When I list this as a growing guide, I want you to understand that I am going to give you information about how I grow Marigolds. This will not be a textbook definition, or information I’ve pulled from online somewhere. It is my experiences in growing this plant.
Six Tips For Growing Successful Marigolds
- Plant In Well-Drained Soil.
- Mulch To suppress weed growth and dercease water evaporation.
- Water Regularly.
- Place in Full Sun.
- Fertilize Every 7-10 days.
- Dead head daily if possible to stimulate new flower production.
How Do You Grow Marigolds?
I started growing Marigolds as a child. My mother had two wooden planter boxes in our front yard that she planted with Marigolds every year. I learned just how easy it is to grow these flowers from an early age. I have only grown the dwarf varieties. I’m not sure why. Probably because that is what my mother grew and in my mind that is what I associate with the word Marigold. My favorite color Is orange so there are a multitude of different varieties of Marigolds that come in that color. The plants shown in the Swan planter above were volunteers. I planted Marigolds in that planter and it’s twin on the other side of the fountain last year. This year they popped up in the Spring from being self-seeded. I enjoyed them ini that location last year, so left them and encouraged them to grow this year.
Marigolds are easy to germinate. You can sprinkle the seed in the area where you want them and lightly cover them with soil, and when the weather is warm, they will germinate. That has been my experience. I have also grown them in seed trays to have plants in plugs to place in holes in my borders, planters, or hanging baskets as needed in the Spring and Summer.
Like any plant, if you keep a Marigold watered and give it the right amount of sunlight, it will thrive. They do prefer full sun. The Marigolds in the Swan planter opposite to this one took longer to mature. It is in partial shade from a nearby Oak tree. The one above stayed full of blooms throughout the season since it is in full sun.
Marigolds are very inexpensive. All you ever need to buy is one packet of seeds. Or obtain seeds from a friend, family member or neighbor. They are very popular and are grown all over the United States. It is extremely easy to save seeds from live plants. I take seeds from my Marigolds and spread them around in the easement behind my yard and like to drop a few on the sides of roads where I know mowing is not done regularly in the summer.
Do Marigolds Grow Well In Pots?
As long as you keep them well watered during hot and dry summer days, Marigolds will do well in pots. If you let them dry out, they will become leggy and the leaves will turn brown and drop. They are hardy plants and will hang on as long as they receive water. However, it has been my experience that I you let them dry out they will not recover to a healthy looking plant. I had one plant in a terra cotta pot this past summer and during a span of hot 90 degree days, I let it dry out. It fell over on its side and even though I watered it, it did not straighten back up but continued to grow in that position. I eventually pulled it out because its appearance was not what I wanted.
Can You Grow Marigolds As A Houseplant?
Ii’m not sure about this. I have never wanted Marigolds in my house. They have a fragrance that you either love or hate. I’d rather use them outside in flower beds or planters.
My Tips For Successfully Growing Marigolds
Place your Marigolds in Full Sun
Whether in a border, pot or hanging basket, place your Marigolds in full sun. They will produce more flowers and grow into mature plants quicker than in partial shade. I have never grown them in full shade so I’m not sure how they respond in that situation.
Dead Head The Flowers For More Blooms
As the flowers die back, you can remove them easily by pinching between the stem and bottom of the bloom. I do this daily as a part of my garden walk through and when I’m watering plants. It is so automatic that I don’t think about it. This encourages new blooms to develop. The spent blooms are also the seeds for next year’s crop so I make sure that I save some of each variety.
Keep Marigolds Well Watered
As with most plants, Marigolds need to be watered well especially on hot dry days. They will wilt and the leaves will turn brown when they need watered. Consistent and regular watering will keep the leaves green, the plant strong, and the blooms continuing.
What type of soil is best for Marigolds?
Honestly, I have grown them in a wide range of soil types. As with most plants, a well drained but nutrient rich soil will grow larger, stronger plants. But I have had volunteers to pop up in very poor soil and the Marigolds have still produced blooms. However, the plants and blooms are much smaller in this situation.
I create a soil mix for most potted plants and hanging baskets that is 1/3 potting mix, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 filler which might include leaf mulch, perlite, or even soil added from previous used pots, particularly if they had perlite or vermiculite in them. Do not use soil where diseased plants were growing, or if you notice an insect infestation. If all I have available is potting mix then that is what I use.
Those planted in my borders or beds are directly planted into the existing soil which I enrich every Fall and Spring with 2-3 inches of compost.
Money Saving Tip: Save your Marigold Seeds For Next Season
.I purchased three packs of Marigold seeds several years ago. Since that time I have not purchased any additional seeds. I use seeds saved from the current season for the next year. Marigolds will also self-sow. Those growing in the Swan planter at the beginning of this article were volunteer plants that came up seeds dropped from those I planted in it last year.
When Do You Fertilize Marigolds?
I place a slow release organic fertilizer in the hole when I am planting Marigolds as small plants from seed trays. If I am sowing seeds, I work the fertilizer into the soil in the area where the seeds will be planted. Then every 7-14 days I will fertilize all the plants that I am growing except those where the growth pattern prefers that they not be fertilized. This past season I used a water soluble fertilizer called Tiger Bloom that I purchased from a local garden center. I have also seen this product on Amazon. I didn’t buy it there because with shipping charges it cost about the same as buying it locally. I also like to support local businesses when possible.
I stop fertilizing in mid-September. The first average frost in my area is around October 15. Since Marigolds are not cold hardy, they will die with the first frost.
Are Marigolds Safe For Pets?
According to the ASPCA, Marigolds are not poisonous to pets. Click here for more on this topic.
Do Marigolds repel garden pests?
According to Master Gardener and fellow Arkansan, P. Allen Smith, Marigolds are beneficial in the garden as stated below.
Marigolds – The marigold is probably the most well-known plant for repelling insects. French marigolds repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes. Mexican marigolds are said to offend a host of destructive insects and wild rabbits as well. If you choose marigolds for your garden they must be scented to work as a repellant. And while this plant drives away many bad bugs, it also attracts spider mites and snails.
For more information on beneficial garden plants, and a wealth of gardening information, please check out his website by clicking this link.
I always plant Marigolds around my tomato plants. I have not done a personal scientific study to determine their actual effectiveness. I have read in books, online, and have seen and heard that Marigolds are beneficial in this way from YouTube gardening videos like the one below. I have been following Luke from MIgardener for several years. I also buy many of my vegetable and flower seeds from his website store.
Summary
I have grown Marigolds for many years and I will continue to do so. They are a dependable performer in the garden. They are inexpensive and easy to grow from seed. They are beneficial for many other plants and safe for pets. They will also always have a place in my garden due to their orange color, my favorite color. Marigolds are not showstoppers, but provide a bright colorful cheery presence wherever they are planted. Marigolds are time savers due to their easy care nature. I fertilize them as part of the routine of fertilizing all plants in my garden. The only time they may require extra care is if there has been little rain or you missed watering. They will start to wilt and droop, letting you know they are in need of water.
If you grow Marigolds, please tell me about your experiences in the comment section below.