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Lots of gardeners have fond memories of growing Marigolds as a child. Those long, flat seeds were easy for little fingers to plant, and the seedlings popped up in a flash. Without a care for rough handling or neglect, once those seedlings were planted outdoors, they were virtually guaranteed to grow and bloom in bright, cheerful colors that made everyone happy.
As adults, we often dismiss Marigolds as old-fashioned and simple, but they're incredibly versatile, and, of course, easy! They add a splash of color and clean, fine-textured, aromatic foliage to garden beds, and the flowers of longer-stemmed varieties are wonderful in bouquets. Understanding the differences between the various types of Marigolds is the key to using them successfully in your garden. Rediscover them this summer, and before you know it, Marigolds will be a nostalgic yearly most-grow!
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Gearing up to sow some seeds? Your last spring frost date determines when to sow seeds that should be sown indoors, when you can begin transitioning the seedlings you started indoors to the outdoors and when you can begin to direct-sow. Learn more HERE.
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French Marigolds
French Marigolds (Tagetes patula cvs.) are compact and tidy, and make wonderful bedding annuals. Their flowers generally range from 1 to 2 inches wide, and the plants grow up to 12" tall, with occasional taller exceptions. Depending on a variety's height, it can be a tidy edging plant or a mid-border melder.
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Mr. Majestic French Marigold
If you love Harlequin French Marigold, you'll adore this dwarf version, too! It has the same pinwheel blooms on a smaller, denser plant. Height: 10" to 12".
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Legion of Honor French Marigold
This striking heirloom produces compact mounds smothered in single golden flowers with maroon blotches. Height: 10” to 12”.
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Harlequin French Marigold
A versatile cut flower, heirloom Harlequin is an unusually tall and airy, bushy Marigold with fine foliage and dainty gold- and maroon-striped flowers. Height: 2' to 3'.
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African Marigolds
African Marigolds (Tagetes erecta cvs.) are bigger then French Marigolds, sometimes up to 36" tall, with hefty flowers up to 4" wide. They're big and bold and colorful, and their blooms are incredibly long-lasting in a vase. They're happy in the middle of a border, and are a great addition to a cutting garden.
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The Marvel African Marigold Mixture
This sturdy Marigold's masses of yellow, gold and orange, 3”- to 4”-wide pompons make a big impact. Height: 18”.
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The Spinning Wheels African Marigold Mixture
These mum-like, lemon yellow and orange, 2½” blooms are shaggy, with dense, twisting petals! Height: 14”.
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Eskimo African
Marigold
This creamy white, fully double, ruffled, 3"-wide Marigold has a small, creamy yellow-green center. Height: 12” to 14”
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Marigolds Are So Easy
In addition to being incredibly easy to grow from seeds, Marigolds are amazingly free of disease and pest problems, and their aromatic foliage makes them blessedly deer-resistant. They don't require coddling, and push through periods of drought with ease. All they ask for is an abundance of sun and heat to thrive, and perhaps a bit of watering and occasional deadheading to keep the flowers coming unabated.
Marigolds can be direct-sown into the garden in well-draining, loamy soil after the last frost date. Plant seeds 1⁄4" deep and keep the bed watered until the seedlings emerge, about 7 days after sowing. Seeds can also be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks earlier for a head start. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation until the plants are large enough to handle. Prior to transplanting, acclimate the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outside conditions over 1 to 2 weeks.
Thin or transplant seedlings 8" to 12" apart in the garden. Water moderately, fertilize sparingly and remove spent flowers regularly.
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