How to Grow Marigold Plants
Annual, Tagetas Ercta, Tagetas Patula
Marigold plants are a very prolific, easy to grow annual flower. Kids love
'em and adults love 'em. Marigold flowers are available in a variety of colors,
including white, yellow, orange, red and mixed colors. Marigold Flowers will
bloom from mid-summer all the way until frost. They can be used for indoor
arrangements, but give off a pungent odor that is sometimes too strong indoors.
Did you Know? Marigolds are considered companion plants that keep
insects away. Many gardeners grow them amidst their vegetable crops.
More on Companion Plants
Variety abounds!
There is a variety for everyone and for every need. There is a profusion
of colors, multi-colors, and hues. Marigolds also come in a wide range of
sizes from miniatures smaller than a foot to giant varieties that can grow
up to four feet tall! You can select the color and size that is perfect for
your flower garden. And don't overlook Marigolds in container gardens as
the smaller varieties do well in containers.
Propagation:
Marigolds are grown from seeds. They like full to partial sun. Marigold
seeds can be directly sowed into your flower garden, or seeded indoors
for transplanting later. We recommend planting Marigolds in pots and containers
indoors, then transplanting them outdoors. This allows you to make the proper
spacing without the need for thinning seedlings.
Sow Marigold seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil. Water
thoroughly once. They germinate easily and will grow quickly, producing their
first of a continual display of blooms by mid-summer.
Transplant Marigold plants into your garden after the last frost date for
your area. Spacing depends upon size with miniature varieties spaced four
to six inches apart, and Giant varieties one to two feet apart.
How to Grow Marigold Flowers:
Marigold plants like rich, well drained soil, but are very tolerant of average
to slightly poor soils. Improving your soil quality will produce much healthier
plants and flowers, so add plenty of compost. Add a general purpose fertilizer
once a month.
Once your Marigolds are established, they should grow well, even if left
unattended. Soil should be moist, but not wet. Water them during dry periods,
once or twice per week.
Add mulch around the plants for appearance and to keep weeds down.
Around mid-summer, your plants will begin to produce flowers and will continue
to do so up to the first frost. You do not need remove dead flower blooms,
except for appearance.
Marigolds are annuals and susceptible to frost. They may survive the first
light frost with only a little damage. They will not survive a hard frost
or freeze.
Insect and Disease:
Insects largely avoid Marigolds. Insects do not like it's pungent odor. This
is why Marigolds make good companion plants. You can even make an insect
repellent spray from these plants. See Organic
Sprays
While insects avoid Marigolds, slugs can do major damage. Slugs like to slither
up the stem and chew on the leaves. They can destroy an entire flower garden
of Marigolds. They can be seen on the plants overnight, in wet weather and
early morning. If an infestation occurs, treat quickly to avoid major damage.
More on Slugs and Snails
More Information:
Buy Marigold Seeds
How
to Grow Marigold Plants
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