Flowers to plant near vegetables

Growing flowers near vegetables can benefit your garden in a few ways. It can attract pollinators, repel pests and add beauty to your garden. Certain plants like nasturtium acts as a trap crop and marigolds help to repel nematodes. Flowers can also attract beneficial insects which feed on pests.

Flowers to plant near vegetables

1. Calendula

Calendula or pot marigolds are annual flowering plants that grow up to 10 inches tall. They help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects such as hoverflies. They grow best in fertile well-draining soil conditions. They do not grow in climatic conditions that are too hot or too cold. The best season to grow this flower is during the spring and fall seasons.

2. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are annuals that are of two types climbing or bush types. Aphids love nasturtium and growing these flowers near beans and cabbage plants can draw aphids towards the flower plants. Your vegetables will be saved from these pests. Besides attracting pests nasturtiums also attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies that feed on these pests. Nasturtiums grow best in average well-draining soil conditions. The best season to grow them is during the spring and fall seasons.

3.Marigolds

Marigolds can grow up to 18 inches tall. Marigolds are drought-tolerant annuals that grow best in average soil conditions. These flowers help to remove nematodes and help to attract pollinators. These flowers can be grown during the spring and summer seasons. Here is how to grow marigolds from seeds in containers.

4.Sunflower

These flowers grow best in fertile well-draining soil. Smaller varieties can grow up to 60 cm tall. Sunflowers help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects like big-eyed bugs and wasps. Here is how to grow sunflowers from seeds in containers.

5.Zinnias

Zinnias is one of the best flowers to plant near vegetables. They help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. These flowers grow best in well-draining fertile soil. Zinnias can grow up to 48 cm tall. These flowers help to attract ladybugs, predatory beetles and parasitic wasps. Here is how to grow zinnia from seeds in containers.

6.Cosmos

Cosmos grow well in average soil conditions. They help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. They can grow upto 60cm tall. Cosmos helps to attract parasitic wasps and hoverflies.

7.Butterfly pea

Butterfly pea flowers can be grown near vegetables that are heavy feeders ( corn, tomato etc). Butterfly pea is a legume that helps to fix nitrogen in the soil. These flower plants can grow up to 10 feet tall. They grow well in average soil conditions.

8.Gaillardia

Gaillardia grows best in average soil conditions. It helps to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Gaillardia can grow 12 inches tall. Here is how to grow gaillardia from seeds in containers.

9.Salvia

Salvia is a drought-tolerant flowering plant that can help to attract pollinators and hummingbirds. It grows well in average soil conditions. Salvia can grow up to 36 inches tall.

10 Portulaca

Growing portulaca near your vegetables can act as a ground cover and help to hold moisture in the soil. Portulaca can grow up to 8 inches. Portulaca helps to attract bees and butterflies. Portulaca grows well in average soil conditions. Here is how to grow portulaca from seeds in containers.