Gardeners around the world love marigolds. With their brilliant colours, they are easy to take care of and can be grown in a variety of conditions, making them a fine choice for any garden. If you are an experienced gardener or just becoming one, you will find out how to grow marigolds to make your garden into a complete beauty and healthy potential. In this article, I’ll be covering everything about marigold flowers: where to plant marigolds, pest info, rinsing is it necessary, potting soil info and more! Using this guide, you will learn how to harvest (or not) the best of your marigolds so your garden will bloom beautfully all season long.
What Are Marigolds? A Quick Introduction
Flowering plants of the Asteraceae family, just like marigolds, are loved by gardeners because of their bright blossoms and their pest-repellant properties. These flowers are offered in great variety, in colors such as yellow, orange and red, and have exceptional blooms until fall. There are other varieties of marigolds, including African, French, and signet marigolds, which have different characteristics in bloom size and plant height; many have different growth habits.
They are a garden flower that is easy to grow so they are in high demand for backyard enthusiasts as well as veterans. These guys just not only add beauty to your garden but they help as great companion plants repelling pests and attracting beneficial insects! Also known as their glorious marigold blossoms and rich leaf, its often grown for medicinal and ornamental purposes.
Why Should You Grow Marigolds in Your Garden?
These are multi-beneficial marigolds that will bring your garden to life. First, they are low-maintenance plants that can put their foot around numerous types of soil, and even after a small amount of effort, they can still survive. First, marigold plants bloom from late spring all the way through to fall, so your garden is always full of color through the blooming season. Finally, marigolds are natural pest repellents that beat back aphids and spider mites.
Marigolds aren’t pretty simply for looks; they are useful in companion planting. But they also have the ability to repel certain pests, making them a valuable plant to keep in your vegetable garden, providing protection around crops like tomatoes and beans. And, of course, the rest of your garden blooms because the marigold blossoms draw pollinators.
How to Plant Marigold Seeds for a Vibrant Garden
Before you start growing Marigolds, you need to understand how to plant them. To sow seeds place within well drained soil when the danger of frost has gone. Four to six weeks before the last frost date, you can begin seeds indoors for an early start.
Make sure when you plant marigold seeds that they are set 8 to 12 inches apart to give the plants space to expand. Grow in moderate fertility, well drained soil, moist but not water logged soil. Alternatively, marigolds make a good choice for planting this way, especially for those folks without a lot of garden space to plant in.
Do Marigolds Need Full Sun or Shade? Growing Conditions for Marigolds
Marigolds don’t like partial sun, but they do require full sun. Also, these plants are a joy to take care of — they want six hours of direct sunlight per day in order to produce more blooms and remain healthy. They can stand some shade, but they won’t really bloom well in low light. To bring about a good, strong, and steady bloom cycle, plant your marigold in an area where they can really bask in as much sun as you can.
Marigolds also are susceptible to powdery mildew if the soil doesn’t drain well and doesn’t stay dry. If you want the blooms, then you can apply a diluted liquid (nonchemical) fertilizer during the growing season; too much fertilizer will give it lush foliage and no flowers at all.
Marigold Varieties: African, French, and Signet Marigolds
There are three main types of marigolds: African and, French; Signet marigolds.
- African marigolds: 4 feet tall, tallest variety. The back of garden beds are the home for this plant because of its large, showy flower heads.
- French marigolds: French marigolds are typically about 6 to 2 feet tall and smaller and more compact. They have huge, long-lasting blooms, but they make a lot of these small ones, too, making them good for border planting.
- Signet marigolds: Powerful all-purpose annual signet marigolds are primarily recognized for tiny edible flowers on delicate, lace like foliage. They are usually found in containers and edible landscapes.
How to Care for Your Marigold Plants for Long-lasting Blooms
Marigolds are not difficult to care for. Make sure they get the light they need, water the base of the plant to keep it from developing fungal issues, and keep the soil not too rich. Water marigolds when the soil surface can be poked into without coming out wet; also, the water should run away from around the base of the plant.
Marigold plants need deadheading to encourage new blooms. Keep the plant producing new flowers throughout the season by removing spent flower heads regularly. To keep water where you want it and sometimes deter weeds, add a layer of mulch around the plants.
Pests and Diseases to Watch Out for When Growing Marigolds
Marigolds are generally hardy and responsive to pests and disease, but you never know. Pests include aphids and spider mites (which can be killed with an application of insecticidal soap) and are common. Fungal diseases, such as powder mildew, can also affect marigolds, though normally, they respond better to cooler and drier conditions.
At the beginning of the growing season, look out for pests and use preventives like companion planting with plants that repel pests. However, with proper plant spacing and watering practices, you can avoid contracting the disease.
Learn More: How Much Water Should I Drink Each Day? The Ultimate Guide to Hydration
The Importance of Deadheading Marigolds for Continuous Blooms
Although deadheading is important to keeping marigold plants healthy, blooming all season long, it is also an extremely labor intensive technique. If marigold flowers aren’t deadheaded, it will stop putting out new blooms and you may start seeing them get leggy. Trimming off spent flowers allows the plant to continue producing new blooms which help your garden to remain colorful and bright.
Companion Planting with Marigolds: Benefits for Your Garden
With companion planting to marigolds, your garden has a few benefits. Marigolds are deterrent to pests such as nematodes and aphids and are a good companion plant for tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers. With their strong scent, it can confuse harmful insects or with their bright blooms attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs and pollinators.
Marigolds provide pest control, but more importantly, for the health of your garden, they promote biodiversity. A great companion plant for any garden setup, Marigolds are a must have.
How to Collect and Store Marigold Seeds for Next Season
By the end of the growl season, collect marigold seeds and plant them the next year. Let the flowers dry out on the plant, remove the dried flower heads, and then let the stems dry out. You’ll find marigold seeds in there that are ready to be stored for the next season. Planting time next spring comes around, and you can sow seeds directly into your garden, but watch that you store them in a cool, dry place.
Key Takeaways:
- From late spring into fall, they bloom laterally.
- These flowers require full sun and well-drained soil to survive.
- However, you have to deadhead for continuous blooms.
- If you plant marigolds with other plants, you help keep pests at bay and attract beneficial insects.
But you will also very easily collect and store marigold seeds so that you can plant again for another growing season.
FAQs
At what time of the year do you plant marigold seeds?
Marigold seeds are best planted in the spring after the last frost. Marigolds love heat and require full sun. If you have the patience, you can begin planting marigolds as seeds indoors 68 weeks before your expected last frost, but it is not necessary — you can plant the seeds in the garden when the soil is warm.
Do marigolds need full sun?
Marigolds do require full sun. Marigold flowers need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to bloom their best. Marigolds in the garden will take more vibrant blooms and grow better given full sunlight, but they can tolerate partial shade.
What is the difference between marigolds being perennials or annuals?
Marigold varieties are mostly annuals completing their life in one growing season. In warmer climates such as Texas, however, some marigold plants will be perennials, though not necessarily in the same spot. However, there’s a caveat in checking: is the marigold you plant a perennial plant for the particular area you live in?
How do I care for marigolds?
Marigolds are easy to care for. Make sure they get full sun, water moderately (let the soil go dry a bit between waterings) and deadhead spent marigold flowers so they’ll keep on blooming. If you grow marigold in pots, make sure you get it as per the right amount of drainage to not waterlog your marigold.
