General
Annual flowers that are easy and resiliant.
Latin
Tagetes patula & T. tennuifolia
Family: Asteraceae
Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: 1-10
Timing
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost (late February on the coast), or direct sow 2 weeks before last frost (mid-March on the coast). If starting indoors, just cover the seeds with vermiculite and provide a soil temperature of 21-25°C (70-75°F). Seeds should sprout in 4-14 days at that temperature.
Starting
Marigolds are somewhat prone to damping off. As a precaution, just cover the small seeds with vermiculite, water from below, and provide ventilation in the room. Space plants in the garden 30-45cm (12-18") apart. Dwarf varieties can be spaced 15cm (6") apart.
Growing
Pinch the growing tips to encourage branching. This avoids tall, spindly plants. Dead head regularly.
