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suggestions for flowers in climbing bean/pea (raised) bed

REMF33REMF33 Posts: 696
in Garden design
Is it a bad idea to put some flowering plants in my raised bed along with beans and peas? If not, what would work? Presumably it would need to be something that tolerates semi-shade, at least. (The beans are planted in rows going east-west... or vice versa :) )
I am not keen on putting marigolds in as a companion plant, as growing nasturtiums - another aphid attractant - with my potted dwarf cherry trees last year resulted in a horrible plague of black aphids on the cherries.

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,436
    I mix veg and flowers,I have sweet peas with the peas and chrysanthemums, carnations, gladiolus, dahlias in the veg bed. Bit of a posh alys Fowler look.
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 696
    @Nanny Beach your vet patches must look lovely!
    I was just looking up tagetes and calendula and one source says they repel aphids. Is this the case? Mind you my calendula were plagued with mildew last year, so maybe best keep away from peas.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,436
    Last year I had French marigolds bin between the tomatoes. I have grown a lot of calendula I want to make my own lip balm and hand cream
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 696
    I did stick some tagetes and calendula in among the beans in the end. I do like the smell of calendula leaves. I had some for the first time in a logn time (ever?! I used to be a veg-only person) last year, but had forgotten the smell. I have grown a *lot* from seed this year. Probably not the best specimens, but not too bad for a from-seed novice. (A bit better than last year's rubbish attempts at growing flowers from seed at any rate!) Flowers are bit small though. Probably kept them in their pots too long. I need to have a serious think about sowing times next year.
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