Can Kale Beds Support Calendula Flowers?

Kale, a member of the Brassicaceae family, can be planted together and harvested simultaneously, providing a variety of flavors and textures for salads and side dishes. Calendula, a lesser-known flower, is often used as a pest deterrent and in herbalism. It attracts pollinators like bees, hoverflies, lacewings, and ladybugs due to their magnetizing scent. When first planted in the early spring, frost-tolerant flowers like calendula, chamomile, snapdragons, pansies, and violas can be grown alongside kale.

Kale grows best when planted next to other leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard, which provide added nutrients to the soil. Other beneficial plants that can be grown next to kale include broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and broccoli. Choose a site with full sun and fertile, well-draining soil, and ensure the soil is neutral or slightly acidic.

A study revealed that when calendulas are grown next to kale, many beneficial insects, including syrphid fly larvae and parasitic wasps, can’t resist the beauty of calendula. These insects are known to predate and parasitize common kale aphids.

Fast-growing leafy greens like lettuce and spinach can be great companions for kale, providing ground cover to help maintain soil moisture and prevent weeds. Calendula flower seeds germinate quickly and are easy to grow by directly sowing them in the garden bed. Kale is a cool weather green with ruffled leaves, and many plants grow well with it, receiving and giving benefits to each other. Kale looks lovely in a mixed vegetable and flower bed, and a low-growing variety of sweet alyssum can make an excellent border for such plantings. They prefer full sun, but can also grow in partial shade.

In conclusion, growing calendula companion plants can enhance the growth and yield of kale, while also providing various benefits for salads and side dishes.

Where not to plant calendula?

Calendula, a pot marigold, is a hardy annual that thrives in cooler temperatures of spring and early fall. Its name means the first day of the month, likely due to its reliably blooming. Calendula is easy to grow from seed and matures in 6-8 weeks after sowing. It belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family, which shares a central disc surrounded by spoon-shaped petals. Notable species include daisy, arnica, Artemisia, chamomile, chrysanthemum, dandelion, and Echinacea.

What are the enemies of kale?

Kale, like all Brassicas, is susceptible to pests like aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage worms. To protect your kale from these issues and enhance its yields, consider companion planting. This ecological method involves planting multiple species in the same space, promoting symbiotic relationships between flowers, herbs, and vegetables. This approach can lead to higher yields, reduced pest pressures, and other ecosystem benefits. It’s essential to choose the right companion plants for your kale to ensure a healthy and productive garden.

What does calendula repel?

Calendula flowers attract bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and pests like aphids, but they also repel other pests like tomato hornworm. The plant’s bright colors attract bees and butterflies, while repelling aphids. Calendula’s strong smell and potential use as insect repellent may help maintain a healthy garden. Some people even create insect repellent from calendula, providing a natural solution for pest control.

What does calendula pair well with?

Calendula is a medicinal herb known for its healing properties, particularly in aromatic blends like Lavender and Chamomile. Its soothing properties and pleasant aromas make it a favorite for anti-inflammatory blends. Yarrow and Comfrey are also effective in healing salves due to their healing properties. Calendula is also beneficial in healing tea blends like Lemon Balm due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.

Star Bright Farm products, such as Lavender Mint Body Butter, Lavender Vanilla Body Cream, Lip Butter, and Afternoon Sun Herbal Tea Blend, all contain Calendula for rejuvenating skin and tummy. Calendula can also be used in food or cocktail recipes, such as Winter’s Bane.

Can you plant calendula with squash?

Squash cultivation can be challenging due to invertebrate pests, which can damage and transmit diseases. To combat this, gardeners can use fragrant flowers and herbs that deter pests or attract predatory insects. Some options include calendula, chives, dill, lemon balm, marigolds, marjoram, and Nasturtium.

Squash can be intercropped with other plants, such as summer squash, which produces soft-skinned fruit early in the season, and winter squash, which has a harder shell and longer storage life. Winter squash vines can reach 12 to 20 feet in length, and pumpkins, acorn, butternut, and Hubbard are examples of winter squash. These plants can help control pests and attract predatory insects, ensuring a healthy and productive garden.

Is calendula good in the vegetable garden?

Calendula plants are a popular choice for garden companions due to their resistance to common garden pests, such as slugs. To maintain their beauty, it is essential to cut back plants and deadhead them regularly for continuous blooming. Calendula is a cold-hardy plant that can withstand occasional frosts and hard freezes, providing a stunning display of color into fall. As the growing season draws to a close, it is recommended to leave some blooms intact to allow seeds to propagate for the next season.

What can you not mix with calendula?

Calendula, a pot marigold plant native to Asia and southern Europe, has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. Its chemicals may help new tissue grow in wounds and decrease swelling in the mouth and throat. Calendula is commonly used for wounds, rashes, infections, inflammation, and other conditions, but there is no strong evidence to support its use for any purpose. Sedative medications can cause sleepiness and slowed breathing, so taking calendula with sedatives may cause breathing problems.

Where is the best place to plant calendula?

Calendula is a versatile plant that can be grown in full sun and part shade, and can be planted in pots or directly in the ground. It can tolerate poor soil, including clay, and thrives in cool coastal summers. Calendula is deer-resistant and has moderate water needs. The large curved seeds should be sown a quarter-inch deep, and germination occurs in 10 to 15 days with 65-degree temperatures. Once established, calendula self-sows, and seed heads form quickly.

To prevent dead-heading, cut just above the next lower flower bud or leaf joint. Some seeds can be left to turn into seedlings for planting in other parts of the yard. Transplanting seedlings or mature plants to a desired location can also be done, as demonstrated in the MG demonstration garden. Over time, plants may develop powdery mildew, which should be pulled up.

What to avoid with kale?

Individuals with oxalate-containing kidney stones or those taking Coumadin or warfarin blood thinners may require a reduction in their intake of kale, and should seek the advice of a healthcare professional or dietitian in this regard.

What plants don’t like kale?

Kale, a plant with natural pest-repelling properties, does not thrive in the presence of basil, potatoes, tomatoes, or strawberries. It flourishes in the presence of basil, but exhibits a marked aversion to potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries. The plant exhibits a disinclination towards these companions.

What vegetables grow well with calendula?

Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is an annual flowering plant native to southwestern Asia, western Europe, and the Mediterranean. Its bright, showy flowers can be yellow, orange, or a combination of both, and its lance-shaped leaves are vibrant green. Calendula attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, repels asparagus beetles, nematodes, and tomato hornworms, and is a great companion plant for various vegetables.

Coreopsis tinctoria, also known as plains coreopsis or golden tickseed, is an annual flowering plant native to North America. Its bright yellow and red flowers bloom from early summer to fall, and it is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, soldier beetles, and tachinid flies, and is a favorite among gardeners looking to add color to their garden.

Cosmos, an annual flowering plant native to Mexico and Central America, produces showy, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and purple. Its fern-like, finely divided leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Cosmos is a popular ornamental plant due to its ease of cultivation, tolerance to drought, and long-lasting blooms. It attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, as well as beneficial insects like hoverflies, damsel bugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies.

In conclusion, Calendula, Tickseed, Cosmos, and Cosmos are all excellent plants for adding color, pollination, and beneficial insects to gardens and landscapes.