When growing flowers in a commercial Tower Farm or on a Tower Garden Home, we almost always choose edible flower varieties.
The whole strategy around growing edible flowers in a Tower Farm is to use the flowers for ornamental cooking purposes, but mainly to choose flower varieties to attract beneficial insects.
Beneficial insects include ladybugs, green lacewings, praying mantis, soldier beetles, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and assassin bugs, which basically kill and eat other insects and aphids, hence acting as insecticides for your plants. Spiders are often overlooked as beneficial, however, they are also instrumental in terms of pest control.
The most important beneficial insects are the pollinators such as bees, butterflies, ants, and wasps (we prefer bees over wasps, haha!!) which are crucial for not only growing vegetables but for the entire ecosystem.
Marigold flowers are annuals, although there are a few perennial varieties, need full sun exposure. Contrary to Calendula, most marigold varieties are not prone to fungi or any other disease. Marigolds grow generously when using Tower Garden technology. We choose to grow the bright yellow and orange varieties which are the perfect colors to attract beneficial insects.
Marigold flowers are magnets for beneficial insects and mainly for bees!
Due to their strong smell, marigold flowers also act as an insect repellent (efficient against mosquitoes).
Marigold flowers have been used by many cultures (Hindu, Buddhist, Aztecs, Chinese etc.) as symbols of power, strength, and light. Some Asian cultures believe that marigold flowers represent a pot of gold and are symbolic of good fortune…
Whether grown in the soil or planted in a hydroponic tower, we strongly recommend growing marigolds as part of the planting strategy of every vegetable garden.
