These Magic Flowers Will Repel Pests and Feed Your Plants

Flowers in the vegetable garden aren't just pretty - they are jolly useful too! Join Ben as he outlines three of his favorites. Plant this carefully curated selection and attract more pest predators into your garden to help in the fight against pests. Draw in more pollinating insects too. Oh - and use them to feed your crop plants for even bigger, better harvests. Sounds good, right?!
Want to see how Ben made his grass clippings liquid fertilizer? Then check out this video: • My Secret Free Resourc...
And watch the Short video on French marigolds here: • The Ultimate Companion...
If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers: www.GrowVeg.com
gardenplanner.almanac.com
gardenplanner.motherearthnews...
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If you've noticed any pests or beneficial insects in your garden lately please report them to us at BigBugHunt.com

[@EarthThemesStudio]

An experiment that worked well for me was tying bundles of lavender in my apple and pear trees, since I didn't spray. I was amazed at how clean the fruit was. I have lots of lavender. I simply tied them in small bunches after cutting and hung them head down, I renewed them one time before fruit harvest.

[@BarbaraMcpherson]

I did same with pyretheum daisy, wormwood

[@GrowVeg]

What a fab tip!

[@Cutecat689]

Do you think lemon grass would work a similar way?

[@rightangletriangle3188]

Good idea, thanks for sharing. I'll try that in my garden this year.

[@Windsais]

Did you tie them directly around the trunk? Do u have a pic? Do u think this would work for peach trees as well? Thanks for the wonderful tip!

[@helenloughrey7660]

I discovered that 2nd year Italian Parsley flowers attracted a tiny beneficial black wasp that didn’t mind me puttering right next to them - but they virtually eradicated the dread brown marmorated stink bug from my garden which is quite the accomplishment. Also I discovered that Japanese Beetles were killed when eating geranium flower petals. I also like interplanting creeping thyme as a ground cover and self seeding garlic chives as a pest deterrent .

[@GrowVeg]

What super tips, thanks for sharing this. :-)

[@dustyflats3832]

Yes, found dead bugs on geraniums. Had a terrible problem with gnats and aphids on seedlings last year and they didn’t bother geraniums or petunias. Found a couple lady bugs inside house and they cleaned up most of aphids.

[@user-mc3se2de8o]

Great post, thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@user-zy2dz4rv9p]

Thank you for this video, especially introducing Bocking 14 Comfrey. I have discovered a couple things out of my own laziness or just observing what goes on in my veg garden. Phacelia or Bee's Friend: I had a bare patch at the end of the summer, early fall, decided to seed phacelia which likes cool weather. I read that they pull up nutrients from the soil and you can till them in. The patch grew and I was too lazy to cut them down before they reseed at the end of the growing season, so left it in place. It seeded and died back. Early the following spring, a patch of phacelia regrew in the same place. I transplanted most of it to another bed as a cover crop before basil, they transplant very easily. I left some behind in the original patch to grow among added veg starts. Because it comes up early, the place was buzzing with all kinds of good insects, honey bees, bumblebees, hover flies, parasitic wasps, and many more I can't ID. It brought beneficials swarming into my veg garden very early in the growing season. I now do this every year. Cosmos and Dill: I plant my potatoes and peas together each year and have cosmos and dill throughout the bed. The following year in the same bed I grew my brassicas and the cosmos and dill had reseeded in the bed from the previous year. I usually cover my brassica beds with hoops and thin bug deterring cover. I couldn't this one year because there was a wasp nest near by and couldn't get the hoops in place. So, not the usual protection from pests for my plants. I noticed the cabbage worm butterflies would fly around the bed but never land. I also noticed that a lot of lady bugs lived in that bed. I didn't have problems with cabbage worms and little problem with aphids, and also noticed that the flea beetles were more in check. I no longer make a hoop house for my brassicas, just grow a lot of dill and cosmos among them. I leave the cosmos and dill in the ground to over winter and am noticing that there are more lady bugs in those beds at the start of the growing season. Also, since cosmos and dill reseed each year, I rarely have to seed it myself, I now just transplant into other beds. Laziness and the power of cause/effect observation have led me to change my practices and rely on these wonderful veg garden companions.

