Tagetes

Suesyn

Could someone advise me please. I sowed African  marigolds  to put in the greenhouse with tomatoes etc to attract pollinators but none have germinated.  Will Cosmos  Ladybird  (which are orange and yellow ) do the same job or should I buy some bedding plants. I wondered if it is the smell rather than colour which is attractive. I suppose it must work as so many people seem to do it. 

fidgetbones

What you want are French Marigolds, not African marigolds. African Marigolds need more heat to germinate.  Sarah Raven recommends Tagetes Linnaeus, but I used Tagetes Patula  single flowered such as Fantasia mixed from Suttons.  You need single flowered to bring in hoverflies.  They should germinate in less than a week. You still have time to sow some. 

Pete.8

I plant French marigolds and basil amongst my toms in the greenhouse.
As fb says above, the variety is not really important, just get a single variety so that insects can get to the pollen.
My tomato plants are about 4" and I'll be sowing French marigolds in the next few days, so I can plant them out together in about a month.

B3

I think it's probably the smell rather than the colour.

Pete.8

Yes, it is the smell that deters aphids which is why the variety is unimportant.
I find basil helps for the same reason too.
I also plant French marigolds amongst my runner beans

Suesyn

OK,  I'll get some more seeds and have another go. I thought it was the colour that attracts them, goodness knows what I am going to do with the Cosmos, they germinated no problem. Garden club plant sale here we come! 
Thanksfor your advice.