marigold are loved by many home gardeners for their bright , sunny colors , pretty flowers , and the fact that they are unbelievably easy to care for . They do well as bedding plants , bordering plantation owner , or line vegetable garden .
marigold are usable in several type , from the taller African marigold that do well in drouth , to the shorter , bushier French marigolds that tolerate wet and humidity better . There are also hybrids that allow for a combining of characteristics , but are infertile . These are still popular for their continual bloom all time of year long .
marigold are available primarily in specter of chicken , gold and orange , and also rank in fragrance from powerfully - scented Mexican varieties to little lemon - sweet signet marigolds . Once planted , most marigolds will reseed themselves thoroughly the following class , unless they are a sterile cross .
photo by Gardening Channel reader Wildflower Seed Acres Farm
Planting Marigolds
There are a few options for marigold planting . They can , of course of study , be purchase as ripe plants from greenhouse and garden centers , and be planted full - grown . You also can start marigolds from seminal fluid .
Whether you pop out it indoors or out of doors will depend mostly on the length of your growing time of year ; in mood with unretentive summers , marigolds should be started indoors six weeks before the last frost particular date . Alternately , you’re able to sow marigold source outdoors after the last frost , allowing a few weeks for germination .
Marigolds should be planted in full sunshine position , in well - enfeeble soil . When you found , follow spacing rule of thumb for the eccentric of marigold you have . Smaller plant can be placed 6 to 9 inch asunder , while the large one should be up to 18 inches aside .
photo by Gardening Channel reader Wildflower Seed Acres Farm
Care for Marigolds
marigold do n’t require much unconstipated care throughout the uprise season . urine marigolds only when the land is ironic or in drouth . They prefer too - wry conditions to too - pissed grease . However , you ca n’t rely on obvious wilt disease signs to recount when marigold need lachrymation , as their stalks and leaves are so sturdy .
Instead , utilize the normal of thumb that you should water them when the soil is wry to the signature . Water until the soil is moist , but not soggy . To maintain bloom and appearance , and prevent disease , pinch off bloom heads that have wilted or faded throughout the summertime .
You do n’t need to inseminate , except for once at planting time in the saltation , and then only if you are working with poor soil . Use a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , either liquid or coarse-grained .
The only other aid tip to keep in mind is that if you have the taller African marigold , they may need to be staked in mid or late summer as they get tall and leggy , to keep them from part , drooping or falling over .
Marigold Pests & Diseases
Marigolds are free from most worm pests , as they have a bitter olfactory property and tasting , so they are often used as a sort of natural bug repellent fence in prized fruit or vegetables . One louse that does n’t mind the taste of marigold , however , is the grasshopper , which can damage marigold moderately sternly if they invade .
Under the good conditions , such as high heat and low humidness , spider jot also can do some damage to marigold . Prevent them by keep an optic out for any egg or larvae , and wash them off of the plants right away with a mild soap mix .
As far as disease , marigold sometimes can tolerate from aster yellows , a virus which can be spotted when the leave begin to yellow and soften . This will take to stunting and death , and the disease is almost impossible to combat , so infected plant should be rip and discard of by burning or another destructive method that wo n’t propagate the disease .
Want to learn more about growing marigolds?
Check out these Web land site take by us for more information on the subject :
The Iowa State University Extension hasplenty of bully marigold selective information .
The University of Nebraska at Lincoln ’s horticulture extensionexplains history and tending of marigolds .
Clemson Cooperative Extension coversMarigolds
