Marigolds

[Dorothy rouse]

Well I grew some marigolds from seed, planted them up on allotment, all but one, gone, what eats marigolds ?

I'm just going to buy some from GC,buti've never had them disappear before!

[veggiechicken]

French or English marigolds?

[WendyC]

Slugs and snails. I've had a whole tray of seedlings be reduced to stalks overnight by a snail in the greenhouse. Needless to say it didn't get to stay in the greenhouse.

[Scarlet]

Yes, slugs! It's not too late to start again. The weather is warmer so they will grow very fast.

[Martin H]

French marigolds attract slugs from miles around. English marigolds seem less appetising once they have passed the seedling stage.

[Alison]

I'd say slugs too, lost loads over the years to them

[skeggijon]

French marigolds have been rubbish for me this year. Only 3 germinated out of 2 packets Ended up buying some plants from B&M Stores - only cost �2.99 for 20

[Dorothy rouse]

French marigolds, am sure there were a few slug pellets around them, usually marigolds grow like weeds don't they? Bit of a faff to be honest, I'm just going to buy some plants.

Thanks for the advice, think we are going to real problem wth slugs/snails this year!

[Gillykat]

Slugs may explain the mystery of MY disappearing French Marigolds I sowed some carrots in the polytunnel and put a line of marigolds next to them. They germinated ok but then barely got past the first seed leaves before vanishing into thin air virtually overnight!!! The carrots are doing great, as is the beetroot next to it - it's just my marigolds which are having problems There's no sign of slime or remains of nibbled stalks or anything...I was even wondering if it was too warm in the tunnel and they had shrivelled up? I've got some well grown ones in the greenhouse so I think I'll plant them out today and see what happens - if THEY get nibbled/slimed I'll know it's slugs!

[Jungle Jane]

I only grow marigolds as a trap crop for slugs-I put them next to everything I'm growing. It makes torch slug walks easier,because I know where they are,but if you leave them for a couple of days,they're eaten. But it's ok because the runner beans haven't really been touched.

[Penellype]

I once bought a tray of 24 french marigolds to plant out in my flower border. I planted them out one afternoon, the next morning all but 1 were gone. The 1 remaining flower was hanging out of the side of the mouth of a snail having been decapitated.

I haven't tried growing them since.

[Jungle Jane]

Beer is good as it has a strong scent for slug attraction. I use an old ceramic t-bag container,put about 2 inches of beer in there,then sink it into the ground with it's rim about an inch above soil level,so beetles don't fall in. I've been finding lots of slugs & snails in my blow-away grow tent,need to get things planted out,before there's nothing to plant out

[jackarmy]

Talking of which, arent they supposed to ba good companion plant for toms?, is it simply because slugs prefer them to a juicy tom ?

[Jungle Jane]

They're a good companion for most plants,they're said to keep whitefly away from tomatoes,I get the odd whitefly,but they never nest near the marigolds.

[jackarmy]

Ah, thanks for that