[@GrowVeg]

This is incredibly useful first-hand experience - thanks so much for sharing this. Proves the power of the flower!

[@ravenhill4331]

Thank you so much for sharing your observations! Since I have a lot of pests on my cabbages, I will definitly try out the dill and cosmos combination. Best regards from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@pinkfox5651]

Thank you. ❤

[@sandracarli1110]

My mom uses borage flowers in salads and the leaves like spinach in ravioli. Yummy!

[@Free-dv2vm]

I always remember cleaning out my grandma's pond and tipping the water on her flower beds. The difference within a few weeks was noticeable

[@jodyvollmer4125]

I use this method every two weeks when I drain 20% from my Koi pond. It really made my raspberries thrive.

[@sherriianiro747]

Wow! This is one of your best videos Ben! I have learned more from you than any network gardening show!

[@GrowVeg]

That is high praise indeed. Thank you so much! :-)

[@sherriianiro747]

@@GrowVeg You're welcome! May I add any KZbin gardening show too! 😁

[@gregoryseager9191]

I use Calendula, French marigolds, Alyssum and Californian Poppy and Poach egg as they all attract the bees and for contrast a few deep blue Lobelia and Salvia plants. Amazingly there is still room for my Toms and Peppers!

[@GrowVeg]

That's a lovely mix of flowers!

[@user-mc3se2de8o]

Love borage and marigold in my garden and also sunflowers. Bees love the flowers and birds love the seeds! And I love the birds and the bees!

[@amalimamboofthesky]

YOU NEED A TV SHOW!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ absolute legend!

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers so much! :-)

[@shinanbarclay67]

Dude you have really amped the quality of your presentations and information to a dynamic, yet still helpful and interesting level. BRAVO!

[@LilyoftheValeyrising]

Yes he does! He’s very knowledgeable and experienced! His energy is vibrant and attention grabbing.

[@GentrysGarden]

I like to add lots of nasturtiums to edges and corners of the raised beds. I add zinnias, marigolds, calendulas, and short varieties of cosmos. I started an entire raised bed of comfrey this year. The leaves are huge. Next year I’ll start chopping them a few times a summer to add to the compost bins. Great video!

[@lindas9806]

I started a comfrey bed this year too!

[@GrowVeg]

Lots of lovely comfrey to look forward to!

[@dibalowen7074]

@@lindas9806 Where did you find your comfrey plants? I think it is available in Southern states and there are two varieties

[@lindas9806]

@@dibalowen7074 I bought my on Etsy. All grew and are coming back this year. Be sure to get Bocking 14, those are not as invasive. They come as small “wood” cuttings. They grew really fast. Died off when it got cold but coming back up nicely.

[@k.p.1139]

Ben you are a ray of flower-shine! 😄😄

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - thank you!

[@hameratahir]

Wow, didn't know comfrey was such a useful plant! It keeps on giving!

[@GrowVeg]

It really does - an amazing flower! :-)

[@keithfreeman7725]

It's classed as a rampant weed around me. I've had to dig 3ft down to get the roots out for friends, but theirs are flower beds, and I leave them to grow in mine near my little veg patch.

[@sassafrasred6657]

If you chop and drop the leaves and stems you control this plant.nature is far wiser than any human. Beware of experts and governmental advise

[@leannepearson5396]

I love to use both Alyssum and Yarrow in my gardens. They attract a lot of beneficial insects. No problems with pollination or pests by keeping those two plants in my garden. Thank you for your informative video.

[@GrowVeg]

Great additions too Leanne. :-)

[@melissapollard5447]

I always let a parsnip or two go to seed. The bees loooove parsnip flowers and parsnip seed is only good when it’s really fresh. So as soon as it dries and the bees are done with it, I’m replanting from my own seed stock.

