Companion planting: Friends with Benefits
Sarah tells us why companion planting works, and how you can grow veg, herbs and flowers together to eliminate pests and increase productivity.
500 seeds 030119 | £1.95 |
Delivery early March
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When in stock, please allow up to 5 working days for despatch.
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Not a looker, but its roots kill perennial weeds. It's cleared a bed of ground elder at Perch Hill. Also the fragrant leaves are good in tisanes and added to salads.
Genus | Tagetes |
Group/Species | minuta |
Type | Half-Hardy Annual |
Common Name | Mexican Marigold |
Border Position | Kitchen Garden |
Soil Type | Broad Tolerance |
Site | Full Sun |
Moisture | Moist but Well-drained |
Height | 1.2m (4ft) |
Spacing | 45cm (18in) |
Sowing, Seeds, Planting | Sow March to May indoors. Cover seeds lightly and place somewhere warm, germination should occur within 7 to 10 days. Prick out and pot seedlings on into individual pots. Gradually harden off before planting out after the last frosts. Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. |
Care Tips | The dried leaves are used as an edible herb with an apple flavour, and also as a medicinal plant, but beware, as the leaves can cause a rash in some people. |
Flowering | October |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Sarah tells us why companion planting works, and how you can grow veg, herbs and flowers together to eliminate pests and increase productivity.
Learn how to get great results when direct sowing hardy annual seeds.
Seeds Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 5 working days for despatch.
Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.
Tagetes minuta reviews
Reviewed 20th April 2020 by Simon Overpriced, unhelpful and rude, I won’t be using them again. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Sheila No visible signs of it doing anything for the couch grass! |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Ann Plants have flourished in border. Not yet sure if they have had any effect on weeds. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Judi I was very excited that this might get rid of ground elder . Planted seedlings in said border but they were choked and didn’t thrive |
Tagetes minuta - infuriating!
Reviewed 14th May 2018 by Jane Beeson Year after year I have tried to grow Tagetes minuta from seed, from many sources including Sarah Raven. Never has one germinated! There must be a secret to this! I am very, very keen to get them working on my ground elder and bindweed!! This is not a complaint about the seeds, or the service, or anything to do with the order, just a bit of frustration and wondering if anyone else has any tips! |
Brilliant plant!
Reviewed 14th April 2017 by Janet Once established these plants really do deter and stop other weeds colonising. They are also very tall and created a screen and or height at the back of a boarder. I planted this as I had a bed of bind weed that, once I cleared by hand, I hoped that it would deter any residual roots that I missed from taking hold. It seemed to work as the bed is clear of this evasive weed. (At the moment!) |