good beneficial plant for the potato. It deters the Colorado beetle and blister beetle which can eat the roots of the potato plant. Horseradish is a perennial that will grow year after year, and is grown from a root cutting. In addition to the beneficial aspect to the potato plant, if you are harvesting the root, best to replant each year from a new fresh picked root for better flavor. Be careful because it can spread in your garden (plant in a container to keep in check). It will grow about 2 feet tall and across.

French marigolds will repel whiteflies and round worm nematodes which live in the ground and will eat the roots.

If you enjoyed this post, or topics of preparedness, consider subscribing to our blog RSS feed or Email notification of new posts on the Modern Survival Blog

Survival Garden Tomato Companions

Permalink

Tomatoes, the most common grown garden vegetable, can be helped by planting certain companion plants nearby. Many plants have a natural ability to attract or repel certain insects and can be strategically planted according to your needs.

Companion planting is a great way to minimize the use of pesticides while using the natural abilities of nature to our advantage.  If you take the time to plant some, or all of the following beneficial plants around your tomato garden, you will have healthier and higher producing tomato plants.

Since your yield will be higher, be sure to preserve your harvest to add to your food storage!  Two great tomato preservation methods are dehydrating (slices) and canning (whole or sauces).

Tomato Beneficial Companion Plants

French marigolds will repel whiteflies (they feed on the leaves of plants) and round worm nematodes (live in the ground and attack the roots).

Borage, an edible flower (with edible leaves), will deter tomato hornworms (a type of caterpillar that will eat the leaves). It also attracts beneficial bees.

Basil, a beneficial herb, will repel thrips (an insect that will feed on leaves) and will also improve growth and flavor of the tomato.

Nasturtiums, an edible flower (with edible leaves), is one of the best at attracting predatory beneficial insects, and  will repel aphids

Petunias, an edible flower (with edible leaves), will repel tomato worms.