It’s all about who you know. The best power couples never find each other through a dating app. Likewise, some of the most fruitful (veggieful?) relationships in your garden depend on your intervention.
So ask yourself, are you tired of your tomatoes playing hard to get? Maybe they just need you as the wing-gardener! And the right flower.
Should You Plant Flowers with Vegetables?
Always. It’s like inviting a helpful, beautiful, nice-smelling support team member into your vegetable project; who wouldn’t feel motivated and productive?
Flowers aren’t just there to look pretty (though they certainly excel at that!). Some will attract vital pollinators, and ensure your vegetables produce a satisfactory yield.
Others will act as bodyguards, summoning tiny armies of other valuable insects, like ladybugs and lacewings, which in turn are voracious predators of common garden pests. Some even deter unwanted visitors with their scent or make diversions as trap crops, luring pests away from your precious harvest.
But beyond pest control and pollination, including flowers in a veggie patch creates a balanced ecosystem. It will improve your garden’s visual appeal, contribute to healthier soil, and boost overall biodiversity. Which we all, ecologists or not, can agree is vital.
9 Must-Plant Flowers for Your Vegetable Garden
Why did the vegetables bring flowers to the garden party? … Because they wanted to grow their social circles!
1: Marigolds
Marigolds’ strong, distinctive fragrance isn’t just noticeable to us; aphids, nematodes, and whiteflies find it utterly offensive and steer clear of your tomatoes, beans, and lettuce. Sunny blossoms are quite easy to grow, both from seed and transplant.
Why did the aphids avoid the Marigold patch? Because they heard the flowers had distasteful scents of humor.
2: Nasturtiums
Nasturtium flowers are a true example of a trap crop, a decoy for aphids and flea beetles. And once your cucumbers, squash, and brassicas are safe, you can pick Nasturtium’s peppery flowers and make your salads even fancier.
What did the gardener say to the flea beetles on the Nasturtiums? … “You will never leaf.”
3: Calendula (Pot Marigold)
A long-blooming Calendula needs minimal care, but in turn works wonders around carrots, peas, and salad greens. On one hand, it attracts vital pollinators, and on the other, predatory insects that munch on pests.
So, what did the Carrot say to the Calendula? … “Thanks for being such a bud-dy!”
4: Borage
Borage is a multitasker, deterring tomato hornworms while attracting more bees. It is a self-seeding, low-maintenance flower rumored to improve the flavor of your tomatoes and squash by bringing up nutrients from deeper in the soil.
What did the Tomato say to the Borage? … “You really bee-long here!”
5: Alyssum
Tiny, fragrant Alyssum flowers create a living carpet of protection. They make a wonderful living mulch between your lettuce, kale, and beet that retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and brings you peace of mind. Even better, they attract hoverflies, whose larvae are insatiable aphid eaters.
Why did the gardener plant alyssum in a veggie patch? … Because it helped them kale-m down!
6: Sunflowers
Let your sunflowers do triple duty in the garden! First, their bright heads attract pollinators and even birds that keep pests in check. Second, they’re natural trellises for climbers like cucumbers and beans. Third, they provide shade for heat-sensitive lettuce.
And how do they greet climbing beans? … With a high-five!
7: Zinnias
Choose Zinnias to infuse your summer garden with some buzzing activity. Pollinators adore their vivid blossoms! They’re superb partners for corn, squash, and peppers, particularly in sun-drenched areas.
And why were the butterflies always invited to the Zinnias’ garden gatherings? … Because they knew how to make guests flutter with excitement!
8: Cosmos
Airy and elegant, Cosmos’ delicate flowers are a draw for helpful insects and pollinators. And once they establish, they’re surprisingly resilient and don’t demand a lot of water. Their wispy foliage also makes a lovely backdrop for trellised crops.
So, what did the veggies say to the Cosmos? … “Your blooms are out of this world!”
9: Chamomile
Chamomile is more than just a soothing tea ingredient! It is said in gardening circles that this gentle flower improves the health and taste of nearby brassicas, onions, and beans. Some traditional gardening wisdom suggests this is due to attracting beneficial insects, subtle interactions in the soil (!), or the release of aromatic volatile compounds.
And why did the gardener plant so much Chamomile? … Because they wanted a tea-riffic garden!
Easy Tips for Planting Flowers With Vegetables!
Now that you know which veggies and flowers make the best partners, here are some easy tips to introduce them to each other:
And on that note… Why did the gardener always bring a pencil to the garden? … Because they wanted to draw their own conclusions!
