GROWING MARIGOLDS

GROWING MARIGOLDS: TIPS & TRICKS

I have been growing marigolds for a while now, they are easy to grow and easy to maintain. The marigold flower is a popular blossom that is grown by many amateur gardeners because they are more than just a pretty flower. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) protect your garden vegetables from unhealthy nematodes that cause deformities and disease. There are well over 50 varieties of marigolds available which means you can choose from a wide range of colours and sizes. The colours include orange, yellow, mahogany, crimson, some bicolors and even white. Another reason for the popularity of the marigold is its ability to bloom and bloom and bloom….

Bright and hardy marigolds are a no-fuss, low maintenance annual. The name ‘marigold’ means Mary’s Gold, and comes from one of the oldest-known species of marigolds — the calendula (or pot marigold). Marigolds aren’t only attractive, they’re useful as well.

MARIGOLD GROWING GUIDE

You will find that they do not require a lot of care to thrive. These flowers are readily available as plants at most garden nursery's, but they are also super easy to grow from seeds.

Fun Fact: Marigolds are a great source of nectar, which means that it will attract butterflies and bees to your garden.

Growing zone: Marigolds are very hardy plants that can grow in nearly any location. In fact, they will grow with ease in zones two through 11.

Soil: Marigolds are easy to plant and can do well in pretty much any type of soil. But do grow best in moist, well-drained and fertile soil.

Spacing: Grow your tall Marigold varieties 40cm apart and the dwarf varieties 20cm apart to give room to the growing branches. This will result in a uniform display.

Sunlight: Marigolds like being planted in any sunny site with full sun to partial afternoon shade and can withstand extremely hot temperatures, making them one of the easiest flowers to grow all year long.

Temperature: Marigolds cannot tolerate cold temperatures, luckily living in Durban I get to grow Marigolds year round. Minimum temperature for growing marigolds is 10°C. Optimum temperature for the germination of seeds is 19°C.

Watering: Marigolds do not need regular watering but require so during the dry spells. Be careful not to sprinkle water on the flowers of tall varieties, otherwise they become water-logged and soft. It is better to water Marigolds during the early morning hours so that there is sufficient time for the water on the foliage to dry up.

Fertiliser: In most cases, you will not need to fertilise marigolds. The only reason to use fertiliser is when they are planted in extremely poor soil that is lacking nutrients.

Insects and Pests: Marigolds have few problems with pests or diseases, but do keep an eye out for slugs and caterpillars as they can be issues for marigolds. Marigolds are a natural repellent of nematodes and other garden pests. Planting marigolds in and around your tomato, eggplant, pepper and potato plants will result in healthier plants and produce.

Staking: Tall varieties may need staking to keep them upright.

Common Problems: During moist and humid summers, marigolds can get a powdery mildew substance on their leaves. This is because the plants are not getting enough airflow, so to prevent the problem, you can simply create more space between the plants.

MARIGOLD SEED CARE

Marigolds seeds are among the easiest to plant, and the fastest to germinate.

MARIGOLD SEEDS

Allow the seed heads to dry completely before removing the seeds. This may take anywhere from seven to 10 days.

You can collect the seed heads after the flowers are spent so you have fresh seeds for the following growing season. I continuously pick off dead flowers from the plant, this process of removing dead flowers from the plant is called deadheading; it is beneficial because it promotes more flowering in the plant.

Pull the petals out of the dried receptacle and separate the seeds from the rest of the flower parts.

Either save your seeds in an air tight container for next season or do what I do and just open up the seed heads and sprinkle the seeds straight into the garden bed. I have had marigold seeds drop off the plant and germinate right where the dropped off.

Because of their hardiness it is unnecessary to start marigold seeds indoors. Simply cover the seeds with soil and keep them moist and warm. If transplanting, be sure to water well after doing so. Plants will sprout in a few days if the weather is warm enough, and blooms will appear in around 2 months.

Cuttings: Marigolds can also grow from cuttings. The cutting that you take from a plant that you are already growing should be about 10cm long and taken from a softwood growth that has not flowered. Once you make the cutting, remove the lower leaves. Plant the cutting, but do not go more than 5cm into the soil. Water the plant every few days, and roots should begin to form in a few weeks. Then, the plant can be transplanted to your garden.

All the more reason to plant a few of these beautiful annuals in your garden this year! Be sure to check them out during your next trip to the garden shop, especially if you have a buggy problem. Do you plant marigolds? let us know in the comments below.