How to Grow and Care for Marigolds -- Garden Chronicle

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Tagetes–commonly called marigolds–bear yellow, orange, red, or mahogany flowers from summer to early fall. The marigold is a tender annual.

African marigolds and French marigolds are commonly grown in summer gardens. African marigolds grow 2 to 4 feet (61-122cm) tall. French marigolds grow just 6 to 12 inches (15-30cm) tall.

Marigolds flowers can be simple and daisylike or full and camellia-like. Single and semi-double varieties will attract butterflies and other insects. The foliage is fine and ferny.

Marigolds can have a sharp odor; these can be used to repel pest insects in the garden. Some newer cultivars are odorless.

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African marigold, *Tagetes* erecta; also called Mexican marigold

Table of Contents

Get to know marigolds — Tagetes

Plant type: Tender annual
Growing Zones and range: All zones
Hardiness: Tender; Thrives in heat, withstands cool weather above freezing
Height and width: 6 to 48 inches (15-122cm) tall; 4 to 24 inches (10-61cm) wide, depending on the variety
Foliage: Mid- to dark green almost fern-like leaves are usually opposite
Flowers: Daisylike or camellia-like flowerheads 1 to 4 inches (2.5-10cm) across.
Flower colors: Yellow, gold, orange, russet, deep red, cream
Bloom time: Summer until frost
Uses: Beds, borders, and containers
Common name: African marigold, French marigold, Signet marigold
Botanical name: Tagetes spp.
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Dry slopes and valleys from New Mexico to Argentina; one species occurs in Africa

Where to plant marigolds — Tagetes

Plant Tagetes in full sun in Zone 2-6; grow marigolds in sun or light shade in Zones 7-11
Grow Tagetes in humus-rich to average soil that is well-drained.
Tagetes prefer a soil pH of 6 to 8.

Marigolds — Tagetes uses

Grow Tagetes marigolds in annual beds and borders.
Tagetes can be used in foregrounds, bedding, edging, window, boxes, and other containers.
Yellow-tinted Tagetes fit into any garden scheme.

French marigold, Tagetes patula — French marigold, *Tagetes patula*

When to plant marigolds — Tagetes

Set Tagetes in the garden in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last expected frost. Germination usually takes five days.
Sow seeds outdoors when they will grow a week after the last frost in spring or later.
Set container-grown plants in the garden after all danger of frost has passed after hardening them off in the shade for a few days.

Africa marigold — *Tagetes erecta* is commonly known as Mexican marigold or African marigold

Planting and spacing marigolds — Tagetes

Sow seeds in small pots or six-packs in moist potting soil; cover seeds with 1/8 inch of soil. Water and keep at 60° to 70°F (15.6°-21°C) until seeds germinate in about 5 days.
Set seedlings in a bright spot or a few inches below fluorescent lights until seedlings have four to six leaves.
Sow seeds outdoors in smoothly prepared beds; cover seeds with 1/8 inch soil.
Thin outdoors-grown plants when they are 4 inches (10cm) tall.
Set container-grown plants in the garden when all danger of frost is passed.
Space Tagetes 4 inches to 18 inches (10-45cm) apart depending on the variety.

Lemmons marigold, Tagetes lemmonii — Lemmons marigold, *Tagetes lemmonii*

How to water and feed marigolds — Tagetes

Tagetes need moderate water; keep the soil evenly moist.
Fertilize Tagetes occasionally. Boost blossoms by applying low nitrogen, high phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer when plants are 5 to 6 inches (12.7-15cm) tall.

Marigolds — Tagetes care

Mulch around Tagetes to conserve soil moisture.
Trim off spent blooms to ensure long-blooming.
Blooms slow when temperatures reach 90°F/32°C.
Marigolds are susceptible to botrytis, root rot, fusarium wilt, rust, leaf spot, slugs, and Japanese beetles.

Marigolds — Tagetes pests and diseases

Tagetes are prone to gray mold, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot, damping off, and root rot.
Leaf miners, spider mites, and whiteflies can attack Tagetes, especially in the greenhouse.

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Marigolds — Tagetes propagation

Sow seed in the garden in late spring, earlier if the soil is warm.
Seeds are large and should be planted 1/4 inch deep.
Seeds germinate in about 7 days at 75° to 80°F (24°-27°C).

