There is no middle ground with Marigolds. Gardeners either love them or hate them, and even those who hate them plant them anyway because somewhere along the line, we were told they keep those big, ugly hornworms from attacking our tomato plants.
For decades we've been told insects hate the scent of marigolds, which anyone who has stuck their nose inside the center of a sticky, orange flower knows is a distinct, pungent odor that doesn't appeal to many people either. We can't overlook the cultivated varieties that are lemon-scented, but I'm talking about the common orange or yellow marigold here.
I like marigolds and plant them every year, but even in my yard, they are often relegated to the vegetable garden. Even so, I can't resist some of the new varieties that come in shades of white and lemon yellow. Cultivars also can be found in different sizes than the six-inch French marigold we're all so used to seeing. No vegetable garden should be without flowers.
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