matter on this annual to churn out colorful flowers all summer long .
A garden favorite for their brightly biased blossom , French marigolds are easy to turn and give care for . These heating plant - loving annual last the entire mature season , blossom awayuntil hoar . Gallic marigold typically add up inwarm orange tree , yellowness , and Marxist . Some potpourri have a single row of petals , while others have pompon - comparable , petal - packed double bloom of youth . Plus , it seems like a new marigold wraith or petal type is introduced each class .
flora breeders are always look for ways to make French Marigolds do just a little more . A late innovation was a coloring material breakthrough — the first pink marigold . They are also finding ways to make more disease - insubordinate , longer - blooming varieties with large flush .
Doug Hetherington .
Where to Plant French Marigolds
French marigold mature in full sun and boom in blistering summer . While they are somewhat more tolerant of wet weather condition than African marigold , they wo n’t blossom well in coolheaded , moist area . These annual are pollyannaish addition togarden bed and bordersand are excellent container plant .
How and When to Plant French Marigolds
French marigolds can be purchased as nursery plant orgrown from source .
Set out nursery plants early in the springiness after the last frost in a localisation that get full Sunday and has well - run out land . Gallic marigold flora should be implant moderately deep than in their greenhouse containers and space 9 to 18 inches apart , depending on miscellanea .
Start French marigolds from seed bystarting them indoorsfour to six weeks before the end of winter in ejaculate - start mixture . overcompensate them with a short 1/4 inch of grease and moisten them . They call for a warm area of about 70 ° F to 75 ° F to germinate . After they are seeded , seedlings pop up in a hebdomad or two . Transplant theminto the garden after the last hoarfrost . The seed can also be sow directly into a garden bed after all risk of frost has passed .
Credit: Ed Gohlich
French Marigold Care Tips
Often one of the first plant a child grows , these low - maintenance annuals are super easy to care for .
Light
Gallic marigolds performbest in full sun , which is necessary for the plant to form big , dense blossom and lavish leafage . The flora will live if embed anywhere other than full sunlight , but flower production is severely impress .
Soil and Water
French marigolds do best inwell - debilitate soilthat does n’t stay smashed for long periods . For the best drainage , total compost to the soil .
Temperature and Humidity
Hot summertime temperature pose no job for Gallic marigolds . The optimal flower yield occur when the temperature is in the 68 ° F to 75 ° farad range , but the plant continues to blossom outside this range , just not as profusely . They tolerate a wide humidness chain . If the summer is specially humid , they might develop powdery mildew .
Fertilizer
Unless the garden soil is rich or can be repair before planting , prod in aslow - expiration granular fertilizerto support the plant . They likely wo n’t want any more fertilizer than that . Overfertilization results in increased foliation , not bloom .
If you feel your plants need a boost midseason , employ a liquid fertilizer low in N , follow the mathematical product instructions .
Pruning
yearly marigoldsdon’t want prune , but as a marigold ’s heyday fade , pick them offto focus the plant ’s vigour on making more flowers rather than make seeds .
Potting and Repotting French Marigolds
Small Gallic marigold are excellent selections for pots outside in the summer . Unless they are moved inside before the first frost , they will die along with any in - soil marigolds . found them in acontainer with good drainageand lightweight pot mixture . A 6 - inch pot is swelled enough for one Gallic marigold , or two or three plants can fit in a 12 - in sess . Do n’t crowd the industrial plant ; they necessitate good aura circulation . They also need at least six hour of sunshine daily , so point them in a south - facing window . Repotting is usually not necessary .
Pests and Problems
When French marigolds are planted in part specter , they will likely get fungous disease , such aspowdery mildew . Marigolds are also prostrate to spider mite in the dry warmth of the summertime , so watch for fine webbing and treat with insecticidal liquid ecstasy as postulate .
How to Propagate French Marigolds
At the goal of the year , if you require to collect seed for the follow spring , give a few spent blooms on the plants and allow them to mature and dry soundly . Start them indoors six weeks before the end of winter inseed - start mix . Note that harvested semen bring about genetically different plants from the hybrid parent , so there may be some variability in flower colouring and overall plant growth .
guild seed or live plants from a greenhouse if you want identical plants .
Types of French Marigolds
Disco Queen Marigold
Tagetes patula’Disco Queen ' grow orangish - red flush ringed in yellowed on long - bloom industrial plant that get 1 foot tall and spacious .
Durango Red Marigold
Tagetes patula’Durango Red ' bring about orange - ruby-red flowers all summertime on plants that develop 1 ft marvellous and wide .
Little Devil Fire Marigold
Tagetes patula’Little Devil Fire ' bears two-fold red - and - sensationalistic flowers on compact plants that spring up only 8 inch tall and wide .
Striped Marvel Marigold
Tagetes patula’Striped Marvel ' offer sheer burgundy - and - atomic number 79 striped flower on mounded plants .
Yellow Gate Marigold
Tagetes patula’Yellow Gate ' bears 3 - in - wide bloom atop rounded , 10- to 12 - column inch - magniloquent plants .
French Marigold Companion Plants
Bidens
Bidens isa perfect container flora . It pour forth down the bound of windowpane box , large pots , and planters with starry , yellow flowers and ferny , unripened foliage . Some miscellanea are fragrant , so implant them where you may enjoy their sweet scent . Bidens like rich , well - drained but moist soil . While it ’s a perennial in Zones 8 - 10 , it ’s usually grown as an yearly .
Moss Rose
Moss jump is the gardener ’s choicefor the hottest , driest , most problematic situation in the garden — even a mud hemangioma simplex pot in full sun . This succulent plant thrives in passion , drouth , and lousy soil , rewarding gardener with nonstop coloring . Coming in sunny , warm Bolshevik , oranges , magentas , and yellow , moss get up looks at family in a sunlight - drenched area . There ’s also a whole pastel color palette for moss go up — creamy lily-white , pink , and peach varieties . It often mirthfully reseeds , come back every year with gusto .
Zinnia
Want fast colour for just pennies?Plant zinnias ! A packet of seminal fluid will fill an area with gorgeous flowers in a marvelous raiment of condition and colors — even green ! And it will happen in just week . There are gnome types , marvelous , quill - leafage cactus , spider , multicolor , germ blends for cut , blend for attracting butterflies , and more .
Zinnias are so highly attractive to butterflies that you may count on suffer these fluttering guests dining in your garden every good afternoon . To attract the most , plant pile of tall , ruddy or hot pink zinnias in a large patch . ' Big Red ' is specially nice for this , and the flowers are salient and excellent for cutting . Zinnias mature quickly from seed sow right in the earth and do best in full sunlight with dry to well - drain land .
Garden Plans for French Marigold
An Eye-Catching Kitchen Garden Plan
bask a full summer of homegrown vegetables with this ornamentalpotagergarden .
Easy Children’s Vegetable Garden Plan
Enjoy growing level-headed produce while spending time with little gardeners with this wanton garden plan .
Frequently Asked Questions
No . As annuals , they die at the first frost . However , the plants are prolific self - cloud seeder , and you may see a surprise crop of newfangled plants in the natural spring . However , these works will not be exact duplicate of their hybrid parents .
African marigolds are taller and more erect than Gallic marigolds and have much tumid flowers . French marigold plants are smaller , bushier , and have a longer flower flow — from leaping until frost .
These quick - growing plant are ego - seeding , so they ’ll distribute seeds in your garden . To keep them from spreading , deadhead blooms before they start to go to ejaculate .
Credit: Paul Vandevelder
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Andy Lyons
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
