Imagine having your own pumpkin patch in your backyard – an endless supply of pumpkins for carving and eating every year. Learning how to dry pumpkin seeds for planting and planting your seeds at the right time can make this dream a reality.
Drying pumpkin seeds is easier than you think, but it still requires some planning and careful treatment of your seeds.
How To Dry Pumpkin Seeds for Planting
Because pumpkin seeds are larger than other seeds, they take a little longer to dry out. It’s important to keep a close eye on your seeds and check them regularly to prevent mold.
Before we get into the drying process, let’s talk about the varieties of pumpkins. You can absolutely plant seeds from the pumpkins you buy at the store, but the results probably won’t be the same. Why? Because these types of pumpkins are usually hybrids. They may produce mini pumpkins or pumpkins that aren’t as colorful and flavorful. That may not be a big deal for you, but it’s important to know what to expect.
If you know you have an heirloom pumpkin or an open-pollinated variety, then they should breed true.
How To Dry Pumpkin Seeds for Planting Without Them Getting Moldy
If you want to save your seeds for planting next year, it’s important to keep them in the right environment and give them time to dry.
Here’s how:
First, separate the seeds from the pumpkin pulp and rinse well.
Next, lay your seeds out in a single layer on a piece of wax paper to dry overnight. Pumpkin seeds can be sticky at first, so wax paper is ideal.
The next day, line a cookie sheet with paper towels. Lay your seeds out in a single layer on a dry paper towel to allow them to dry out even further.
Make sure that your seeds are spread out evenly so air can reach each one.
Place your seed tray in a cool, dry and dark place for about a month.
Every week or so, stir and turn your seeds to promote airflow and ensure all sides of the seeds have a chance to dry.
Paper towels are great for drying seeds because they help absorb any remaining moisture.
How Long Do Pumpkin Seeds Need to Dry for Next Year’s Planting?
While drying times can vary with seeds, pumpkin seeds generally take longer than most other seeds. Expect to dry them out for a month before storing them away for planting.
Dehydrating Pumpkin Seeds – A Good or Bad Idea?
It may be tempting to speed up the drying process by using an air dehydrator. However, dehydrators use heat, even if it’s just a little bit of heat, to remove moisture. That heat can make your seeds unviable.
Seeds need warmth, light and moisture to germinate. Dehydrators introduce a little bit of heat, which can leave you with disappointing results if you try to plant them.
So, if you want to plant your pumpkin seeds, skip the dehydrator rack.
Storing Your Seeds
Once you’re confident that your seeds are dry, it’s time to store them away for next year. Saving pumpkin seeds and storing them properly can ensure that you have an endless supply of pumpkins every year for carving and eating.
To store seeds from pumpkins, it’s important to keep them in a place that’s:
Cool
Dry
Dark
You want a cool spot, preferably a place where the temperature is consistently under 60°F. A dry basement or even the freezer will work well for seed storage.
When stored properly, pumpkin seeds can last for four to five years.
Aside from the environment, it’s important to keep your seeds in the right container. Some of the best seed storage containers include:
Airtight Storage Containers
An airtight container is perfect for storing seeds that you know are completely dry. If you want to use a container like this, consider placing a silica gel packet in with your seeds for a few days before sealing it up to remove any remaining moisture.
We don’t recommend leaving the silica packet in with your seeds while you store them because they can dry them out too much.
Paper Envelope
Many gardeners keep their seeds in paper envelopes or the packets the seeds came in. This is a simple, effective and inexpensive way to store your seeds.
Just make sure that you label and date your envelopes to keep your seeds organized.
Plastic Container
Plastic containers are another great option for seed storage. You can find containers of all sizes to meet your needs. They’re great for storing packets of seeds or envelopes of seeds you save yourself.
Glass or Mason Jars
Glass or mason jars are also great for seed storage. They offer excellent protection against pests and moisture as long as your seeds are fully dry when you store them.
When To Plant Pumpkins for Halloween
If you want to grow pumpkins from seeds for Halloween, you’ll need to plant them at just the right time.
