Weekend Gardener: 10 Flowers To Grow With Vegetables

April 24, 2015

April 24th, 2015 – Williamson County Weekend Gardener

Many of us here in Williamson County already have vegetable gardens well underway. Companion planting flowers with your vegetables not only adds visual appeal to the garden, it can also have some practical benefits like deterring pests and encouraging beneficial insects. A recent article identified 10 flowers to grow with vegetables.

Photo Credit to Andrew McIndoe, My-Garden-School.com

Read The Full Article: Companion Planting: 10 Flowers to Grow with Vegetables

1. Standard Marigolds

Marigold petals are a trending addition to salads, and if you grow the single-flowered varieties they will often self-seed the following year.

2. Nasturtium

Nasturtium is one of those flowers that always looks like it belongs in a vegetable garden. Both the leaves and flowers are edible, and they attract caterpillars like crazy.

3. Poached Egg Flower

The ultimate flower to grow around any crops that need pollinating.

4. Daisies

At a time when we’re desperate to save bees, daisies are one of the best plants to attract them to your garden.

5. Agastache

This is an awesome perennial I use prolifically here in Williamson County because it doesn’t mind the Summer heat/drought and it looks amazing. It’s available in blues, pinks, and purples — and very easy to grow.

6. French & African Marigolds

These seem to be popular with bees, and they deter aphids by attracting hoverflies to eat them. Pungently aromatic, they are also believed to repel nematodes in the soil.

7. Scorpion Weed

It’s real name is Phacelia, and it makes a perfect soil improvement when you turn it under at the end of the season.

8. Clover

Clover is a legume, meaning it is in the same family as peas and beans. It improves nitrogen levels that feed your vegetable plants.

9. Cosmos

Easy to grow from seed or transplants; available in lots of colors.

10. Comfrey

Great ground cover for shade, with beautiful blue flowers.

So give flowers a shot in your vegetable garden this year; not only for the added beauty, but for improved pollenation, fewer insects, and better, healthier soil.

Williamson County Gardening Resources: