Close-up of an orange marigold.
Credit: Angela Altomare
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EmailBotanical name: Tagetes
Plant type: Flower
Sun exposure: Full Sun
Bloom time: Spring, Summer, Fall
No annual is more cheerful or easier to grow than marigolds. These flowers are the spendthrifts among annuals, showing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our summer and autumn gardens. The flower’s popularity probably derives in part from its ability to bloom brightly all summer long.
Marigolds have daisy-like or double, carnation-like flowerheads and are produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, some marigolds we know come from just three:
- Tagetes erecta are the tallest, at three to five feet. They are sometimes known as African, or American, marigolds.
- Bushy T. patula, or French marigolds, are somewhat smaller and more compact. Elegant and eye-catching, they have relatively demure flowers and usually grow from 6 inches to 2 feet tall.
- The dainty T. tenuifolia are the signet, or rock-garden, marigolds that like hot, dry sites and make a wonderful edging. Their flowers are edible.
Marigolds have been sterotyped but they offer tremendous variety; some have fantastic aroma; all marigolds are good in containers and provide long-lasting cut flowers.
Marigold Pictures
Click the slideshow below to enjoy 7 lovely pictures sent in by our Almanac readers!
Planting
- Marigolds need lots of sunshine.
- Though they grow in almost any soil, marigolds thrive in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
- Sow them directly into the garden once the soil is warm, or start seeds indoors about a month to 6 weeks before the last spring-frost date.
- The seeds germinate easily, but watch out for damping off if you start them inside.
- Separate seedlings when they are about 2 inches tall. Plant them in flats of loose soil, or transplant them into the garden.
- Space tall marigolds 2 to 3 feet apart; lower-growing ones about a foot apart.
- If planting in containers, use a soil-based potting mix; during growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer weekly.
Care
- Germination from large, easily handled seeds is rapid, and blooms should appear within a few weeks of sowing.
- If the spent blossoms are deadheaded, the plants will continue to bloom profusely.
- Do not fertilize marigolds. Too rich a diet stimulates lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Marigolds bloom better and more profusely in poor soil.
- The densely double flowerheads of the African marigolds tend to rot in wet weather.
Pests
Farmers and gardeners have long known that marigolds make important companion plants all over the garden. Not only does the scent of the marigold (Tagetes spp.) repel animals and insects, but the underground workings of the marigold will repel nematodes (microscopic worms) and other pests for up to 3 years.
Marigolds themselves are hearty but may be prone to gray mold, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, damping off, and root rot.
Harvest/Storage
- In flower arrangements, strip off any leaves that might be under water in the vase; this will discourage the overly pungent odor.
- Marigolds can be dried for long-lasting floral arrangements. Strip foliage from perfect blossoms and hang them upside down.
Cooking Notes
- The bright petals of signet marigolds add color and a spicy tang to salads and other summer dishes.
- The flower petals are sometimes cooked with rice to impart the color (but unfortunately not the flavor) of saffron.
- 'Mexican Mint' (sometimes called Texas tarragon) is a study little herb that can be substituted for French tarragon in cooking. This species has been long used in Latin America for tea as well as seasoning.
Wit & Wisdom
- In the late 1960s, Burpee president David Burpee launched an energetic campaign to have marigolds named the national flower, but in the end, roses won out.
- For years, farmers have included the open-pollinated African marigold 'Crackerjack' in chicken feed to make egg yolks a darker yellow
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Comments
Water thoroughly once a week
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By Sarah Perreault
Water thoroughly once a week if it has not rained at least an inch that week. Water deeply when dry (vs. shallow and often).
Over Watered??
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By Anonymous
I have 3 marigold pots on back patio. Live in KS - been over 105 temps July, June & now into Aug. Been watering a lot EVERY day... the marigolds are starting to really brown, die... am I overwatering?
Possibly overwatering. Water
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By Almanac Staff
Possibly overwatering. Water thoroughly once a week if it has not rained at least an inch that week. Water deeply when dry (vs. shallow and often). Those temps can be hot for containers. If you can, put the marigold pot into another planter to provide some insulation for the root system. Also, check for spider mites who like hot, dry weather.