For northern states, plant your seeds in late May.
For southern states, wait until late early June or July to plant your seeds.
If you plant your seeds too early, there’s a chance your pumpkins may rot before you have a chance to carve or eat them on Halloween.
Planting Your Halloween Pumpkin Seeds
Vining pumpkins need a lot of space to spread out, so make sure that you have the room for them. How much space do they need?
50-100 square feet per hill
To plant your seeds:
Place them 1 inch deep.
Aim to plant 4-5 seeds per hill.
Make sure you have 5-6 feet between hills and 10-15 feet between rows.
Once young plants are established, thin hills to two to three plants.
Bush varieties don’t need as much space. Aim to have one plant every three feet and 4-6 feet in between rows.
Vining varieties are the most common, so plan to clear out a big space in your yard for your pumpkin patch.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to dry and store your pumpkin seeds will allow you to grow your own pumpkins every year. It’s a fun activity for the whole family and a great way to teach kids about gardening and where their food comes from.
Whether you’re saving your own seeds or buying them from a trusted supplier, it’s important to ensure that you’re storing them properly. Proper storage will help preserve seed quality and viability. But what is the best way to store seeds? How long do seeds last? Here’s what you need to know about seed storage.
Best Way to Store Seeds for Long Term Storage and Next Year’s Planting
Whether you only need to store your seeds for next year or the long term, creating the right environment for your seeds is crucial.
Let’s look at the best conditions for seed storage and how to prevent disease.
The Best Conditions for Storing Seeds
Seeds are best stored in:
Cool temperatures
Airtight containers
Dry, dark places
A cool, dry basement is ideal for seed storage because it typically has consistent temperatures below 60℉.
It may seem convenient to toss your seeds in the garage or garden shed, but outdoor temperature fluctuations can make them unviable. Keep your seeds away from heat and out of the sun.
Start with Completely Dry Seeds
You can have the best conditions for seed storage, but if your seeds aren’t completely dry before you store them, there’s a good chance that they’ll spoil. Always make sure that any excess moisture is removed before you tuck your seeds away for future planting.
Check out our guide on How to Dry Seeds to make sure yours are ready for storage.
Temperature & Light Conditions
You know that a “cool, dark” place is ideal for seed storage, but what exactly does that mean?
According to the USDA, the ideal storage temperature for seeds is below 50℉.
Dim or no light is ideal for storing your seeds.
Many household basements meet these conditions, but it’s important to make sure that the space is dry. Ideally, the humidity levels should be below 50%.
How To Store Seeds Long Term – Storing Seeds in the Freezer
The freezer is the next best thing if you don’t have a basement or other location that’s cold or dry enough for seed storage.
The refrigerator is another option, but the temperature fluctuates each time you open and close the door. Unfortunately, those fluctuations aren’t ideal for your seeds.
The freezer is one of the best options for seed storage because it will provide the most consistent temperature for your seeds. But before you toss your seed packet in the freezer, there are a few important things to do:
Make sure your seeds are completely dry. Toss a silica gel packet in with your seeds for a few days to remove all excess moisture.
Keep your seeds in airtight containers. If you’re not storing your seeds in an airtight container, then you may introduce moisture that can spoil your seeds.
If you store your seeds in the freezer, you’ll need to take a few extra steps to prepare them for planting.
Remove the seeds from the freezer and let them rest for 12 hours.
Do not open the container until after the seeds have rested and come to room temperature.
Preventing Disease
Pests are always a concern when storing seeds. If you’re keeping your seeds in the freezer, you don’t have much to worry about here. However, if you’re storing them in a basement or closet, then there’s a risk of pests and disease.
Here are a few tips:
Toss your seeds in the freezer for a few days to kill insect larvae.
Use an airtight container. Pests need oxygen, and an airtight container will rob them of it.
Use containers made of heavy-duty plastic, glass jars or metal to keep rodents away.
How Long Do Seeds Last in Storage?
