Marigolds aren’t so tough to grow especially with their ability to adapt to adverse weather conditions. After planting, they do not require much before growing into maturity. In this guide, you’ll find the right steps to growing marigolds.
Marigolds have the ability to thrive under the hot sun and can handle heat and light on paved surfaces. There’s an extent of light exposure that marigolds can handle, that’s if you want to get the best out of your plants.
In terms of soil, poor to average soil can be used to sustain your marigolds. They have actually been proven to thrive better under poor soil conditions. This guide presents you with vital information for growing your marigolds under the best conditions.
Growing Marigolds
Marigolds are commonly used in gardening programs because of the ease of handling them. Adults as well as children can manage marigolds seeds without much fuss.
It is advisable to start your marigolds outdoors since doing it indoors does not offer any tangible advantage. Besides, the outdoor plantings tend to outgrow its indoor counterpart during the early planning stages.
If you sow the seeds directly into the garden with at least one inch apart in warm weather, you should see the plants bloom within 8 weeks of planting.
In order to achieve the best results, you should use thin or transplant young marigolds when they are still younger. You will need to space the French and Signet types within 8 to 10 inches apart.
However, the American varieties which are larger should be spaced within 10 to 12 inches apart. If you are growing your marigolds in containers you may consider that they will become overcrowded.
Cultivating Marigolds
If you have to plant or transplant young marigold plants, it has to be during the time that the soil has warmed up. This is to protect the young plant from the dangers of frost.
For the French and Signet types, you can plant them anytime throughout the summer. However, you’ll have to plant the tall American marigolds right away in the spring since they are much slower at maturing.
You should also plant on an overcast day so that your marigold seedlings can be protected from the stress of the hot sun. This will also allow the young plants to cope very well with transplant shock.
To cultivate your marigolds, you’ll need to first prepare the soil for planting. The digging should be about 6 inches in order to loosen and to aerate the soil.
Next is the removal of stones and debris and the mixing of granular fertilizer. That of 5-10-5 would work pretty fine for your plants.
Each marigold plant has to be set in a hole that’s the size of its rootball while gently applying firm soil over the roots to provide it with support. Afterward, ensure to water the young marigold plantings thoroughly.
If you want to use a soilless potting medium you can plant inside containers. This requires a slow mixing of granular fertilizer during planting time or a plan to water in diluted fertilizer periodically.
Growing Tips
To achieve the best results for your young plants, here are some tips to help you.
- To discourage weeds and keep the soil moist, apply one or two layers of any organic material spread out between the marigold plants. This move is the best course of action to take before the foliage of the plants grows bushy and shades the soil
- Have your marigold plants watered immediately after planting and during periods of heat and drought
- To help with improving the appearance of your plant and the stimulation of new blooming, trim the dead blossoms of American type marigolds
- Also, American types will also need staking in order for them to withstand powerful winds and heavy rains. This should also protect the plants from any disturbances caused by foot traffic. Stakes for the task should be as high as 2 feet. All that is needed is to insert the stakes into the soil next to each plant and loop fabric around the stake and the stem.
Diseases and Insects That Affect Marigold Plants
If properly grown, your marigold plants will have very little problems with diseases and insects. On very rare occasions soggy soil or pests insects can result in different fungal infections. The symptoms include discolored spots, coating of the mildew, or wilting of the foliage.
One of the best ways to combat this is by planting your marigolds very close to a good drainage system. However, the American type marigold is more prone to this problem than the other types.
There are also cases of disturbance from mites and aphids. However, frequent applying of water and insecticidal soap is a good solution to stem the nuisance.
Harvesting Tips
Here are some helpful tips to guide you in harvesting your marigold flowers.
- Marigold is suitable for both cut flowers and lives dried arrangements. If you’re opting for live bouquets then you’ll have to cut newly opened blooms very early in the morning. After cutting, you should set the stems in a jar containing warm water. The lower leaves will have to be stripped later on to present fouling the water
- The next step to take is to arrange the flowers in a vase with fresh water. The marigold may last up to a week or longer inside the vase if you add a floral preservative to the vase water
- For dried arrangements, ensure to cut the perfect blooms at their peak while removing the foliage from the stems. You should hang them upside down in a warm and dry place like an attic. The flowers may shrink but will still retain their color.
Conclusion
Marigold plants offer very little stress when planting. They can thrive in hot weather, light surfaces, and poor or average soil conditions. By accessing the right information you’ll be able to breed marigold within favorable conditions.
This guide offers you that information you so rightly need for growing, cultivating, and harvesting your marigold plants.
I hope, you enjoy reading these articles and if you have any questions or comments about these articles please leave your comments below and I’ll be happy to write back to you. To visit the store please click on the images. Thank you so much and enjoy your gardening.
coralie
Marigolds are such nice plants and super colorful. I also like that they seem pretty hard to kill. I must say I don’t have the best green thumb, but I do try to fill my flower bed at my house with color every year, so next year I will be looking for these.
I usually use Miracle grow once in a while for a bit of fertilizer, will this harm or hurt these flowers. Thanks for such great insight and for giving me some new flower ideas.
admin
Hello Coralie,
Thank you for dropping today reading my articles about the Guide to Growing Marigolds. Thanks for the interest in growing them in your place. You can then, use the Miracle grow fertilizer. Good luck!
Best wishes,
Joyce
Adam Jude
Hi Joyce,
Awesome article. I have some friends that have a big organic garden, with many marigolds! They actually use their marigold’s to keep pests out of their veggie and spice crop. If you put marigolds outside and around your garden it will prevent infestation, pretty cool little flower! Do you know if marigolds are perennial?
Thanks again!
admin
Hello Adams,
Thank you so much for visiting my site reading about the Guide to growing Marigolds. Thank you for sharing your experience with marigold’s keeping pests away from veggies. Thank you so much and good luck!
Joyce
Kelvin
A big thanks to you Josephine for writing this article that serves as a guide for growing, nurturing, and harvesting marigold. I find having a home garden very interesting. Haven read this article and get to know more about the marigold plant, I now have an interest in growing marigold plants, and with the knowledge, I have gained from reading this article, I am sure I will be successful at it.
admin
Hello Kelvin,
Thank you so much for your time and for reading my articles about the Guide to Growing Marigolds flowers. Yes, the guide is very easy to follow when you grow your marigolds plant. Don’t forget to add them a fertilize as part of their growing process. Good luck!
Best regards,
Joyce