Sunshine on a Stem: Learn Why to Add These Sunny Blooms to Your Garden!
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Planting
Marigolds thrive in full sunshine and can often withstand very hot summers. African and signet marigolds are drought tolerant, while French varieties are more tolerant of wet conditions. If planted in shade and cool, moist areas, they are prone to powdery mildew and won’t bloom well.
Though they grow in almost any soil, marigolds do best in moderately fertile, well-draining soil. Prepare the soil by digging down about 6 inches to loosen it, then mix in compost to add fertility and improve consistency.
When to Plant Marigolds
- Young French and signet species can be planted from spring through midsummer, but the tall African marigolds are best planted right away in the spring (after the danger of frost has passed) because they are slower to mature and produce flowers. Find local frost dates here.
- Sow seeds directly into the garden once the soil is warm in the spring. You can start seeds indoors, but they germinate so easily outside that there’s really no advantage. The exception is African marigolds, best bought as young plants or started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date.
- Marigolds sprout within a week in warm weather, and plants typically produce blooms in about 8 weeks.
How to Plant Marigolds
- French marigolds can easily be started from seed, while Africans are best purchased as young plants (when started from seed, they can take a long time to flower).
- Optional: If soil is nutrient-starved, add some slow-release (granular) fertilizer in the planting hole. A 5-10-5 works fine.
- Moisten the soil, then sow seeds 1 inch apart and no more than 1 inch deep.
- While still small, thin the seedlings. Space French and signet types 8 to 10 inches apart. The larger African marigolds should be at least 10 to 12 inches apart.
- If planting transplants, thoroughly water each plant after planting in the garden.
- If planting in containers, use a soil-based potting mix. Either mix in slow-acting granular fertilizer at planting time or plan to water with diluted liquid fertilizer periodically. Take care to space them properly; marigolds grown in containers can become crowded.
Growing
Marigold care is refreshingly simple, making these cheerful blooms perfect for both beginner and seasoned gardeners. These sun-loving annuals thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. While marigolds are fairly drought-tolerant once established, they still appreciate consistent watering, especially during dry spells. Just be sure not to overwater, as soggy soil can lead to root rot.
When it comes to fertilizer, marigolds aren’t heavy feeders. In fact, too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage with fewer flowers. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time or a light monthly feeding during the growing season is plenty. Regular deadheading (removing spent blooms) encourages continuous flowering from summer to frost. Marigolds also benefit from occasional weeding and mulching to keep the soil moist and tidy. With just a little effort, marigold care rewards you with vibrant color and pest-fighting power all season long.
How to Grow Marigolds
- Once the marigolds have established themselves, pinch off the tops of the plants to encourage them to grow bushier. This will keep the plants from becoming leggy and will encourage more blooming.
- Marigolds don’t require deadheading, but if dying blossoms are regularly removed, it will encourage the plant to continue blooming profusely.
- When you water marigolds, allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings, then water well and repeat the process. Water more in high heat.
- Do not water marigolds from overhead. Water at the base of the plant. (Excess water on leaves can lead to powdery mildew.)
- Do not fertilize marigolds during growth. A diet that’s too nitrogen-rich stimulates lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
- The dense, double flowerheads of the African variety tend to rot in wet weather.
- Add a layer of mulch between plants to suppress weeds and keep the soil moist, especially when plants are young.
How to Deadhead
Deadheading is about removing faded flowers by pinching off the flower head. For some plants, including marigolds, pinching off the dead flower heads encourages them to produce more blooms rather than wasting their energy on forming seeds, extending the flowering season. Marigolds also look so much better after deadheading!
Deadheading marigolds is very simple. When a blossom starts to go bad, pinch (cut) its stem back to the nearest set of leaves. When you’re deadheading your annuals, be sure to fertilize as well. Annuals are very heavy feeders and will respond well.
Types
Marigolds have been stereotyped, but they offer tremendous variety. Both the American and French marigolds are generally aromatic, too, although some folks find the scent to be a bit overwhelming. Keep that in mind when choosing a planting site.
Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flower heads produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most we see in the garden are one of the following:
- Tagetes erecta (aka African marigolds, American marigolds, or Mexican marigolds): This species is the tallest and most upright marigold, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height and producing large, full flowers. According to Nate Dalman of the University of Minnesota Extension, “Despite the names, African marigolds did not originate in Africa and instead are called that because they were first imported to Europe via a trade route that passed through northwest Africa.” They’re native to Mexico and Central America and will thrive even under drought-like conditions.
- T. patula (aka French marigolds): This species tends to be smaller, bushier, and more compact than T. erecta. They are often wider than they are tall. Elegant and eye-catching, they have relatively demure flowers and usually grow from 6 inches to 2 feet tall. They are better suited to rainier conditions than the other Tagetes species.
- T. tenuifolia (aka signet marigolds): These petite marigolds do well in hot, dry sites and make for a beautiful edging plant. They rarely reach more than a foot in height.
French Marigolds (T. patula)
- ‘Little Hero’ Series: 7-inch-tall plants with large, double carnation flowers in 7 color combinations of maroon, orange, and yellow.
- ‘Hero’ Series: 10-inch-tall plants with double carnations, large (2-inch-wide) flowers in 7 different combinations of yellow, orange, and maroon.
- ‘Bonanza’ Series: 2-inch-wide, double carnation flowers in 5 different combinations of yellow, orange, and maroon on bushy, compact 8-inch-tall plants.
- ‘Aurora’ Series: 1-foot-tall plants with wide-petaled, anemone-like flowers in shades of maroon, yellow, and orange.
- ‘Janie’ Series: Early blooming. 8-inch-tall plants are perfect for container growing. Double carnation type flowers in 6 different combinations of yellow, orange, and maroon.
- ‘Boy O’ Boy’ Series: 6-inch-tall prolifically flowering plants with flowers in shades of maroon, yellow, and orange
American/African Marigolds (T. erecta)
- ‘Jubilee’ Series: 2-foot-tall plants with dense, double flowers in shades of yellow and orange.
- ‘Gold Coin’ Series: 1½- to 2-foot-tall plants with large (5-inch-wide) double blooms in gold, yellow, and orange.
- ‘Safari’ Series: 1-foot-tall plants with flat-topped, large flowers in shades of maroon, yellow, and orange.
- ‘French Vanilla’: 3-inch-wide flowers are pure creamy white. Minimal scent. Plants are 1½ to 2 feet tall.
Where to Buy Marigolds
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Comments
You can save seeds from this year's plants. Wait until the flower heads are brown and dried. Pinch the ends with your thumb and index finger of each hand, then pull apart and the seeds will slide out without any problem. The seeds are thin, black, and pointy.
Store the seeds in a cool and dry place and replant next year.
In some climates, you can just sow the seed in the ground now wherever you'd like them to grow next year.
It sounds as if you have a niche market. Perhaps test it out at a local farmers' market and see how it goes. You could call your local cooperative extension (usually run by a university with research staff) to see if they have any recommendations.
Stem rot can cause stems to wilt and die. Make sure that you have good drainage and ventilation around the plants.
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At this point in the season, we would cut back up to one-third of the plant. Then fertilize lightly with a balanced plant food. It may take a week or two for the marigolds to recover but they should be fine. Next year, if you grow marigolds, you really want to pinch or cut back the new buds and foliage tips when they are 6 to 78 inches tall. This encourages branching to create a bushier plant that won't topple in the wind.