With the right storage conditions, many seeds can remain viable for more than one year. Those stored in the freezer can last two to five years in some cases.
Short-lived seeds are best replaced every year. These include:
Parsley
Asters
Leeks
Delphinium
Onions
Phlox
Parsnip
On the other hand, some herb and vegetable seeds have quite a long life span, including:
With the right storage conditions and the right seeds, you can have seeds ready for planting for the next few years.
Expect A Few Duds
Even with optimal storage conditions, some of your seeds won’t be viable. Expect there to be a few duds. Even freshly harvested seeds are sometimes not viable.
Toss Any Seeds Past Their Prime
The quality of seeds declines over time, and eventually, some unused seeds won’t be viable. When storing your seeds, make sure that you write down the date of storage and the expiration date on the seed packet (if you bought your seeds).
If you have seeds that are past their prime, toss them or compost them.
What Causes Seed Degradation?
Seeds degrade naturally over time, but there are some factors that can speed up the deterioration, including:
High temperatures
High relative humidity
If seeds are stored in a warm, humid place, they attempt to come out of dormancy. Warmth and moisture can also promote bacterial growth and attract pests that can ruin the seeds.
Using the right seed storage box or container in the right environment can help prevent degradation.
Seed Storage Containers and Organization
There are so many seed storage ideas out there. The right one for you will depend on the volume of seeds you need to store and where you plan to store them.
Here are some of the most common containers used for seed storage:
Paper Envelopes
Photo albums
Mason jars
Metal boxes
Organizing Seeds
No matter which type of storage container you use, it’s important to keep your seeds organized. One simple way to do that is to keep your seeds inside the seed packets they came in and place them inside of a larger container.
You can also organize your seeds by:
Planting dates (spring, fall, etc.)
Plant types
Use rubber bands to keep similar seeds together. For example, if you have multiple varieties of kale, a rubber band is a simple way to keep these varieties together and easily accessible.
Seed storage doesn’t have to be complicated, but a little planning and preparation can go a long way in making your seeds last as long as possible.
You’ve harvested seeds from your best plants. Now what? Drying seeds is one of the last steps in your seed-saving adventure, but it’s arguably the most important. If your seeds aren’t fully dried out, you’ll wind up with a moldy mess. To save you from this disappointment, we’re going to share some of the most effective ways to dry seeds.
If you haven’t already, check out our post on How to Save Seeds to find out how to save seeds from popular garden plants.
How to Dry Seeds for Planting
Humidity and excess moisture can cause your seeds to rot. A proper drying process will protect the seed coat to improve germination rates and prevent rotting. When dried and stored properly, you’re more likely to grow healthy plants.
Let’s look at a few of the most effective methods for drying seeds and the importance of choosing the right types of seed.
Choose Seeds from Open-Pollinated Varieties
When drying seeds for planting, make sure that you’re choosing open-pollinated varieties. These plants produce types of seeds that are true to type. In other words, it will produce a seed that is very similar to its parent plant.
Hybrid plants are created through careful and intentional cross-pollination of two parent varieties with desirable traits. While seeds from these plants can be saved, they won’t be true to type.
So, before you even get started on your drying venture, make sure you’re choosing the right seeds for the job. Now, on to the best practices for drying seeds.
Dry Seeds in Open Air – But Give it Time!
The simplest way to dry seeds is out in the open air. Typically, seed savers will keep their seeds on a paper towel or clean plate (paper preferably).
When you dry out in the open air, moisture levels naturally decline over a few days. After you’ve harvested and prepped your seeds for drying:
Lay your seeds out on a paper towel or coffee filter. If your seeds are wet (e.g., tomato seeds or pepper seeds), stick to paper plates or coffee filters. Otherwise, they’ll stick to the paper towel. Screens also work well for drying, as they allow airflow all around the seed.
Make sure your seeds are spread out. You want proper airflow between your seeds. If you’re drying larger seeds (like pumpkin seeds), you may need a few plates or paper towels to spread out your seeds properly.