Transplanting and reblooming?
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By Anonymous
I am growing Marigolds for my wedding. Initially, we planted them in pots, but they are getting root bound. Tomorrow, we are going to transplant them into our garden bed which is full sun. The plants are in full bloom. I plan to deadhead before we plant. Any idea how long it will take to start seeing new blooms? Our wedding is 6 weeks away, in late September.
When you deadhead marigolds,
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By Almanac Staff
When you deadhead marigolds, remove each fading flower and its individual stem. Do this after you transplant. As long as the flower is pinched as it passes its peak, the flower will keep blooming through the season. You need to deadhead when it's their time, not your time, but if you deadhead at different times, you should see continue blooms at different times, too.
Divide Marigolds?
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By anonymous
My marigolds have gone wild and are wide and beautiful, but the plants are choking out everything else. Can they be divided without killing them? If so, how??
Marigolds are annuals. You
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By Almanac Staff
Marigolds are annuals. You can try to divide them but your success in transplanting them is only going to get you so far. Remember: If you uproot them, they will have to settle into a new spot and that takes time. There may not be enough time in the season.
The same goes for moving them indoors. You may have some luck in bringing your marigolds indoor, but in general, annuals grow and thrive for one year.
What you might try is clipping the flowers and drying the seeds and saving them for next year. THAT could have promise for next year—and you are, in effect, transplanting.
We hope this helps.
end of season marigolds
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By Anonymous
I planted marigolds for the first time this year.
do I have to up root them now when they dry and replant next year?
end-of-season marigolds
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By Almanac Staff
It depends on where you are. In southern regions the marigold plant is perennial and grows year round. (It's a native of Mexico.) If you bring the plant indoors and give it plenty of light it should do well. If you leave it outdoors it will die back and sprout again in the spring.
In northern regions, it is treated as an annual, meaning you would reseed it every year. Try saving this year's plant seeds and using those!
Marigolds gone wild
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By Anonymous
Yes it did help. I might as well try since I have to do something since they are choking my perrenials. Never thought they would spread so much. Thank you.
Brown spots on leave inhibiting growth.
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By Anonymous
Our yellow marigold plants have done very well since we planted them 5-6-weeks ago, but now are showing signs of mold/fungus(?) that is spreading from one plant to the other. Is there something we can do to stop this?
Marigold -controlling fungal molds
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By Anonymous
Yes. Spray fungicide, Dithane M45 (one gram dissolved in one liter of water) thrice at an interval of 10 to 15 days.
If your marigolds have white
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By Almanac Staff
If your marigolds have white mold, that is a fungal disease that can occur late in the season due to overhead watering or heavy rain. Bring a sample to your cooperative extension or local garden center, however, to get a diagnosis. To control the spread, you could try using protective spraying with Fore, Zineb, or Captan. But you may need to pull them out and dispose of them. In the future, be sure to water the soil not the plant or use drip irrigation. Also, if it's mold, be sure to clean up everything--even a faded bloom--at the end of the season. It's also a good idea to change the location of the marigold.
Marigold conservation
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By Anonymous
Is there any way to keep our marigold plant alive? Suppose I keep the potted plant indoors and fertilize and water/keep heat lamp, will it stay alive or is it doomed? (my daughter gave it to me for mothers day, a squirrel broke it in half so I helped it grow roots and made 2 plants, but I really want to keep it!! Ideas?
Marigold conservation
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By Almanac Staff
When you move the marigold indoors place it in a sunny south-facing window or under a grow light. Marigolds don't need much fertilizer. Save some of the marigold seeds to start next spring for more plants.
cutting heads off marigolds
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By Anonymous
this is the first year i have planted marigolds and had them stay alive. i was told to cut the heads off the marigolds when they start to wilt. i was wondering how far down the stem i am supposed to cut them.
Yes, you should deadhead
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By Almanac Staff
Yes, you should deadhead marigolds to keep them blooming. It's fairly easy. Just pinch off the fading blooms with your fingers, removing the seedpods that may have formed behind the bloom (not just the petals). For marigolds, we like to remove both the flower and its individual stem. It's a chore to deadhead, but worth the results.
