MARIGOLD STANDARD

THOUGH BENEFICIAL INSECTS FLOCK TO THIS PRETTY FLOWER, IT SPELLS DOOM FOR NEMATODES

Words Jennifer Stackhouse

French marigolds are small, cheery plants with hidden powers. Not only do they brighten up gardens with masses of small yellow, red or orange flowers; they can also help battle a serious soil pest. Root knot nematodes, microscopic soil-borne creatures that damage root systems and cause plants to wilt and die, don’t attack marigolds. However, they do like many productive plants including tomatoes and are often prevalent in sandy soils. Also called eelworms, nematodes, despite their common name, are neither worms nor eels. While they can’t be seen by the naked eye, you can sure see the damage they cause: infected plants develop nobbled and knotted roots. To control them, remove infected plants and burn or bin them — don’t put them in compost heaps — and plant a crop of marigolds. Without…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #13.3 - 2022

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