No results. Is a plant missing? Tell uscontact@wikiplant.net
Marigold
Tagetes patula
Care level: Very easy
The French marigold is a compact, bushy annual from Mexico and Guatemala, about 30cm tall and wide, with finely divided, strongly scented leaves and single or double flowers in yellow, orange, rust red and mahogany, often two colours in one bloom. It flowers without a break from early summer until the first frost, in beds, edges and pots, and is one of the easiest flowers to raise from seed. It needs sun and tolerates dry soil once established.
Pinch or snip off the faded flowers every few days. The plant then keeps making new buds until the frost, instead of putting its energy into seed.
Care by Season
Spring
Sow indoors, harden the seedlings off and plant out after the last frost. Protect young plants from slugs.
Summer
Flowering all summer. Deadhead every few days and water in dry spells.
Autumn
Flowering continues until the first frost. Save seed from dry flower heads if you wish.
Winter
The plants are dead; clear them away. Store saved seed dry and cool.
Growing & Maintenance
Planting
Sow indoors in spring and plant out after the last frost, 20-25cm apart, in well-drained soil in full sun, or sow directly outdoors in late spring.
Pruning
Pinch out the tip of young plants for bushier growth and remove faded flowers regularly.
Propagation
By seed. Collect it from dry, brown flower heads in autumn.
Pests & Diseases
Common problems
Young plants vanish overnight
Most likely cause: Slugs and snails.
What to do: Plant out sturdier plants and check after dark.
Many leaves, few flowers
Most likely cause: Rich soil, heavy feeding or shade.
What to do: Grow in full sun and do not feed.
Flowering stops in midsummer
Most likely cause: Faded flowers were left to set seed.
What to do: Deadhead regularly.
Brown, mushy flowers
Most likely cause: Grey mould after rain.
What to do: Remove them and give the plants more air.
Plants blackened in autumn
Most likely cause: The first frost.
What to do: Normal for this annual; clear the plants away.
Pests & Diseases
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings and young plants eaten down to the stems overnight.
Treatment: Grow plants on in pots until they are sturdy, and pick the slugs off by torchlight after dark.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale speckling on the leaves and thin webbing in hot, dry weather.
Treatment: Hose the plants down and keep the soil watered. Check the undersides of the leaves and the crevices where the leaf stem meets the main stalk.
Grey mould
Signs: Flowers and buds turn brown and are covered in grey fuzz in wet weather.
Treatment: Remove affected flowers promptly and space the plants so that air can move between them.
FAQ
When do I sow or plant marigolds?
Sow indoors in early to mid spring and plant out after the last frost, or sow directly outdoors once the soil has warmed. Marigolds are killed by frost, so do not put young plants out too early.
Something eats my young marigolds overnight. What is it?
Slugs and snails. They are very fond of marigold seedlings and can clear a row in a night. Raise the plants in pots until they are sturdy, plant them out a little later and check with a torch after dark.
Are marigolds toxic to cats and dogs?
Mildly. Eating French marigolds can irritate the stomach and gut, and the sap can irritate the skin. The effects are usually minor. Pot marigold, Calendula, is a different plant.
Do marigolds really protect tomatoes?
They are widely planted beside tomatoes, especially in greenhouses, and there is research showing that the scent of French marigolds helps to keep whitefly away. They are not a cure once an infestation is under way, so plant them at the same time as the tomatoes.
Do marigolds come back next year?
No. They are annuals and die with the first frost. Seed saved from the flowers will grow, though seedlings of mixed varieties differ from the parents.
Why are the leaves pale and speckled in hot weather?
That points to spider mites, which multiply on plants that are hot and dry at the roots. Water the soil regularly and hose the foliage down.
