Marigold
by CMG Kathleen S.
Marigolds are a beautiful ray of sunshine. They provide the fire colors of red, yellow and orange. Mostly grown as annuals, Marigolds are found in gardens across the United States in zones 3 to 11. They bloom longer and thrive more in zones 8 to 11 making them a perfect choice for Comal County, Texas.
There are many varieties to choose. Some are heat and drought tolerant. All require 6 to 8 hours of sunshine. The most common are:
African Marigold from gettyimages.com
- African Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) – This variety grows to a height of 3 feet and can be used in the back of a flower garden; along a fence row or as a free-standing display. They have large blooms reaching a size of 6 inches across. Does well with hot and dry weather.
French Marigold Flame from outsidepride.com
- French Marigolds (Tagetes patula) – These are smaller with a more bush like appearance. Height is around 1 foot; the flowers vary from globes to double blooms and are pest and disease resistant.
Triploid F1 Hybrid from floranova.com
- Triploid F1 Hybrid (erecta x T.patula) – A cross between the African and French marigolds. This variety borrows characteristics from the parent plants but will not set viable seeds.
Mexican Tarragon (Mexican Mint Marigold) from txmg.org
- MexicanTarragon (Tagetes lucida) – Also known as Mexican Mint Marigold is a compact perennial that looks similar to marigolds. It is used primarily in Mexican dishes. It has the flavor of anise or licorice and the aroma of the French tarragon herb. Blooms are yellow and appear early spring and autumn.
Signet Marigold from selectseeds.com
- Signet Marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) – A showy, single-flowered marigold featuring small but extremely abundant richly colored blossoms which have a strong aroma and are excellent at repelling insects. The petals are edible and can be mixed in salads, teas or used as a garnish for a variety of dishes. Their height is from 10 inches to 1 foot tall and can be used in window boxes, containers or at the front of a garden as a border. Their blooms are daisy like and can be dime sized.
Marigolds appreciate a well-drained neutral garden soil so avoid acidic soils. Adding organic material to their soil is not needed. Water established plants once a week unless in a drought then daily waterings may be needed. Make sure plants have adequate air flow around them to avoid powdery mildew. Fertilizers are not a necessity unless the garden soil is exceptionally poor. Deadheading (cutting off spent flowers) will improve the appearance of the plant and encourage further blooming. Marigolds are not cold tolerant. If the temperature will be 40 degrees or lower, cover the plants or consider repotting and bringing them inside for the winter.
Marigolds are part of the Tagetes genus and the family Asteraceae. Native to North, Central and South America, they have a rich and varied history. Marigolds were prized by the Aztecs and used in their funeral customs and for medicine. Today, marigolds are an important part of the Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Their fragrance and bright colors are believed to guide the dead back to ofrendras or altars created by their living relatives. In 1500, the Spaniards confiscated marigold seeds from the Aztecs and sent them back to Spain for cultivation in monastery gardens. From there they were sent into France and Northern Africa. In 1662. the artist Nicolas van Veerendael, included marigolds in his famous painting “A Bouquet of Flowers in a Crystal Vase”. The painting is at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and can be seen here. David Burpee featured marigolds in his 1915 catalogue and was so enamored by them he funded research on marigolds.
Marigolds, today are used as companion plants. They contain pyrethrum and limonene; substances that ward off tomato hornworms, thrips, white flies, beetles and nematodes. They are perfect around tomatoes and potatoes. Avoid planting marigolds around beans and peas because they produce substances in their roots that will interfere with the bacteria needed by peas and beans to process atmospheric nitrogen.
Marigolds are pollinator friendly attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and moths. They are self-seeding but if you want to gather marigold seeds it is very easy. To learn how watch this YouTube video.
Seeds can be started outdoors two weeks after the last spring frost. A soil temperature of at least 70 degrees is recommended. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. The seeds do require sunlight to germinate so press the seeds firmly into the soil and cover with a very thin layer about 1/16th of an inch. Keep soil evenly moist. Seeds will germinate within 14 days. They will need plenty of sunlight to prevent the seedlings from getting leggy. Once the seeds have sprouted use scissors to thin out extra seedlings so there is around 10 inches between seedlings.
Marigolds are not poisonous to cats or dogs. But if the pet eats too much, it might cause an upset stomach. Please remember that not all varieties of marigolds are edible for humans, for more information click here.
References: petalrepublic.com, bhg.com, thespruce.com, lovingly.com, symbolsage.com, metmuseum.org, aspca.org