Keep them in a cool, dry place.
After a few days, move the seeds around to break up clumps of seed and uncover any seeds that have less air contact.
Allow your seeds to dry out over 2-3 weeks fully.
After a few weeks, your seeds should be dry enough to be stored away for next year. You can store them in airtight containers or a seed packet.
If you’re drying wet seed, like those from tomatoes or peppers, it’s important to make sure they are dry within a few days. Otherwise, they may start sprouting.
Dry Seeds with Silica Gel
If you want to speed up the drying process or ensure that excess moisture is removed from your seeds before storage, silica gel is a great tool to use.
Seeds of Diversity recommends placing an envelope of your clean seeds and an envelope of silica gel in airtight containers for a few days. Doing this will help remove moisture from wet seed and excess moisture from the air, too.
You don’t want to leave the silica gel in with your seed packet for long-term storage. Silica gel can over-dry your seeds, so remove it after a few days. Keep your seeds stored in an airtight glass or plastic container until you’re ready to plant.
Dry Seeds in a Paper Bag
Another effective way to dry out your seeds is with a simple brown paper lunch bag. This drying process works best for drying seed capsules and seed pods.
We don’t recommend using the paper bag method for drying wet seeds. But it does work well for drying seeds from flowers and dry vegetable seeds, like spinach, carrots and lettuce.
Here’s how this method works:
Place the flower stalk in the brown bag, head-first.
Keep the open paper bag on a tray or table to dry out in a dry, cool room.
Allow the seeds and stalk to dry out completely over two to three weeks.
Once the stem has dried out and turned brown, you can use your fingers to separate the seeds.
Remove and discard any chaff, petals other plant parts.
Leave the collected seeds in the bottom of the bag to dry out for another two to three weeks. Shake the bag occasionally to stir up the seeds.
Give Your Seeds Time to Dry
One of the most difficult parts of drying out seeds is waiting. While we’re all anxious to store away our seeds for next year’s planting, it’s important to be patient and wait for them to dry out fully. Doing so will ensure that your seeds are fully dry and ready for planting next year.
Vegetable gardening is rewarding. It’s hard to beat the satisfaction of planting a seed (or seedlings!), caring for it and enjoying the fruits of your labor – literally. But many people who want to get into gardening are intimidated. Apart from the growing itself, they worry they’ll have to invest a lot of money in vegetable gardening tools with no guarantee of return.
But I’m here to say that that’s simply not true. You don’t need much to start gardening.
I know what you’re thinking, “Well, what kind of tools do I need for vegetable gardening?” I’m going to share a list of the most essential tools, and some that are just nice to have but not necessary.
A simple watering can makes it easy to water plants anywhere in your yard. If you don’t have a hose or can’t use a hose for whatever reason, a trusty watering can will get you through.
Look for a can that’s easy to carry even when full. Ideally, your watering can should be able to hold at least two gallons of water.
If you have the budget and space, consider getting a small water can, too. It’s much easier to water delicate herbs and plants in smaller containers with a smaller can.
A hose is another essential tool. It will save you a lot of time watering the garden and make it easier to ensure that your plants have all the water they need. Choose a hose that lets you adjust the intensity and type of spray. The “shower” setting is ideal for watering the garden because it won’t damage plants and mimics rainfall.
2. Hand Trowel
A hand trowel is an absolute essential for any garden because it has so many uses:
Look for a trowel that’s easy for you to use with a comfortable handle. If your trowel is too heavy, you won’t want to use it. Trowels with sturdy, narrow blades will easily cut into the soil, saving you time and effort.
3. Hand Fork
Another essential gardening tool is the hand fork. Hand forks are great for removing small weeds and roughing up the soil. It’s handy for both garden beds and container gardening.
Invest in a good hand fork with a strong handle and shaft. Quality tools are more expensive, but they will give you years of use.
4. Hand Pruners
A pair of pruners should be in every gardener’s tool kit. They make quick work of trimming plants, shrubs and even small tree branches. In a pinch, you can use them to harvest without damaging the plant.