Signet marigold, Tagetes tenuifolia — Signet marigold, *Tagetes tenuifolia*

Marigolds — Tagetes varieties to grow

African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is also called Mexican marigold; it is not from Africa; it is from Central America; this marigold can grow to 2 to 4 feet (1.2m) tall; flowers are 4 inches (10cm) or more across. African marigolds are used for bedding and borders; camelia-shaped varieties are available. ‘Inca’ and ‘Perfection’ are cultivars widely available.
Irish lace marigold (Tagetes filifolia) bear numerous small flowers above lacy foliage; the flowers are often considered less showy than the leaves.
Tagetes lemmonii grows in arid, desert regions; it is covered in small golden flowers.
French marigolds (Tagetes patula) low-growing cultivars 6 to 12 inches (15-30cm) tall; there are many vivid colors, and some are banded or splotches with contrasting reds or gold; these are the most pest-resistant.
Signet marigolds or Mexican marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia): this plant bears 1-inch (2.5cm), single or double flowers in a full range of colors; plants form mounds about 6 inches (15cm) tall; the foliage is feathery and threadlike.
Triploid marigold: Triploid marigolds (T. patula x erecta).are a cross between the African and French. These are low to medium-growing plants. They grow well in very hot summer regions.

Tagetes erecta — African marigold

Tagetes erecta is Mexican in origin, not African despite the name. Some catalogs call them American marigolds. The carnationlike blossoms are 3 to 6 inches across, yellow, pale yellow, gold, or orange, and rarely, creamy white. Deeply cut, dark green pungent foliage provides a nice contrast. The plant blooms from summer through light fall frost. Afro-French hybrids (between T. erecta and T. patula) are generally shorter, with profuse, long-lasting, large blossoms in all of the above colors, plus red, and red-and-yellow bicolors. These triploid plants are not bothered by heat and humidity and do not set seed. Tagetes erecta needs no deadheading to keep on blooming.

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall; 1 to 2 feet wide.
Light: Full sun; part shade in hot-summer areas of the South and Southwest.
Soil and moisture: Fertile to average, well-drained, sandy loam; moderate moisture.
Planting and propagation: Sow indoors, at 65° to 75°F, four to six weeks before the last frost. In long-summer areas, sow outdoors after frost. Set 1 to 2 feet apart.
Special care: Pinch young plants to encourage branching and more bloom. Avoid overhead watering, which can rot blossoms. Deadhead to prolong blooming of nonhybrids. Remove faded blossoms of triploids to improve appearance.
Pest and diseases: Botrytis, root rot, fusarium wilt, leaf spot, rust, Japanese beetle, and slugs may be troublesome.
Climate: Warm-season annual in zones 2-11. Flowering slows when hot and humid.
Cultivars and similar species: ‘Toreador,’ rich orange, 2 ½ feet tall; ‘Inca mixed,’ orange, bright yellow, tangerine, and gold, 1 foot tall; ‘Excel,’ gold, orange, primrose (pale yellow), yellow, or mix, 14 inches to 1 1/3 feet tall; ‘Climax,’ 2 ½ to 3 feet tall; ‘Snowdrift,’ white, 22 inches tall, give afternoon shade. Afro-French hybrids: ‘Solar,’ 12 to 14 inches tall, 3-inch blossoms, gold, lemon, orange; ‘Zenith,’ 1 ¼ to 1 ½ feet tall, 2 ½- to 3-inch blossoms in yellow, orange, or red-and-yellow bicolor.
Garden use: Group in the midground of formal and informal gardens.

Tagetes patula — French marigold

French marigolds are easy-to-grow, fine-leafed, low-growing plants with 2-inch-wide single or double flowers. Flower colors are usually bright yellow or gold and bicolored with red or mahogany. Some flower types are flat-headed with shingled petals; others are crested with a prominent central tuft of petals surrounded by flat petals, or single with five petals surrounding a central button. French marigolds bloom from early summer through light frost.

