How to Grow Marigold at Home

Scientific Name: Tagetes spp.

Family: Asteraceae

Marigold is an annual that loves warm weather for survival and better growth. Marigold flower plants are very easy to grow and require minimal care for satisfying results. Marigold flower comes in a variety of colors including brown, yellow, orange, red, and mixed colors. These flowering plants germinate very quickly and start blooming within a few months. If you are a beginner then marigolds can be the ideal choice for you to start flower gardening. You can enjoy flowering through summer and into autumn. 

In this article, I will tell you how to grow marigolds at home and take care of your marigold plants.

Different Species of Marigold

There are various species of marigolds available but these three types of marigolds are popularly grown everywhere commercially as well as in the garden.

African marigolds (Tagetes erecta): These plants are the tallest and grow up to 40 to 100 cm high. Also, the flowers are huge in size.

French marigolds (Tagetes patula): These are the most common type found everywhere. Its plants are small and grow up to 10 to 30 cm. Flowers are also small having a diameter of 2.5 to 3.0 cm.

Signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia): These plants grow up to 20 to 30 cm in height and their flowers are also small. 

Propagation Methods

Marigolds are very easy to propagate through seeds and also you can use the stem-cutting method for propagation as per your choice.

Climate Requirement

Marigold flowers can be grown throughout the year except in severe cold. The best time for planting marigolds is late spring to mid-summer. An open environment and less humidity in the atmosphere during the growing period are ideal. Temperature above 20°C provides the best climatic condition for marigold plants. Marigolds are heat-loving plants and perform better in full sun conditions. Lack of required sunlight can affect plant growth as well as flowering. 

Soil Preparation

Marigolds can be grown in various soil types, but well-drained sandy loam soil is ideal for higher production. Mix compost during soil preparation to increase soil fertility. If you are using a pot or container for planting then potting soil with good drainage can be ideal.

How to Plant Marigold

First, decide if you want to sow seeds on your own or direct plant seedling brought from a nursery. Seed sowing will take a few days to germinate but seedlings will give you immediate results. In the case of seedlings, you can transplant them into your garden or container with proper spacing. But if you are going to use seeds for propagation then you can use a divided seed planter for growing seedlings or you can direct sow seeds in your garden. At least 12 inches distance between two plants should be provided to ensure enough room, airflow, and sunlight available for better growth.

Also Read: 10 Popular Winter Season Flowers For Your Garden

How to Take Care of Marigold Plant

• Allow the plants to receive full sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours daily.
• Marigold flower plants are drought tolerant but at an early stage, regular watering is essential for initial growth. After that frequent watering will be ideal when the topsoil dries out. Daily watering will be perfect if you are growing marigolds in a container or pot.
• Supplemental fertilizer application will not be required for marigold plants except if your growing soil is very low in fertility. 
• Regular deadheading is important for the better blooming of your marigold flower throughout the growing season. Also pinching during the early stage helps the bushier growth of your plants.
• Weed growth can be controlled using a layer of mulch on the soil.
• Marigolds can be affected by different pests like aphids, thrips, and different diseases like leaf spot, stem rot, powdery mildew, etc. Apply recommended medicine to control the effect. Also, good cultural practices can prevent harmful incidences.

FAQs