We recommend bypass pruners for vegetable gardening. These pruners have a top blade that slices past the bottom blade for a quick and even cut.
When you’re searching for pruners, you’ll also find anvil pruners. With these pruners, the top blade chomps down to the bottom blade, which can damage the plant.
For vegetable gardening, stick with by-pass pruners. Look for a pair with a comfortable grip and sharp blades.
5. Garden Rake
If you have garden beds, a rake will save you a lot of time and help you maintain a healthy garden. Rakes with steel tines can help spread compost and break up the soil for easy planting.
In a pinch, a leaf rake can work for the same purposes, but eventually, you’ll want to invest in a good garden rake. The rectangular and compact rake head make it easy to work for your garden bed, and the thicker tines can work the soil more easily.
6. Long Handled Shovels and Spades
A hand trowel is great to have, but for bigger jobs, you’ll want a long-handled shovel and spade.
A straight-edge spade is great for digging holes, removing weeds, cutting roots and carving in edgings.
Long-handled shovels with round, pointed blades are great for moving soil around and digging holes.
Invest in shovels and spades made from forged metal for longevity. Keep in mind that the longer the handle is, the more leverage you’ll have.
7. Harvest Basket
There’s nothing more rewarding than harvesting your vegetables in the summer and fall. A harvest basket will make it easier to transport all of your goodies from the garden to your kitchen.
There are so many great basket options out there. You can choose a traditional basket, or you can opt for a plastic one with a colander base. The advantage of having a basket with drain holes is that you can wash your produce outside, keeping soil and dirt out of your pipes.
8. Hose Reel or Hose Hanger
Having to untangle a hose can be tedious and time-consuming. A hose reel or a hose hanger will make your life easier by keeping your hose organized.
We recommend hose reels if your garden is further away from your home. You can find reels on wheels that make it easy to wind and unwind your hose and bring it where it needs to go.
9. Harvest Scissors
Among all of the basic tools for gardening, harvest scissors are often overlooked. We consider them essential because they make harvesting quick and easy without damaging the plant.
You can also use these scissors for deadheading flowers or pruning very delicate plants.
Look for scissors with sharp blades and a comfortable handle.
10. Gardening Gloves
Last but certainly not least on our essential list of garden tools is gardening gloves. A good pair of gardening gloves is essential because you just never know what you’re going to encounter when working in the garden.
Gloves will protect your hands when:
Using fertilizer or laying down compost
Working with prickly plants or plants that may irritate your skin
Laying down mulch that may stain your hands
Gloves will keep dirt out of your fingernails and help prevent blisters and cuts when working with plants.
Make sure that you choose the right size for your gloves and that they feel comfortable when wearing them. Gloves with waterproofing are a bonus because they’ll keep your hands dry when working with moist soil.
Nice-to-Have Garden Tool List
Over time, you’ll find that your garden tool list keeps growing. In addition to the must-have, basic tools for gardening, there’s also a nice-to-have list.
Soaker Hose
A soaker hose makes your life easier by offering drip irrigation for your garden. You can easily move these hoses around, place them in a raised garden bed or even in a traditional garden. The idea is simple:
Soaker hoses have tiny pores – thousands of them
Water drips out of the hose slowly
Plants are slowly watered
Since you’re placing the hose near the base of the plant instead of spraying from above, more of the water reaches the roots.
Hoses come in multiple lengths, so whether your spigot is 25’ or 100’ from your garden, a soaker hose is available to meet your needs.
You still need to turn on your water spigot like normal, but you’ll find soaker hoses allow you to spend more time tending to your plants and less time watering them.
Using a soaker hose is more efficient, but it’s still not one of our essential vegetable gardening tools. It’s a fantastic addition, but you can still water your plants sufficiently with a hose while investing in some of the other items on our list.
Watering Wand
Do you have plants hanging or have difficulty watering near the base of your plants? A watering wand can help.
