When you’re planting annuals for summer color, be sure to include a few marigolds that will add instant zing to your flowerbeds! Marigolds are dependable bloomers that grow happily with very little care from spring until the first frost.
Choose the Variety
If you’re looking for tall marigolds, choose African or Aztec marigolds, which can grow from 12 to 36 inches tall, depending on the variety. Colors range from bright yellow to a deep, rich orange. French marigolds are mid-sized at about 12 to 16 inches, and are available in double or single varieties and shades of orange, yellow and mahogany red. Consider dwarf marigolds for a border or along a garden path. Dwarf marigolds are petite plants that top out at 12 inches tall with small blooms about an inch in diameter.
Although many gardeners prefer to purchase marigold bedding plants, marigolds can also be planted by seed directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed in spring. Choose a spot in your garden where the soil drains well and the marigold will be exposed to bright sunlight all day. Spade the soil to a depth of 10 inches. If the soil is poor or doesn’t drain well, work in a generous scoop of organic material such as compost, peat moss or manure. Remove weeds, rocks and debris and rake the soil smooth.
Scatter marigold seeds on the surface of the soil, then cover the seeds with a light dusting of soil. Water the area carefully, using a hose with a fine spray attachment.
When the marigolds are about 3 or 4 inches tall, thin the seedlings, allowing 6 to 9 inches between smaller marigolds and 15 to 18 inches for larger varieties.
Marigold Care
Once the marigolds are established, summer care is a simple matter. Marigolds are drought-tolerant and a weekly watering is sufficient. To keep the plants tidy and blooming all season, pinch off spent blooms regularly. Tall varieties will benefit from staking.
Saving Marigold Seeds
Saving seeds is a great way to get a head start on next year’s growing season, and to save a few dollars on next spring’s gardening budget. To save seeds for planting next year, leave a few blooms on the healthiest marigold plants at the end of the season, then wait for the blooms to wilt and turn brown. To prevent the seeds from being expelled onto the ground when you aren’t looking, tie a piece of netting or mesh fabric loosely around the bloom.
Cut the dry blooms and toss them into a paper sack. Put the paper sack in a dry, well-ventilated spot for at least two weeks, or until the blooms are dry as paper and the seeds fall out easily.
Pour the entire contents of the sack on a tray and use tweezers to pick the tiny seeds from the chaff and plant debris. Place the seeds in a labeled paper envelope and store the envelope in a cool, dark cupboard until spring. You can also place the envelope in a glass jar with a lid, then store the jar in the refrigerator. For best viability, plant the seeds within a year.
Planting marigolds means adding instant color to your summer landscape. With these simple tips on how to plant marigolds , your flowers will delight you with their bright, sunny colors all summer long.
