The seeds that I planted weren't calendula :(....different varieties and heights of marigolds. I think everyone must know about my "weed"! It's growing taller every day and looking less compact and less like a marigold. It's between 6"-8" tall just from the rain over nite. Once these weeds are gone, the sunshine can get to the real marigolds underneath. It will also look much more organized and less "weedy" when they start to fill in. Thanks again for your help! LC Grace.

We never had a problem with marigolds and used them to keep some critters out of our gardens. However, this year I discovered snails were eating my marigolds like they were fried chicken. Nothing left but some strands of stalk. I think we imported them in bags of soil I bought at Home Depot this year. They Are new in town. I think this because I used it to fill some pots in my garage work room which is free from outside contamination, and That was when I discovered snails for the first time on the plants in there. I also found out the best way to get rid of them,plus easiest was to spray ammonia mixed with water on them at night when they are active. They dropped like flies from the plants and eventually disappeared. If it ain't one thing it's another. Now I'm watching five bucks that are working their way closer to my apple trees each night. Isn't nature fun!

So sorry but I have to strongly AGREE with bigdaddy on this particular "companion planting" ploy. Marigolds attract spidermites (aphids too) regardless of the type of marigold and neither pest is beneficial to the garden. "Doing a bit of research..." in something other than the various companion planting bibles quickly proves that point. Please understand that companion planting as it is preached and practiced by some is considered by many experienced gardeners to be nothing more than a gardening fad. Its advocate's books are filled with logical fallacies and invalid assumptions, claims that cannot be proven or replicated, and regional old wives tales. Yet every few years it seems a few new gardeners suddenly discover one of the books and buy into its message whole hog. Despite little practical experience, they too begin to preach its benefits and we have a cycle of "just plant _______ with it to solve that problem" companion planting posts throughout the forums. It's the reason why Spike created their own forum for them years back. They never seem to realize that most of its claims have been around for eons and that while some may work, many are just coincidence and happenstance. Many have been tried and tested by experienced gardeners, horticulturists, and the scientific community, and for the most part once the variable of coincidence is controlled for, they never stand up to actual testing. So if you like the color and smell of marigolds then by all means plant them. But don't grant them mystical powers of pest control - please. Dave

I like the tall marigolds, too. "Crackerjack" is a good one. Although, I have to say I did see some potted "Fireball" next to some mums at the nursery yesterday, and all the warm orange-y and yellow tones made for a great fall display. I was tempted...