Ask the Master Gardener: Flowers in the Veggie Garden?

[bittibuddha]

I had a question about what flowers to plant to attract beneficial insects into my vegetable plot, so asked the Master Gardeners in my local Extension office that question. I've attached the email correspondence behind the cut, in case any of you are interested in their answers.

Comments

[pleepleus]

I read recently that gardeners are being encouraged to plant milkweed for the Monarch butterflies. Their population was decimated by harsh winter storms.

[camperamy]

ooh shiny!
Thank you for sharing this.

[museclio]

We've always planted marigolds and tomatoes together - evidentally the marigolds repel some of the tomato eating bugs.

Also - if it helps you think of it as productive - nasturtiums are edible ane pretty in salads.

Also - thanks for posting this - there is a bunch of neat stuff there.

[musicman]

Thanks, this is helpful! Can I share this with Red?

I always used marigolds on the border of my garden to protect the tomatos, but they were ineffective against slugs, so I went to cayenne pepper plants. Like the freaking h-bomb against critters, but you have to be careful to only touch the plants and peppers while wearing rubber gloves, and then you have to throw the gloves away! The plants with little red peppers are really cute, though.

[mistressfetch]

And nasturtium blossoms are yummy in salad too :-) asslyum is good to plant as well :-)