Marigolds, Whitefly and Tomatoes ?

Hi,

Have often put some potted Marigolds on or near our tubs of Tomatoes to help ward off Whitefly and Aphids, though often saw some of them fly onto the Marigolds when we picked the toms.

On Gardeners World last Friday there was a clip where it was said the Marigolds have to be planted into the same compost by the side of the Tomato plant, suggesting it passed something via is roots rather than any 'smell' from the Marigold ?

So does that method really work and if we just have potted Marigold in the greenhouse in an attempt to keep down Whitefly etc. are we just wasting our time or possibly attracting more Aphids in the process ?

 

I saw that.
Can only say I've not seen white fly in 10 yrs.

 

Marigolds? different types, I sow and plant Tagetes in pots and place in the greenhouse along side my tomatoes, No white fly, seed cheap too!

 

Just seen a pic in Garden News and they had also planted them in the same pot as the toms.

Perhaps our whitefly do not know about Marigolds/ Tagetes , we have used both in the past and neither effective when in their own pots...??

 

I used to see whitefly on both dwarf french marigold and tagetes when growng them (by the 1,000s) in the past for the Parks Dept. So I have never bothered planting them next to toms.

 

Re @strongylodon , think its time free up the bench space to put the Marigolds into the borders !

Did a greenhouse clean up the other week and been spraying all the plants, mainly Fuchsias, with SB Plant Invigorator to try and rid the Whitefly and a Spider Mite outbreak.

Always a bit suspicious of such products, but it seems to be working, though the sceptic in me wonders if plain water would have the same effect ..

 

Planted French marigolds next to tomatoes, with some lettuce seedlings. White fly having a laugh and a slug got in somehow and had lettuce and started on marigolds!
Don't use slug pellets outside as my birds (!) love any sort of pellet despite colour and taste!
Tried the wasp biological control for the whitefly but had cold spells which killed them! Now using pyrethrum again, and shouting Druid curses!

 

I've always grown tagetes in the polytunnel with the toms, until this year when they didn't self-seed. It's the first year that I've had whitefly in there. So a firm believer here
Some plants do release chemicals via their roots to dissuade competition from other plants, so perhaps it's the same principle?

 

Not read the scientific stuff yet but old habits die hard! Hope your setup works!

 

Coming in on an old thread here but would this also work in the open air? I have young tomatoes on the allotment and tagetes almost ready to plant out.

 

We have Calendula offinicalis that have self seeded from some where else in our polytunnel. We allow them to grow and pollinate so that any white fly will be deterred. Does it work? No idea but the flowers are lovely.

 

It works also in open air, @adamadamant I have also surrounded my tomato plant with Calendula, Phacelia and other wildflowers.

 

Marigolds, especially tagetes (French marigolds) contain pyrethrins which are natural insecticides. Any flower in the vegetable garden helps attract pollinating insects.