Anybody plant flowers with your vegetable garden?

[The Original Rooster]

We had lots of blooms last year on our vegetables but not much production. I was reading that the decrease in bees and other pollinators are a real problem. One of the suggestions was to maximize the amount of pollinators you did have by planting flowers that bees like close to your garden so we're mixing in a few flowers with out garden this year to see if it helps. Anyone else ever tried this?

 

[fishfryer]

We had lots of blooms last year on our vegetables but not much production. I was reading that the decrease in bees and other pollinators are a real problem. One of the suggestions was to maximize the amount of pollinators you did have by planting flowers that bees like close to your garden so we're mixing in a few flowers with out garden this year to see if it helps. Anyone else ever tried this?

Zinnias every year, marigolds once on a while

 

[fireman32]

I’ve planted marigolds with mine before. Try to plant flowers with yellow blooms, to my understanding bees prefer yellow over other color blooms.

 

[The Original Rooster]

I asked Mrs. Wendy and she said that we had Zinnias and Marigolds so that's good to hear.

 

[35 Whelen]

Marigolds every year, especially around the tomatoes.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Wonderful idea.

I am gonna add some hives when I retire.

Maybe keep ‘em on a small trailer and move them to buckwheat or melons when the time is right?????

 

[livinoutdoors]

Yup marigolds are just about bullet proof. I have also had great luck with a strip of buckwheat planted at the edge. Works really well.

 

[ilbcnu]

Nasturtiums

 

[trad bow]

Yep every year

 

[B. White]

My wife will plant marigolds on the row ends and some sunflowers. The sunflowers also attracted a lot of stink bugs and pests last year. Between them and pumpkins and other winter squash our crookneck and cucumbers got left alone and produced longer than I remember in recent years.

80-90% of mine is covered in clover right now and full of bees. Collards are going to seed and attracting them too.

I will pick a spot where sweet taters are going and plant it in buckwheat as soon as the ground is dry, if we get the rain predicted tomorrow.

Put a stand up last week for my wife's two hives she just painted. She should pickup bees next week.

 

[Crakajak]

I also have modified coke cans to provide a water source for the bees.
Marigolds every year.This year 11 plants around the garden.

 

[sportsman94]

Just started some marigolds and sunflowers this weekend. Will start some zinnias soon as well. Last year I planted a cover crop with buckwheat right next to the main garden. All of the above seems to really help attract pollinators to me

 

[ngamtns]

I usually plant zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers. I direct sow all three in the garden. Marigolds also produce a natural pesticide or repellent or something. Prefer the smaller sunflower with multiple blooms on one stalk. They attract bees and the yellow finch love the seeds.

 

[Nicodemus]

Never done it before but after reading this thread I planted a row of marigolds and a short row of nasturtiums. Ya`ll done got me curious and since a new pecan orchard went up in the field behind the house I`ve noticed a shortage of bees in the garden the last few years. We`ll see.

 

[fishfryer]

I usually plant zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers. I direct sow all three in the garden. Marigolds also produce a natural pesticide or repellent or something. Prefer the smaller sunflower with multiple blooms on one stalk. They attract bees and the yellow finch love the seeds.

Howdy Martin Man, got a good crowd here now. How about y’all?

 

[ngamtns]

Howdy Martin Man, got a good crowd here now. How about y’all?

Hey fishfryer, yes sir we have a about half capacity so far. I’ll send you a video

 

[fishfryer]

Hey fishfryer, yes sir we have an about half capacity so far. I’ll send you a video

Thanks that’ll be great

 

[deersled]

yarrow

 

[The Original Rooster]

yarrow

I've heard good things about yarrow attracting the good insects and repelling the bad. I may try some of it too.

 

[Lindseys Grandpa]

Zinnia's and Marigolds along with a few sunflowers