Marigolds: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden! (2024)

FAQs

Marigolds: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!? ›

Moisten the soil and start marigold seeds in the garden after all chance of frost has passed. Sow them one inch apart and one inch deep. Water them in. When the seedlings pop up, thin signet and French marigold seedlings to every 8 to 10 inches and African marigold seedlings to every 10 to 12 inches.

Being a hardy annual, pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) can be sown direct into the soil outside in March, April, or May for summer flowers the same year. Alternatively, they can be sown direct into the soil outside in August or September for flowers the following year.

Marigolds need full sun and a reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. Smaller marigolds make good edging plants for borders and do well in pots, while taller or larger-flowered marigolds can be grown in large pots or in borders.

The commonly planted French marigolds and African marigolds are annuals—they sprout, grow, flower, and die, all in the same year—but that doesn't mean they won't come back. Marigolds frequently self-seed, meaning their seed drops, overwinters, and germinates in the spring without any help from the gardener.

In planting beds, space African marigolds 10 to 12 inches apart, while French marigolds should be 8 to 10 inches apart. If you're planting marigolds into containers, use a pot that's at least 10 inches across for African and larger French types.

Marigolds naturally repel pests such as deer, rabbits, or mosquitoes since they find their odor offensive. They are very low-maintenance once established. However, to keep them blooming almost non-stop all summer until frost, they need to be deadheaded.

Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.

Marigolds are easygoing plants that bloom reliably, even in direct sunlight, punishing heat and poor to average soil. Although they are beautiful in the ground, growing marigolds in containers is a surefire way to enjoy this delightful plant.

Check the soil daily; if it's dry an inch down, it's time to water. Winter whispers a different tale. Marigolds slow down, and so should your watering can. Less light and cooler temps mean less thirst.

Marigolds are very easy to grow and grow fast, which makes them great for children or gardening newbies. Marigolds need full sun all day to provide blooms all season long. Three common types are French, African, and Signet.

Are marigolds toxic to dogs? ›

Ease your mind 🐕—marigolds aren't toxic to dogs, but here's how to handle the small risks. Marigolds can cause mild discomfort in dogs, like gastrointestinal upset. 🐶 Symptoms to watch: vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Prevent ingestion with fencing or elevating plants; seek vet if symptoms persist.

Marigolds come in vibrant yellow, red, and orange hues, which can be beautifully paired with complementary colors of other flowers in the garden landscape. Try interplanting marigolds with allium, coreopsis, roses, salvia, bachelor buttons, lavender, and geranium plants for eye-catching appeal.

Plant height varies with the cultivar. Marigolds cover a full range of sizes from about 6 inches to 3 feet tall.

Growing Tomatoes and Marigolds Together

Allow 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) between the marigold and the tomato plant, which is close enough for the marigold to benefit the tomato but allows plenty of space for the tomato to grow.

Marigolds are considered companion plants to tomatoes in that they protect and enhance the growth of your tomatoes. So not only are these flowers pretty but they also do important jobs in the garden. What "jobs" do marigolds do in your garden? Marigolds help attract bees and other beneficial insects to tomato plants.

If you plant flowers too close together, the plants get stressed and are prone to diseases, Kole says. If air can't properly circulate and the plants can't dry out between waterings, fungus sets in. Roots can rot. And once plants are weakened from stress, insects move in.

Marigolds thrive in full sunshine and can often withstand very hot summers. African and signet marigolds are drought tolerant, while French marigolds are more tolerant of wet conditions. If planted in shade and cool, moist areas, marigolds are prone to powdery mildew and won't bloom well.

Marigolds need full sun all day to provide blooms all season long. Three common types are French, African, and Signet. Marigolds naturally repel pests such as deer or rabbits since they find their odor offensive.

Marigolds can handle a bit of a chill, but they draw the line at frost. They can survive down to about 40°F, but it's not a party they enjoy. To prepare for cooler nights, especially in the unpredictable shoulder seasons of spring and fall, think like a marigold. They'd probably grab a sweater if they could.

Most varieties bloom from early summer until hard frost in late fall. Marigolds require full sun and grow best in well-drained, loamy soil. Prepare flower beds by incorporating organic matter and cultivating the soil to 6 inches deep.