Annual, dwarf, heavily blooming flowers that add an especially vivid touch to a flower garden. Reaching only 20cm tall, they are perfect to be grown in pots, containers, balconies and windowsills. Bright yellow color petals with burgundy color patches topped around the centre they look extraordinary grown alone or in between other annual/perennial flowers. They contain essential oil which is not tolerated by various pests, insects, parasites and mosquitos, so they also work as a natural repellent. Easy to start from seeds and grow, requires basic care. Good for the beginner growers. Matures in 60-80d days.
Culinary note: The citrus tasting flowers have many uses, try them in salads, sandwiches or seafood dishes too.
Works very well to keep away all sorts of parasites that hate the special aroma of the essential oil that marigolds contain.
Growing: year round in tropical climate; in temperate climates sow the seeds indoor in Mar/Apr and transplant outdoors when the danger of last frost is gone; or seed directly outdoors at the end of may, when danger of last frost is gone.
Soil: light, fertile, well-draining. Sow seed on the surface of the compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of dry vermiculite or finely sieved compost. In temperate climates, place the seed and tray in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag and keep at around 21-25C (70-75F) until the seeds germinate. This will take about 7-21 days. Don’t exclude light as this helps germination.
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them individually into 7.5cm (3") pots or multi-cell trays. For temperate climates, before planting out, acclimatise the plants to cooler conditions by putting them outside for a few hours a day for a few weeks. Plant out when all risk of frost has gone about 30cm (12") apart.
Sowing depth: 1cm deep.
Spacing: 20X20cm apart.
Light: full sun.
Watering: regular.
Fertilizing: Feed and water marigold plants regularly, particularly during hot, dry periods. Regular deadheading of marigold flowers will encourage further blooms to be produced throughout the summer.
