![]() ![]() French marigolds can easily be started from seed, while African marigolds are best purchased as young plants (when started from seed, they can take a long time to flower).Marigolds sprout within a week in warm weather and plants typically produce blooms in about 8 weeks. ![]() ![]() The exception is African marigolds, which are best bought as young plants or started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. You can start seeds indoors, but they germinate so easily outside that there’s really no advantage. Sow seeds directly into the garden once the soil is warm in the spring.Young French and signet marigolds 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.Though they grow in almost any soil, marigolds do best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Prepare the soil by digging down about 6 inches to loosen it, then mix in compost to add fertility and improve consistency. If planted in shade and cool, moist areas, marigolds are prone to powdery mildew and won’t bloom well. African and signet marigolds are drought tolerant, while French marigolds are more tolerant of wet conditions. Marigolds thrive in full sunshine and can often withstand very hot summers. However, it is still an attractive companion plant! Additionally, its bright flowers are edible-with a tangy, peppery taste-so it is often grown alongside herbs in kitchen gardens. Although often called a “marigold,” this plant is not a true marigold. Calendula: Not a True Marigold!Ĭalendula officinalis (aka pot marigolds or English marigolds) are native to southern Europe. Keep that in mind when choosing a planting site. Both the American and French marigolds are generally aromatic, too, although some folks find the scent to be a bit overwhelming. Marigolds have been stereotyped, but they offer tremendous variety. They rarely reach more than a foot in height. Tagetes tenuifolia (aka signet marigolds): These petite marigolds do well in hot, dry sites and make for a beautiful edging plant.They are better suited to rainier conditions than the other Tagetes species. 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. Tagetes patula (aka French marigolds): French marigolds tend to be smaller, bushier, and more compact than T.They’re native to Mexico and Central America and will thrive even under drought-like conditions. 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.Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flowerheads produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most marigolds we see in the garden are one of the following: Just be sure to deadhead to keep the blooms coming! Learn more. The flower’s popularity probably derives partly from its ability to bloom brightly all summer. These flowers are the spendthrifts among annuals, bringing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our summer and autumn gardens. No annual is more cheerful or easier to grow than the marigold. ![]()
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