[@GrowVeg]

I reckon parsnip flowers are some of the most stunning of all.

[@tweetytje007]

Calendula, marigold, nasturtium, lavender, borage, sunflowers, poppies, nettles, oregano, ...

[@GrowVeg]

Lovely mix!

[@tweetytje007]

@@GrowVeg thx, yes idd!!!

[@michmash7888]

Salvia is a big hit with the bees in my yard! 😊

[@GrowVeg]

That's a real bee magnet - lovely!

[@trevor5290]

I plant marigolds everywhere and it helps to keep rabbits and deer away so my both my bee gardens and food gardens aren't expensive lunches for them.

[@JATJAT330]

I absolutely LOVE growing borage. But I also love growing phacelia. The bees go bonkers for it and its definitely one I recommend

[@GrowVeg]

A great recommendation - a really valuable green manure/cover crop too.

[@NatashaAllisonMissionAFamily]

I love calendula. It flowers right through winter and attracts insects. The flowers are edible and great in antiseptic salves/skin ointments.

[@MarKeMu125]

Apparently there'd weak evidence on the effectiveness of Comfrey for healing wounds, Yarrow however is backed up more by clinical research.

[@EtherealSunset]

I used to use a calendula salve on my son when he was little. He'd get dry cracked lips in the winter (it runs in the family) and would try wetting them, which made it worse. I used to put it on any time we'd go outside. It prevented it getting worse and used to speed up healing too. Definitely something worth having around. Great for insects and pretty too.

[@janicealderson4329]

I have a huge comfrey patch now I ordered roots from Ireland 2 years ago - before La Poste charged me a load of tax to deliver. I like that you can just use it dry as well and the concentrate - brilliant!

[@brumaybarnard4395]

Sweet Alyssum, bees love them.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, definitely!

[@jeas4980]

I've been using tons of Rumex sanguineus (bloody dock/red vein dock) from the Sorrel family this year; in the same ways you've shown using comfrey. Unbelievable results! Yesterday I pulled a 2' x 2' section of my early potato bed (just checking).. 4 plants produced over 7 and a half lbs of potatoes!! And they're beautiful... no scab, no bug damage, just pretty little egg sized taters. No blossom end rot on the tomatoes coming about now, either. The squash is vigorous and (so far) pest free!

[@GrowVeg]

What a superb result! :-)

[@R3ckNaR]

I've added nasturtium, calendula, tiger lilies, rue, dahlias, gardenias, lilies of the valley, marigolds, peonies, hydrangeas, and hostas in or around my vegetable garden and yard. We're finally getting good blooms on all of them this year, and our garden is a feast for the eyes! And I love making salads with the edible flowers -- nasturtium, tiger lilies, marigolds. I'm definitely going to add comfrey, borage, and French marigolds! Thanks!

[@GrowVeg]

What a fab list of flowers!

[@lovecara1]

I love your style Ben, you always make me smile and i learn so much.

[@GrowVeg]

Really appreciate it, thank you. :-)

[@lucybarnard3954]

I have loads of comfrey on my plot, I’ve already got a bin of it fermenting ready in a few weeks. I prefer to use it as a fertiliser over nettles because I don’t like getting stung! X

[@GrowVeg]

One good reason to prioritise it!

[@coryc1466]

I do not know from personal experience, but after doing a little research, I’ve read that chamomile is a great flower to help ward off ticks and mosquitoes, and can be a natural perennial. Of course, you can always use it in teas and skin care

[@GrowVeg]

Great recommendation. :-)

[@gardennerd1757]

Borage, Marigolds, and Nasturtiums are my main 3, since I have yet to find a good source for Comfrey. The Nasturtiums have such a lovely flavor in salads and sandwiches, as well as being a catch-all for pests.

[@GrowVeg]

Love nasturtiums in salads - so pretty.