Inexperienced gardener
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By Anonymous
Hello, All! I am very new to gardening and trying to learn as much as I can in a short amount of time. I am planning to plant some hosta along a walkway and was wondering if marigolds would make a good companion plant. The area in which I'm planting gets about half sun, half shade, which I think is great for the hosta, but I'm not sure how well the marigolds will do because I see they require full sun. My objective with the marigolds is for color and to keep the worms from eating holes in the hosta. I am in NC, and it is pretty hot. Can I plant in July or wait until the fall? Lots of questions, but any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
For hostas, consider
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By Almanac Staff
For hostas, consider companion plants that also enjoy part-shade. For spring, consider planting early blooming bulbs to join your emerging hosta leaves, such as tulips, daffodils, and forget-me-nots. For summer months, consider bright annuals such as impatiens, begonia, and coleus. We love bright red impatiens peeking through the green hosta leaves!
I planted Marigolds mid-June
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By Anonymous
I planted Marigolds mid-June in clay-like soil. I keep it moist. They are not getting any taller, but they have plenty of buds. However, the bud gets a small flower which immediately gets hard and I take it off.
Marigolds are a good choice
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By Almanac Staff
Marigolds are a good choice for clay soils. If the leaves and plant look fairly normal (not dried out or filled with holes, etc), there are a few reasons why your marigold lacks good blooms: High summer heat, too much fertilizer, or a plant bug. For heat, you can mulch and wait for temps to moderate. Stop fertilizing. And look for green/brown insects; if you find them, you'll need to start a spraying program.
Will I wreck marigolds if I prune them?
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By Anonymous
I want to prevent them from getting leggy and flopping over.
Marigolds shouldn't be
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By Almanac Staff
Marigolds shouldn't be pruned, only deadheaded. If they are leggy, you can bury the legs in soil but only up to the foliage. Leggy plants aren't an issue. If a leggy stem falls over, the plant will grow roots and send up more stems and flowers.
Planted marigolds from seed they are really green
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By Anonymous
However! Not one bud from any to form a flower. All I have is a LOT of greenery, healthy, but that's not exactly what I was aiming for! Any advice. Weather has been extremely hot & I'm thinking that must have something to do with these otherwise thriving/healthy plants! grown these for yrs but always purchased them when they were in bloom!!!
You are correct. Lack of
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By Almanac Staff
You are correct. Lack of bloom is usually due to high summer heat. If this is the case, add some organic mulch to lower the soil temperature and wait for temps to moderate.
Somethings messing with them
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By Anonymous
I live in Fargo ND and have planted merigolds for years, but this year something is taking the flowers off the plant. They are all over the ground. No sign of anything eating them..What is it?
If the flowers are on the
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By Almanac Staff
If the flowers are on the ground: probably birds! We've heard of starlings (blackbirds) and robins tearing off marigold petals. Otherwise, if your marigolds were just being eaten, we'd say slugs. Of course, the birds may be looking for slugs! Try sprinkling red pepper to deter the birds.
seeds not germinating.
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By Anonymous
we planted marigold seeds in our front yard in Early June. It's about 4 weeks almost, but there are no leaves or any sign of it. We planted them 10-12 inches apart as directed on the packet. What could have possibly grown wrong? These are french marigolds. I watered them regularly. I am doing this the first time and I have no experience of growing plants in past. Please help.
Marigold plants with no flowers
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By Anonymous
I just commented on my own NO FLOWER BUDS. Healthy, green foliage, but no flowers in sight! I AM an avid gardener and have a "green-thumb"...but this is the first time this has occured and I DON'T SEEM to be th only one!!! Could it be the seeds maybe too old & sold anyway? I have no idea....does anyone?
For marigolds, the juvenile
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By Almanac Staff
For marigolds, the juvenile stage often lasts a few weeks. During this stage--until maturity--the plants will not bloom. Otherwise, the usual reason for lack of bloom is temperature problems due to high summer heat. If this is the case, add some organic mulch to lower the soil temperature and wait for temps to moderate.
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