A watering wand:
Attaches to your hose
Is shaped like a wand
Water leaves the head of the wand
When tending to seedlings or hanging plants, a wand is much easier than a traditional hose. The water is dispersed more like a rain shower rather than a strong jet of water, so it’s perfect for young or sturdy plants alike. Most wands have a 45-degree angle, so you can get into tighter spaces, such as close to the base of the plant to reach the root system.
Compost Fork
Every garden can use a compost fork, and it looks a lot like a pitchfork. If you have a pitchfork, you can sub it for a compost fork. However, if you have compost for your vegetable garden, a compost fork offers:
Large forks
Sharp tines
Since compost may be difficult to mix, the sharper tines allow you to cut through thicker items in the compost pile and make it easier to turn.
Hori Hori Knife
A Hori-Hori knife is a type of gardening knife that comes from Asia. However, these knives are different from the gardening knife that you’re likely used to using. Instead, this knife mixes two tools:
Trowel
Knife
You’ll find that the Hori-Hori is more versatile than any one of these tools on their own and will make it easy to dig holes, cut down on weeds and even harvest. You’ll also find a few of these vegetable gardening tools with rulers printed on them to make it easier to dig holes for your plants with the appropriate depth.
Padded Kneeler
Do you find that kneeling down when gardening is killing your knees? You’re not alone. Padded kneelers are ideal if you like to kneel in your garden because they’ll alleviate pressure on your knees, making it far more comfortable tending to your crops.
Wheelbarrow
If you have the budget and space to store one, a wheelbarrow is a great investment for the garden. You can use it to haul soil or leaves, for weeding or collecting debris when you’re out in the yard.
Some wheelbarrows or garden carts can handle heavy loads, which is ideal for transporting rocks, bags of soil or other heavier items. Your back will thank you for buying a good wheelbarrow for your garden!
Garden Fork
A long-handled garden fork, or digging fork, is another handy tool to have in the garden. They make it easy to dig up weeds, remove dead or diseased plants and loosen up the soil. You can also use these helpful garden tools to transplant established plants to a new location.
Garden Hoe
Some gardeners consider a garden hoe one of the must-have garden tools. While I don’t personally think it’s essential, it can be helpful for removing shallow-rooted weeds. You can also use the tines to make little furrows for seeds. You’ll find garden hoes in a variety of sizes and shapes, so choose one that best suits your gardening needs. Look for ones with metal heads that are attached securely to the handle.
These are some of the best tools for vegetable gardening. To get started, you only need a handful of inexpensive tools. As you gain experience, you can start adding to your collection and investing in some of those nice-to-have tools.
Companion planting for vegetables is a strategy used by gardeners to naturally deter insect pests, attract beneficial insects and improve production. The goal is to place plant “friends” close together to benefit each other.
A simple example is planting nectar-rich flowers near your vegetables to attract pollinators. You can also plant two vegetable friends next to each other to repel or confuse pests.
One great example of companion planting at work is the Three Sisters trio – climbing beans, maize and winter squash. These crops were commonly planted together by Native American communities because they play amazingly well together.
The corn stalks are a natural trellis for climbing beans.
The squash shades the ground to improve moisture retention. Their prickly leaves deter weeds and pests.
The quick-growing beans served as nitrogen fixers to make more nutrients available to plants.
The Three Sisters trio is a prime example of how companion planting works. You may have also heard that you should plant tomatoes with basil. There’s a good reason for that. Basil is believed to repel pests, like hornworms, and even improve plant yields.
Placing plant friends together can help keep your vegetable garden healthy and thriving naturally. But when choosing companion plants, it’s important to remember that plants also have “enemies.” Just as some plants get along really well together, some plants can also work against each other.
The Benefits of Companion Planting
Planting plant friends together can benefit your garden in many ways. Here’s what companion planting can do for your vegetable garden:
Protect Against Insect Pests
Some plants naturally deter certain pests, which can benefit plants susceptible to those pests. For example, borage is a natural hornworm deterrent. Planting it near tomatoes can keep these destructive critters away.