[@joannmcculley8253]

So many little tidbits of info that i haven't heard anywhere else! What a lovely video. Thank you

[@Marw123]

Funny, all of these beatiful flowers I either already have (comfrey) or will plant (borage and different types of marigolds). Love the videos!

[@GrowVeg]

That's fab to hear! :-)

[@donnasteward7670]

I started comfrey last year & this year they are huge and wow are they attracting bumble bees! I cut some leaves and put them around some of my plants. I'll be adding more before cold weather hits us here in the Chicago area.

[@GrowVeg]

It’s an awesome plant!

[@blenderbenderguy]

The Comfrey seed I bought was SUPPOSED to be Bocking 14, though it turned out not to be. I am inundated with Comfrey to the point that I lost two entire raised beds because it took over, and there's no getting rid of it. Be careful in your seed selection!

[@markhedger6378]

Cover your bed with black plastic or old black roofing felt for a year it will die off (place old slates , bricks etc on top to weigh it down) good luck

[@one_field]

😢 Always be suspicious of anyone selling seed from a sterile plant that doesn't produce seed.

[@Jillyjogs]

I bought 2 plants from an organic grower years ago, I am wary of seeds from online non reputable growers

[@jabohabo3821]

Give it a bed and continually harvest the nutrient rich plant matter.

[@TheGreenPond-nature]

Chop off the flowers before they seed

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Oh, Ben. I love your videos! You've convinced me to order some new seeds 😄 I can't wait to have more space to grow. Thank you for the info!

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff! Good to be getting more seeds in. :-)

[@kgeeplays]

Sunflowers. I grew sunflowers for the first time last year, and I saw so many bugs on them that I had never seen before. it was the first year I had ever seen lacewings or parasitic wasps in my garden, and I grow tons of flowers every year. Sunflowers just brought on the beneficial brigade, and I didn’t have to spray anything that year.

[@GrowVeg]

Fantastic! :-)

[@anjkovo2138]

Camomile & Lavender for me. I found growing marigolds amongst veg beds attracts lots of slugs

[@joshcox3941]

Me too thry love marigolds

[@jeas4980]

I'm sorry. I selected your profile picture to get a better look at it.. it is so beautiful. And I watched the shorts on your channel. I'm sorry... it's clear your documenting these things is very important and not really intended for the public. Is Christine doing well? Is there anything I might be able to do to help? What an angel you are to be looking after her. Please, be safe. Many prayers your way.

[@nathonfrancis]

I have tons of marigolds, been too dry here for slugs but I could see how it would. The tomato horn worms are my bane....

[@RealBradMiller]

I find growing anything attracts slugs. 😂

[@nathonfrancis]

@@RealBradMiller especially trying to grow salad scraps under old firewood and loose bricks 😂🤣👍

[@nathonfrancis]

Great show as always Ben!! Hope everything is growing well👍👍😊

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers Nathon!

[@steve20664]

Great video, I love the energy you put into these.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@steve20664]

@@GrowVeg very welcome.

[@ASJSI]

Borage is bad in the US South. We have squash vinebores and this flower helps them survive and multiply.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the advice on this.

[@sharkbaitseamus]

Bee balm is hands-down the easiest way to get bees in my yard. I live in zone 8 by the coast where the soil is almost completely sand, and the bee balm thrives here. It self-seeds every year and only requires watering during really dry periods.

[@GrowVeg]

Great recommendation, and totally agree. :-)

[@brightantwerp]

I love your sunny energy. 💜

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@sherylwhited7380]

Along with the three you featured, I always grow sweet alyssum, nasturtiums, zinnias, cosmos, and calendula.

[@GrowVeg]

Funnily enough, those are the exact same additional flowers I'm also growing (along with poached egg plant).

[@Oktopia]

I mix nettle, and comfrey with Equisetum arvense to use as liquid fertilizer. It stinks but does lots of good for all of my plants. I have found good places to source all three of these plants. I had Borage last season and now the plants pop up all over my garden. Delightful!