Size: 6 inches to ½ feet tall and as wide.
Light: Full sun; part shade in hot-summer areas of the South and Southwest.
Soil and moisture: Fertile to average, well-drained, sandy loam; moderate moisture.
Planting and propagation: Sow indoors, at 65° to 75°F, four to six weeks before the last frost. In long-summer areas, sow outdoors after frost; space 6 to 10 inches apart.
Special care: Pinch young plants to encourage branching and more bloom. Avoid overhead watering, which can rot blossoms. Deadhead to prolong blooming of nonhybrids. Remove faded blossoms of triploids to improve appearance.
Pest and diseases: Botrytis, root rot, fusarium wilt, leaf spot, rust, Japanese beetle, and slugs may be troublesome.
Climate: Warm-season annual in zones 2-11. Flowering slows when hot and humid.
Cultivars: singles: ‘Disco’ series, 1-foot tall, 2-inch blossoms in golden yellow, yellow-and-mahogany, bronze-and-russet, and red. Broad petaled: ‘Aurora’ series, 10 inches to 1 foot tall, 3-inch double blossoms in orange-and-red, gold-yellow, light yellow, gold, or mixed; ‘Sophia’ series, 1 foot tall, double yellow, orange, red, or the red-and-gold; ‘Safari’ series, self-cleaning and disease-resistant, 1 foot tall, 3-inch blooms in yellow, scarlet, orange, light yellow, maroon-and-gold, and red-and-gold. Dwarf crested: ‘Hero’ series, 10 inches to 1 foot tall, 3-inch blossoms in yellow, orange, red, gold, red-and-gold, yellow, maroon-and-orange, yellow-and-mahogany, or mixed; ‘Boy’ series, 8 to 10 inches tall, 1 ½-inch flowers in gold, orange, yellow, or yellow-and-maroon; ‘Little Devil’ series, flat crested 1 ½-inch double flowers, early flowering, in orange, yellow, yellow-and-maroon, and mixed; ‘Bonanza’ series, deep colors, 10 inches to 1 foot tall, 2-inch flowers in orange, gold, yellow and bicolors.
Garden use: The 6-inch-tall dwarf types make excellent edging annuals. Use taller ones in cutting beds and containers.

Tagetes tenuifolia — Signet marigold

Signet marigolds bear feathery foliage and masses of 1 ¼-inch-wide single blossoms in colors and bicolors similar to those of French marigolds. Signet marigolds are less commonly grown than African or French marigolds.

Size: 6 inches to 1 foot tall and as wide.
Light: Full sun; part shade in hot-summer areas of the South and Southwest.
Soil and moisture: Fertile to average, well-drained, sandy loam; moderate moisture.
Planting and propagation: Sow indoors, at 65° to 75°F, four to six weeks before the last frost. In long-summer areas, sow outdoors after frost; space 6 to 10 inches apart.
Special care: Deadhead to prolong bloom. Try edible petals in a salad.
Pest and diseases: Botrytis, root rot, fusarium wilt, leaf spot, rust, Japanese beetle, and slugs may be troublesome.
Climate: Warm-season annual in zones 2-11. Flowering slows when hot and humid.
Cultivars: ‘Gem’ series, 9 inches tall; ‘Lemon,’ ‘Gold,’ ‘Tangerine’; ‘Paprika,’ red-edged gold 6 inches tall, ‘Starfire’, a mix of orange and orange with gold edge.
Garden use: Use in cottage and herb gardens, front of border, window boxes, and containers.

Marigolds — Tagetes frequently asked questions

Q: What are French marigolds and African marigolds?

A: African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are tall plants with double flowers including carnation-flowered, chrysanthemum-flowered, dahlia-flowered, and peony-flowered. Use these tall marigolds at the back of a bed or border. French marigolds (T. patula) can have single, crested, anemone, carnation, or double flowers. Use these smaller plants at the front of a border. A third type of marigold is known as triploid and is a cross between the African and French (T. patula x erecta). These are low to medium-growing plants.

Q: I’ve read that triploid marigold (T. patula x erecta) is the best. Is that true?

A: Triploid marigolds are low to medium-growing plants that bloom all summer even in the hottest regions. They do not set seeds so the dead flowers drop cleaning from the plant. The best-known triploid at the Nugget series includes Red Seven Star and orange and yellow Mighty Marietta.

Q: Can marigold seeds be planted directly in the garden?

A: Seeds of French marigolds can be sown directly in the garden. They will germinate quickly. Seeds of African and triploid marigolds must be started indoors 4 to 8 weeks before the last frost in spring.

Q: What causes marigolds to not blossom?

A: There are a number of reasons marigolds may not bloom: too late sowing seed, too much rain, soil too heavy or too rich, pests and disease attacks, insufficient sun, overfeeding, overwatering, and failure to remove faded flowers.

Q: What is the benefit of planting marigolds in the vegetable garden?

A: Marigolds repel certain beetles and nematodes that attack some vegetables.

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