Marigolds are pleasing flowers with some surprising abilities. They come in a variety of colors from orange, yellow, red, cream, or maroon to mixed. Marigolds are not just pretty, however. They can dill or repel root rot nematodes, a serious pest that is not easily run off any other way.
Marigolds can be planted from seed or transplanted. Seeds need to be started indoors or sown outside after all danger of frost has past. People often plant marigolds as borders in flower beds or around tomatoes to repel pests. It takes about 45-50 days from seeding to flowering, so plan ahead if you are using marigolds this way.
The seeds are planted 1/4 inch deep in flats or the flower bed. When planted in flats, wait until three true leaves appear before moving them to a peat pot for further growth. When first moved to pots, keep in the shade for a few days to let them recover from the move. Then keep them in the sun.
They may be transplanted once all danger of frost is past. Marigolds like full sun and do not do well in the shade. Soil should be moist but not squishy no matter where the plant lives.
Blooms on marigolds fade, like all flowers. When the flower fades, snip it off the stem with pruning scissors. This is called deadheading and will entice the plant to bloom again and again. The flower bed also looks better without the dead flowers in it.
The dead flowers you clip off can be dried and the petals used for potpourri. Marigolds can have a somewhat pungent odor, however, that is off putting to some people. If you like the scent, or just use a few petals for color, drying them is a nice way to save them. Otherwise, pest free flowers may be composted.
Marigolds are pleasing flowers with some surprising abilities. They come in a variety of colors from orange, yellow, red, cream, or maroon to mixed. Marigolds are not just pretty, however. They can dill or repel root rot nematodes, a serious pest that is not easily run off any other way.
Marigolds can be planted from seed or transplanted. Seeds need to be started indoors or sown outside after all danger of frost has past. People often plant marigolds as borders in flower beds or around tomatoes to repel pests. It takes about 45-50 days from seeding to flowering, so plan ahead if you are using marigolds this way.
The seeds are planted 1/4 inch deep in flats or the flower bed. When planted in flats, wait until three true leaves appear before moving them to a peat pot for further growth. When first moved to pots, keep in the shade for a few days to let them recover from the move. Then keep them in the sun.
They may be transplanted once all danger of frost is past. Marigolds like full sun and do not do well in the shade. Soil should be moist but not squishy no matter where the plant lives.
Blooms on marigolds fade, like all flowers. When the flower fades, snip it off the stem with pruning scissors. This is called deadheading and will entice the plant to bloom again and again. The flower bed also looks better without the dead flowers in it.
The dead flowers you clip off can be dried and the petals used for potpourri. Marigolds can have a somewhat pungent odor, however, that is off putting to some people. If you like the scent, or just use a few petals for color, drying them is a nice way to save them. Otherwise, pest free flowers may be composted.
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