[@gramblestump]

My comfrey and nettle stew smells awful im glad its not just me

[@renel7303]

The birds brought stinging nettle. A few the 1st year, more and more every year. My timing was bad, they went to seed. This year my backyard was completely covered in them. I get new crops spring & fall. Did I mention I welt up profoundly from those little prickly hairs.

[@Oktopia]

@@renel7303 You have officially become a nettle farmer :D Seems like you have good soil then, since nettles are notoriously picky eaters. :D

[@Oktopia]

@@gramblestump I usually give my neighbors a heads-up when I open my container. It smells like someone is spreading manure :D

[@renel7303]

@@Oktopia good to know. 😁 It has even partially crowded out the chick weed and Miner's Lettuce that has been on the north side for years. During the pandemic and intermittent supply chain issues we got a laugh out of the fact that most of our weeds were edible. Also have a small annual stand of wild oats out front. Big trees and birds.

[@zilvercederbom]

I'm a beginner gardener moving from just growing on the windowsill to now attempting to grow plants on my balcony. Literally giddy with ideas from your channel! :D

[@GrowVeg]

This is a joy to hear. Happy gardening! :-)

[@MorganHertzen]

Superb!

[@ThrawnFett123]

Saw a wonderful video fully testing the major nutrients of "weed tea, grass tea, plant teas" and they don't measurably have a chemically significant impact. Yet I've seen them have an impact. This very specifically seems in your wheel house, with your consistency (key to science) way of filming. You have anecdotal evidence it works (I have seen it too) and I'd love to see controlled evidence it does, and have that trigger the reasons "WHY?" It does. I don't see many videos rolling out a year after they mention "oh by the way we'll see what happens here..." like I consistently do yours coming into 3 year old videos in the same style as this one

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the suggestion. I would like to try doing more experimental videos - comparing and contrasting. Looking in depth in to this is a really good idea. :-)

[@robertwessels9827]

Excellent presentation!

[@SimplyJanHomestead]

This was awesome information ❤

[@mistsister]

I don't know what I did wrong, but my French marigolds (Dwarf Bolero variety) got five feet wide and three feet tall and shaded out everything, not to mention self seeding to an extreme degree for years to come. Love this channel.

[@GrowVeg]

They seem to be growing pretty well!

[@Mischiou]

Another excellent video. Thank you Ben for being such an inspiration.

[@ralsharp6013]

I love comfrey.. ❤️

[@TheReelDealwithTomKonkle]

Love the channel

[@ansammadi4680]

Yes, very nice

[@roninboxers]

Lovely recommendations! These are all favourites in my garden.

[@SidouGeundouz]

Very beautiful

[@juliapigworthy]

That dog at the end looked so mellowed out.

[@lyndapierce2333]

Many thanks👋🥰👋

[@jmallory6297]

Thank you for helpful information and tips!

[@TheGreenPond-nature]

Beautiful garden

[@bluestar.8938]

Thank you Mr Ben : )

[@GrowVeg]

:-)

[@Yeshuawater]

Love this thank you Blessings

[@juliekraft4102]

More great information as always,thank you.

[@Kitchenlabofficial]

Beautiful season flower

[@MorganHertzen]

Your videos are a joy!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much! :-)

[@lurklingX]

very enjoyable and helpful, thank you!

[@moranmike36]

Great video! Many thanks!

[@Quusai]

good job

[@indiebaby]

Borage is one of my favorites too!

[@searose6192]

My kids and I love borage. They snack on the flowers and cut the stems for drinking straws in the summer time. It give a lovely cucumber flavor to water when you use it as a straw. I love to grow it next to calendula because the color plays off each other beautifully.

