Quick Guide - How to grow Tagetes
Name - common name Marigold, botanical name Tagetes. Annual.
Location - in garden or container, best grown outdoors as it has very low maintenance requirements
Light - can grow in both sunny or shady spots. Blooms more abundantly if it gets more direct light.
Temperature - optimal temperatures are 65-70°F (18-21°C) but feels comfortably in much wider ranges from 50-100°F (10-32°C), making it perfect for temperate continental climates. Stops growing below 50°F (10°C) and will not survive below 32°F (0°C).
Watering - once or twice per week - water when the soil feels slightly moist to dry. Water more often when the plants are still young and developing much of their leaf mass. Water near the base of the plant without spraying the leaves. Do not drench in water or the plant may start to rot. Can withstand occasional overwatering, but will eventually start rotting if exposed to heavy rainfall. In the high summer heats water more often but only in the morning when temperatures are lower, again at the base of the plant
Soil - rich, well-drained soil, also works fine with regular potting mix as long as you do not water more often than recommended above
Fertilizing - fertilize once every 2 weeks during the blooming period according to fertilizer's instructions
Propagation - propagated from seeds. They can be planted in small containers indoors first in late winter/early spring (6-7 weeks before last frost), and then transported to the permanent location. They can also be planted directly into the permanent location when average temperatures outside reach at least 40-55°F (6-12°C) at night and around 60-70°F (15-21°C) during the day (typically a couple of weeks after the last frost). If your temperatures are in the lower part of those ranges, make sure to plant more seeds - this will give you better chances for germination. When planting the seeds cover them lightly with soil of ~1/4 inch (5 mm)
Additional care
- remove the old blossoms to stimulate new blooming and growth and to keep the flower neat and beautiful
- you may want to keep a couple of the seed buds in late summer to dry out on the plant and produce the seeds for the next season; you may leave them to fall naturally off the plant into the soil - this way the seeds will germinate on their own during the next season. Or you can collect the dry seed buds, preserve them in a napkin or paper in a dry location until you plant them yourself in a different spot or container
- the plant is very tolerant to diseases and is even recommended to grow near vegetable gardens as it serves as an antibacterial for the surrounding soil
- if placed in a garden make sure to clean the weeds, and also mind that the leaves of the marigold can be a delicious meal for snails
Name - common name Marigold, botanical name Tagetes. Annual.
Location - in garden or container, best grown outdoors as it has very low maintenance requirements
Light - can grow in both sunny or shady spots. Blooms more abundantly if it gets more direct light.
Temperature - optimal temperatures are 65-70°F (18-21°C) but feels comfortably in much wider ranges from 50-100°F (10-32°C), making it perfect for temperate continental climates. Stops growing below 50°F (10°C) and will not survive below 32°F (0°C).
Watering - once or twice per week - water when the soil feels slightly moist to dry. Water more often when the plants are still young and developing much of their leaf mass. Water near the base of the plant without spraying the leaves. Do not drench in water or the plant may start to rot. Can withstand occasional overwatering, but will eventually start rotting if exposed to heavy rainfall. In the high summer heats water more often but only in the morning when temperatures are lower, again at the base of the plant
Soil - rich, well-drained soil, also works fine with regular potting mix as long as you do not water more often than recommended above
Fertilizing - fertilize once every 2 weeks during the blooming period according to fertilizer's instructions
Propagation - propagated from seeds. They can be planted in small containers indoors first in late winter/early spring (6-7 weeks before last frost), and then transported to the permanent location. They can also be planted directly into the permanent location when average temperatures outside reach at least 40-55°F (6-12°C) at night and around 60-70°F (15-21°C) during the day (typically a couple of weeks after the last frost). If your temperatures are in the lower part of those ranges, make sure to plant more seeds - this will give you better chances for germination. When planting the seeds cover them lightly with soil of ~1/4 inch (5 mm)
Additional care
- remove the old blossoms to stimulate new blooming and growth and to keep the flower neat and beautiful
- you may want to keep a couple of the seed buds in late summer to dry out on the plant and produce the seeds for the next season; you may leave them to fall naturally off the plant into the soil - this way the seeds will germinate on their own during the next season. Or you can collect the dry seed buds, preserve them in a napkin or paper in a dry location until you plant them yourself in a different spot or container
- the plant is very tolerant to diseases and is even recommended to grow near vegetable gardens as it serves as an antibacterial for the surrounding soil
- if placed in a garden make sure to clean the weeds, and also mind that the leaves of the marigold can be a delicious meal for snails