Attract Beneficial Insects
Other plants can attract beneficial insects, like aphid-eating ladybugs or pollinating bees. Planting these attractors can introduce natural predators of pesky pests and ensure your plants are pollinated.
Add Soil Nutrients and Improve Plant Health
Many plants have beneficial relationships when it comes to soil nutrients. For example, some plants fix certain nutrients, like nitrogen, into the soil to make them available to nearby plants. Other plants can change soil biochemistry, creating more favorable conditions for plant neighbors.
Beans and other legumes make nitrogen more readily available in the soil.
Plants with long taproots can bring nutrients up to the surface to enrich the topsoil.
Add Shade and Suppress Weeds
Placing certain plants near each other can help suppress weeds and provide much-needed shade for some crops.
For example, tomatoes can provide some shade for lettuce to protect it from the hot sun and prevent bolting or wilting.
Sprawling plants like potatoes can suppress weeds by minimizing open space.
Serve as Natural Supports
Tall plants can also serve as natural supports for sprawling or climbing plants, like pole beans, peas and cucumbers.
As you can see, when you plan your garden layout with companion plants in mind, you can work with nature rather than against it. It’s no wonder companion planting is so important for an organic garden.
So, you know why companion planting is so beneficial and how it works. But which plants are enemies and friends? Let’s look at common vegetable garden plants and their best companions.
Companion Planting Chart For Vegetables
Here’s a handy companion planting chart for vegetables:
Green beans, squash, dill, melons, cucumbers, peas, sunflowers
Note: We covered the most popular garden vegetables. There are certainly more beneficial plant combinations out there, but there are just too many to list in one blog!
We’ve added a helpful printable of this chart to the end of this article! Check it out.
Flower Companion Planting for Vegetables
Companion plants don’t necessarily have to be other vegetables. In fact, some of the best companion plants are flowers and herbs. These include:
Marigold
You’ve probably heard that you should plant marigolds in your vegetable garden, and there’s a good reason for that.
Marigolds do a few things for your plants:
They attract pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
They attract other beneficial insects, like aphid-loving ladybugs.
They contain limonene, which naturally deters whiteflies.
Their roots secrete substances that kill nematodes.
Plus, marigolds are so easy to grow and add beautiful color to your garden.
There are few plants that marigold can’t complement. Some of its top companions include:
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Garlic
Onions
Eggplant
Squash
Cabbage
Kale
Carrots
Nasturtiums
These beautiful climbing flowers attract caterpillars, which can help keep them away from your vegetable plants. They’re also great for luring blackflies.
As a bonus, nasturtiums are edible, so they can serve as an extra “herb” for your garden.
Basil
Basil is a wonderful companion plant. They can repel pests like thrips, but they also disorient the moths that lay tomato hornworms. Planting tomatoes and basil together can be highly effective at reducing armyworms. They also help attract pollinators that increase tomato production and flavor.
Sage
Sage is a great addition to any garden. It’s a perennial, so it will come back every year. And along with its culinary uses, sage can also protect your vegetable crops.
Sage helps repel carrot fly and cabbage moths.
Parsley
Like basil, parsley helps attract beneficial insects that pollinate or dine on pests. Plant them near tomatoes to help improve production.
Tansy
Tansy is the ideal flower to plant in your vegetable garden because it attracts pest-eating bugs, like ladybugs, and predatory wasps. But they can also repel some nasty pets, like cutworms. The great thing about tansy is that it’s a perennial, so it will return every year to help protect your garden.
Mint
Along with being a great herb for your kitchen, mint is a great plant for your garden. It naturally repels aphids, flea beetles, ants and other pests. Just make sure that you keep a watchful eye on this herb, as it can take over your whole garden.
Dill
Dill is another exceptional herb for the garden. It attracts ladybugs, which eat aphids, and spider mites.
Final Thoughts
Companion planting can help keep your garden healthy and make your life a little easier. Choose your plants wisely and plan out your layout to incorporate friendly plant pairings when planting your next garden.