[@GrowVeg]

Will have to try the borage straw technique myself - great idea! :-)

[@michaelbrooke1385]

Banging info.🐝

[@bobbyjones7505]

Super interesting video! Definitely going to grow some of these next year! Thank you

[@debradevine3949]

Great info. Your crops are doing really well!😊

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much! 😀

[@gabrielareyesaviles1362]

Really great video!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks. :-)

[@MRIWILLPLAY]

My garden is full of alkanet, so very glad to have a use for it

[@ninemoonplanet]

Lemon balm is good for keeping mosquitoes at bay. It's also edible, has flowers and self-spreading by seed.

[@renel7303]

It makes a delicious tea. Very nice iced.

[@Looking-Glass87]

FANTASTIC VIDEO! Subbed!

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one! Welcome to the channel! :-)

[@seankirk333]

👍great stuff

[@valoriegriego5212]

Howdy Ben and Rosie! 😃 Loads of great information! 👍Thank you! I'm going to make that grass tea.

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff Valorie! :-)

[@emcovebe478]

Bees go Bonkers for Borage!😂

[@GrowVeg]

They really do! :-)

[@emcovebe478]

@@GrowVeg I beeeelieve it 🐝😉

[@antoniawildmedia]

Beautiful and informative video! Great work GV! ❤

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers so much Antonia! Gotta love your flowers! ;-)

[@gaia9087]

Fantastisch ❤

[@stewartthomas2642]

Love your stuff kick on love it

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks! :-)

[@markvincent5241]

Another awesome video, thanks Ben. Love to give comfrey a go.

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers Mark!

[@the_magician_93]

i coverd my hole tomato bed with normal marigolds to prevent the water splashing up dirt and diseases onto my tomato's and the extra polinators is a big bonus^^

[@JohnnyZBeatZ]

Thanks love your videos they really help with my garden keep it up

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@jackstone4291]

Agree 1 nasturtiums and lots of different varieties too! Great helpful and just re ally great video!

[@carolday3381]

What an awesome video, thank you. New subscriber.

[@GrowVeg]

Welcome to the channel! :-)

[@diannevergi4396]

Totally agree with the first 2. I differ slightly for the 3rd.. mine would be calendula.😊 your tutorials are awesome!

[@jackieo8693]

What plant deters slugs?

[@GrowVeg]

Not sure if plants specifically deter slugs, but some plants are resistant at least. More on slugs here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHvZhqqhe7-Yha8

[@jackieo8693]

@@GrowVeg thank you

[@kalamityjayne7056]

A shallow bowl/tray of beer will attract and drown them

[@TheGreenPond-nature]

Thank you for the excellent information

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for watching. :-)

[@zan4110]

Great video...I have lots of comfrey..Will start a fertiliser tomorrow...😊

[@healthygreenbrave]

I LOVE to eat comfrey flowers! They have such a sweet, honey-like flavor! I also use it in my owie salve

[@susandibble3525]

Your dog is beautiful 🤗

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@katiedecker4644]

Nasturtiums, cosmos, and zinnia seem helpful as well!

[@candiwallace6605]

Comfrey is Ahmazing ❣❣❣

[@GrowVeg]

It really is!

[@lilaclilly198]

Ben this a interesting and useful video. I will definitely give it a go. I find all your videos interesting! Thank you🤗

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@user-gg4nq3il1v]

Nice 💯

[@kanianikevin9427]

I love marigold in my garden. In Uganda, particularly my region, we use the seeds for making tea ☕️ yum yum 🤤

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - sounds fab!

[@user-hj9uo2ui2m]

Thanks just learned some invaluable tips. Wow how your garden has extended, beautiful!! Thank you.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much for watching. :-)

[@yiz1612]

Just discovered your channel today, and subscribed! Enjoy watching your work even if I’m too lazy to do half of these~ at least for now, I’m just starting my gardening journey.

[@GrowVeg]

Superb - a very warm welcome to the channel! :-)

[@janetbull2616]

Great vlog so informative and I love watching them . I always learn something new and so love your enthusiasm 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for watching Janet. :-)

[@4_19crew.gingerWizard]

Nettle provides a lot of really good nutrition as well and can be prepared in an anaerobic with borage and Horsetail