Have you ever noticed how marigolds literally drive pests out of your garden beds, like real special agents?
It turns out that their roots secrete toxins that kill nematodes and aphids, but there is one detail that even experienced gardeners are silent about.
A 2022 study published in the journal Horticulture Research found that marigolds inhibit the growth of beans and cabbage, and their proximity to tomatoes can reduce yields by 30%.
Renowned botanist Michael Pollan called this “plant selfishness” in an interview with The Guardian : flowers protect themselves but kill competitors.
Olga from Krasnodar shared a story on social media about how her cucumbers died in a week because of marigolds planted “for beauty.”
Scientists from Cornell University confirm that alkaloids in the roots of these flowers disrupt the water exchange of neighboring crops. But there is also good news: next to peppers, potatoes and strawberries, marigolds work as a shield.
The main secret is to plant them at a distance of at least 50 cm from vulnerable plants.
An experiment by the Dacha Front channel showed that aphids disappear within 24 hours if marigolds grow along the perimeter of the garden bed.
But try planting them next to legumes and you'll get a graveyard of sprouts instead of a harvest.
