LATIN NAME: Tagetes Spp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Big and bold, African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) actually are Mexican in origin. Some catalogs call them American marigolds. The carnation-like blossoms are 3 to 6 inches in diameter and colored yellow, pale yellow, gold, or orange, rarely creamy white. Deeply cut, dark green, pungent foliage provides a nice contrast. Blossoms appear from summer through light fall frosts. Afro-French hybrids (between T. erecta and T. patula) are generally shorter, with profuse, long-lasting, large blossoms in all of the above colors, plus red and red-and-yellow bicolors. These triploid plants (triple the number of regular chromosomes, infertile, extra-large flowers) are not bothered by heat and humidity and do not set seed, so they need no deadheading to keep blooming. African marigolds grow 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide. Group plants in the midground of formal and informal gardens.
French marigolds (T. patula) are small, easy-to-grow, low plants with 2-inch-wide single or double flowers, which are usually bright yellow or gold and bicolored with red or mahogany. Some flower types are flat-headed with shingled petals; others are crested with a prominent central tuft of petals surrounded by flat petals; and still others are single with 5 petals surrounding a central button. Blossoms appear from early summer through light frosts. Plants grow 6 to 18 inches tall and as wide. The 6-inch-tall dwarf French marigolds make excellent edging annuals; use taller ones in cutting beds and containers.
Signet marigolds (T. tenuifolia) are delicate-looking plants with mounds of feathery foliage and masses of ¾-inch-wide, single blossoms in colors and bicolor similar to those of French marigolds. They grow 6 to 12 inches tall and as wide. Less common than African or French marigolds, these dainty plants are favored by sophisticated garden designers. Edible petals are tasty in salads. Use these dainty plants in cottage and herb gardens, front of borders, window boxes, and containers.
GERM. DATE: mid April 2009
GERM. TIME: 7-14 days
TRANSPLANT DATE: mid May, June 28 (2009)
TYPE OF PLANT: Annual
BLOOM CYCLE: Summer through light fall frost (flowering slows when weather is hot and humid)
pH LEVEL:
SEED DEPTH: ½ inch
HEIGHT OF PLANT: 6 inches to 3 feet
WIDTH OF PLANT: 6 inches to 2 feet
PLANT SPACING: 9-24 inches
ROW SPACING: 9-24 inches
DAYS TO HARVEST:
ZONE REQUIREMENTS: Warm-season annuals in zones 2 to 11
FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS:
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Full sun; part shade in hot-summer areas of the South and Southwest
WATER REQUIREMENTS: Moist
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Fertile to average, well-drained, sandy loam
DISEASE PROBLEMS: Botrytis, root rot, fusarium wilt, leaf spot, rust
PEST/INSECT PROBLEMS: Japanese beetles, slugs
SOLUTIONS:
HOW TO GROW: Sow indoors at 65° to 75°F, 4 to 6 weeks before last frost. In long-summer areas, sow outdoors after frost. Set African marigolds 12 to 24 inches apart; set French and signet marigolds 6 to 10 inches apart. Pinch young plants to encourage branching and more bloom.
HARVEST NOTES:
SPECIAL CARE/NOTES: Avoid overhead watering, which can rot blossoms.
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PRESERVE BY:
USES FOR PLANT:
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