Here in New Zealand, I sow marigolds (French) in the autumn and have had no trouble with them surviving through the winter to give a great show right through the season and beyond (into winter). I took the cue by observing what happened when my marigolds were left to self seed, and noticed that the seedlings germinated naturally in the autumn. The transplanted seedlings (from in between the flagstones) have always done well over winter without any special care apart from a little liquid fertiliser when transplanted...
Here in New Zealand, I sow marigolds (French) in the autumn and have had no trouble with them surviving through the winter to give a great show right through the season and beyond (into winter). I took the cue by observing what happened when my marigolds were left to self seed, and noticed that the seedlings germinated naturally in the autumn. The transplanted seedlings (from in between the flagstones) have always done well over winter without any special care apart from a little liquid fertiliser when transplanted...