Vigorous, bushy stunner introduces never-before-seen cool shades to the marigold color palette. A breeding break through has created a French Marigold with flowers in totally unique russet tones, bringing pink shades to the marigold colour palette for the very first time. This marigold variety actually change color. When warmer, blooms are yellow-pinks; when cooler: pink-plum tones kick in. These bushy, free-flowering French marigold plants are set to be this year's must-have bedding plant. Marigold ‘Strawberry Blonde’ has high weather tolerance ensuring a long season of colour in beds, border and containers. Great as a ‘mixer’ but it truly comes into its own when planted en masse in drifts or blocks. Height: 25cm (10in) tall.
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: 0.6cm 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.
