Marigolds deserve the medal for being the flowers with the lowest maintenance required. In fact, some experts claim that marigolds are nearly care-free. That's not quite true but if your garden color scheme runs to yellows and oranges, you can't go wrong with the trusty marigold.
Although marigolds are one of the few popular garden plants where it's possible to grow from seed indoors and plant outside later, novice gardeners would do better to buy the plants already started in the plastic packs at your garden center. Marigolds will do well in bedding, pots, edgings, window boxes and some can even be used as cut flowers and taken inside as part of a beautiful arrangement.
As you browse the marigold section of your garden center, you
This mix produces tall, distinguished plants with yellow and orange double flowers. Plant behind shorter varieties or mass alone. Cut flowers are long lasting. Feed flowers to chickens for bright yellow yolks! Plant height 1m (3').
From
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$ 2.65 CA
French Marigold Sparky Mix
Annual
Enjoy mounds of tawny oranges and yellows by mid-summer. This is the variety that will suppress 'bad' nematodes in your osil. Be sure the plant around the vegetable garden! They can also be used as a cover crop. Plant height 30cm (12").
From
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$ 2.65 CA
French Vanilla Marigold
Annual
Soft blooms are like rich vanilla ice cream but have the same familiar marigold scent. Beautiful large, fully rounded flowers heads are excellent for cutting. Plant height 50cm (20").
From
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$ 6.20 CA
Signet Marigold Golden Gem
Annual
T. signata
An intense citrus aroma fills the air when you brush by them along a path or in hanging baskets. Small single blooms make airy mounds above lacy foliage. Use blossoms in salads, desserts, fancy drinks, and by far the best-tasting marigold. Gold Gem is slow to bloom so start early. Bright lemon-yellow blooms flower until heavy frost. Plant height 40cm (15").
