Okay, so you’ve got your tomatoes, your cucumbers, maybe even some kale you swear you’ll actually eat this year. But have you thought about throwing some flowers into the mix? No, not just to make your garden pretty (although that is a nice bonus)—flowers can actually help your veggies thrive.
Here’s why your vegetable garden is begging for a little floral flair, and which blooms are the best to buddy up with your carrots and zucchinis.
1. Marigolds – The MVPs
These guys are like the bouncers of the garden. Marigolds help repel all kinds of pests—aphids, nematodes, even rabbits sometimes don’t want to mess with them. They’re especially great around tomatoes, beans, and peppers. Plus, they bloom like crazy and don’t need a lot of fussing over.
Pro tip: Go for the French marigolds—they’re smaller but tougher.
2. Nasturtiums – Edible AND Useful
Not only are nasturtiums beautiful (hello, bright orange, red, and yellow petals), but you can also eat the flowers and leaves. They’ve got a peppery kick that’s great in salads. But their real superpower? Acting as a pest magnet. Aphids love them, so they’ll attack the nasturtiums instead of your veggies. It’s like a trap… and they fall for it every time.
Plant near: beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash.
3. Calendula – The Chill Healer
Calendula, aka pot marigold, brings some mellow golden energy to your garden. It attracts all kinds of good bugs, like ladybugs and hoverflies, which eat the bad bugs (yes, nature has hit squads). It also has skin-soothing properties if you’re into DIY salves.
Bonus: It self-seeds easily, so it might pop up again next year like, “Hey, remember me?”
4. Borage – The Bee Magnet
Borage has these super cool star-shaped blue flowers, and bees go nuts for them. More bees = more pollination = more veggies. Borage is especially good near strawberries, tomatoes, and squash. And fun fact: its leaves taste like cucumber.
Heads up: It can get a bit wild-looking, so give it some space.
5. Zinnias – Just for Fun (and Pollinators)
Zinnias aren’t doing pest control, but they are pollinator magnets. Butterflies love them. And they add a burst of color that makes your garden feel a little more joyful and a little less like a serious farming operation.
Mix in anywhere you’ve got a sunny patch.
A Few Quick Tips:
Mix things up. Don’t just put flowers in a corner—tuck them in between your veggies.
Deadhead. Snip off old blooms to keep the flowers coming.
Don’t go wild with fertilizers. Most flowers do fine without anything fancy.
Growing flowers in your vegetable garden isn’t just about the vibes (though they’re great). It’s about working with nature to make your garden healthier, happier, and way more photogenic. Plus, it just feels good to see a splash of color while you’re out there weeding.
So go ahead—plant those marigolds. Your tomatoes will thank you.