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    Home » Garden » Flowers

    The Benefit of Flowers in a Vegetable Garden

    By: Jane · Updated: 12 Oct, '21 · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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    Growing flowers in a vegetable garden

    Our vegetable garden is filled with flowers this year on purpose. That's because I realize the benefit of Flowers in a vegetable garden. Today I'm sharing the reasons to Plant Flowers in your garden.

    Flowers in a vegetable garden

    When Leo and I started our vegetable garden over 10 years ago, I never dreamed of NOT growing vegetables without flowers. My grandparents and my parents grew flowers alongside their vegetables in their gardens and I thought that was simply the way it was done.

    As a child, I was fascinated with the many hollyhocks that my grandmother had growing in her garden. And my mother grew dahlias and other flowers near our garden.

    The first year when we started our garden here at the Crossroads, we planted many rose bushes along our fence.  I immediately started planting both annuals and perennials around the perimeter of our garden.

    Flowers found their way inside our garden, too.

    Through the years, you may recall posts such as Zinnias and Flowers in the Garden and Plant Profusion Zinnias for Color All Summer.

    But have you ever wondered why?

    reasons to plant flowers in a vegetable garden

    1. To provide color and beauty

    It is just my second nature to pretty up a space and the vegetable garden is no exception. Flowers just make me smile. I am attracted to their range of color, form, and texture. Seeing flowers is uplifting and they serve as a source of comfort for me.

    2. To improve pollination and harvest

    Tomatoes in a vegetable garden

    We grow a lot of tomatoes in our garden and they are self-pollinating. But when bees assist in that process, the yield increases significantly.

    This summer we have had a bountiful crop of tomatoes, and I believe part of the reason is because I planted 3 long rows of zinnias right behind them.

    Zinnias and honeysuckle vine in a vegetable garden

    The Major Wheeler honeysuckle vine directly behind the zinnias is a real hummingbird magnet. Hummingbirds are excellent pollinators because they carry pollen as they move from plant to plant.

    Butterfly on a zinnia in a vegetable garden

    Butterflies and moths flitter around the zinnias and then move over to the flowering vegetables.

    If you started a garden this year and you have been struggling with your yield, don't give up. Part of the solution is to plant flowers near your veggies!

    3. To help manage weeds

    Filling in areas around plants with flowers helps deter weeds, the bane of any gardener! As the flowers grow, they shade the soil and out-compete the weeds.

    Marigolds grown in a raised bed

    In the photo above, you see marigolds inter-planted with jalapeno and bell pepper plants in a raised bed. I have had to do very little weeding in that bed because of the marigolds.

    In the area where the rows of zinnias are growing, the tall zinnias have done the same. At first, we did have to do a bit of hoeing but as the zinnias established themselves, there were fewer weeds.

    4. To deter pests and attract beneficial insects

    We always plant marigolds among our tomato plants. Their strong scent is a natural deterrent for nematodes in the soil as well as other flying insects. In all the hours that I've worked in the garden this summer, I have only had one mosquito bite. The marigolds keep them away along with other pests such as aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs.

    The French marigolds are the very best for keeping harmful pests away.

    Nasturtiums are great for attracting cabbage moths and flowering herbs will attract other pests so that they don't bother your vegetables.

    When trying to grow food as organically as possible, flowers keep everything in balance. They are a cheap, easy, and chemical-free solution to pest problems.

    5. Provide cut flowers for the house

    Flowers grown in the vegetable garden provide beautiful cut flowers. I cannot tell you how many bouquets I've made with my zinnias this summer.

    Dahlia growing in a vegetable garden

    And I've never grown dahlias before this year and look at this beauty. I think I'm hooked on them now although I haven't had the heart to cut one yet.

    Giant cactus zinnia

    My absolute favorite variety of zinnia that looks beautiful as a cut flower is the giant cactus ones.  I just love their ruffled petals and will plant more of them next year.

    Giant cactus zinnia in a garden

    They come in an assortment of colors.

    Giant cactus zinnias in a vegetable garden

    Sorry, I can't help all the photos of the zinnias. They just make me happy!

    Zinnias in a vegetable garden

    Although I have never done so, I could grow enough zinnias next year to sell because we have the space.

    Types of flowers to put in a vegetable garden

    Gosh, I think that really depends on the length of your growing season and your plant hardiness zone. We are located in zone 8a. Most annuals and perennials are suitable along with flowering vines, shrubs, and trees. To get a jump on early spring pollination, I plan to grow snapdragons, sweet peas, and other cool season flowers so that the pollinators will already be present in the garden.

    But here's my list of flowers that I think are essential or are great additions to any vegetable garden.

    • French marigolds
    • nasturtiums
    • zinnias
    • pentas
    • petunias
    • calendula
    • chrysanthemums
    • pansies
    • snapdragons
    • sweet alyssum
    • shasta daisies
    • nicotiana
    • sunflowers
    • sweet peas

    And don't forget that many flowering herbs such as rosemary, parsley, dill, and sage attract beneficial insects, too.

    Let me know if you have experience with growing flowers in a vegetable garden and which ones are your favorites.

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    1. Cookie eddings

      August 10, 2021 at 12:17 am

      Sorry Jane, I messed up the first time & punched "go" by mistake.
      You have the greenest thumb of anyone I know! I love to see your vegetable & flower pictures. They are most gorgeous. I wonder--how do you pay the water bill to water all of that stuff? You don't have to answer that, but your garden is so FULL! We've had big gardens in the past & our water bill was $100 plus. I'd love to visit your garden; it just blows my mind with all of its beauty. I loved your post with all of the information. Thanks. Cookie

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        August 11, 2021 at 2:57 pm

        Cookie, we are very fortunate to have a well on our property and that's what we use to water the garden. During the first year of garden, we had one of those $100 water bills, too, and very quickly got a pump installed on the well!

        Reply
    2. Janice

      August 06, 2020 at 11:24 am

      Great article,Jane...lots of info....
      Added bonus!! Zinnia pics!! Beautiful!!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        August 06, 2020 at 1:18 pm

        Thanks so much, Janice! Gotta love those zinnias!

        Reply
    3. Sally Smith

      August 06, 2020 at 8:22 am

      What a great article on your gorgeous garden. Do you sow your zinnia seeds directly and if so how many packs of seed would you estimate you used? Do you purchase online or from a local nursery? They are my absolute favorite!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        August 06, 2020 at 1:21 pm

        Sally, I direct sowed my zinnia seeds and estimate that I used 12-15 packets of seed. I purchased my seed packets from Lowe's but next year I plan to order them early from a seed catalog since I want certain colors of those giant cactus zinnias.

        Reply
    4. Francis C. Moore

      August 06, 2020 at 8:13 am

      You flowers are so beautiful. I especially love the zinnas. I have a few plants and they all seem to be attacked by small brown spots. Maybe it is because I water the plant rather than the roots. I had one beautiful patio tomato plant and something ate all the leaves and 10 of the tomatoes were damaged which I threw away. Your garden is great. I can see why you are so happy with it. Happy Gardening.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        August 06, 2020 at 1:24 pm

        It sounds like your zinnias have a leaf spot disease which is very common in hot, humid places. Mine always get some of that in August. I try not to water my zinnias unless we've gone a week without rain and then I try to water at the roots only. But once they get tall, that's hard to do.

        Reply

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