Marigolds come in a variety of bright yellows and oranges and are pretty easy to grow. They should be planted in areas where they will receive constant sunlight. To keep them blooming simply deadhead old blooms by pinching or pruning the spent flowers back to the the stem or the next set of leaves and blooms. Here are a few quick notes about the benefits of marigolds in your vegetable garden:
Annual Marigolds can be used anywhere to deter Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, thrips, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies. They are also known to repel harmful root knot nematodes (soil dwelling microscopic white worms) that attack tomatoes, potatoes, roses, and strawberries. The root of the Marigold produces a chemical that kills nematodes as they enter the soil. If a whole area is infested, at the end of the season, turn the Marigolds under so the roots will decay in the soil. You can safely plant there again the following spring.
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