Planting, growing and caring for marigolds in open ground

As practice shows, bright, with many small inflorescences, marigolds are unpretentious in cultivation. Plant seeds are purchased in retail chains and garden stores. The plants will need a lot of light when growing, so it is best to plant them in areas exposed to the sun. But even in the shady twilight they will not stop growing. Flowers are perennial, so seeds will be needed for the very first planting.

Description and characteristics of the plant

Marigolds have several different species, differing from each other in appearance, size, and color. The planted plant is guaranteed to exist for more than one year, which is why marigolds are so popular among amateurs and experienced gardeners. The leaves are green, ranging from light to dark in color, with indented edges (pinnate, dissected). The foliage on the stem is arranged in an orderly manner; this is one of the characteristics of the plant.

The height of the bush ranges from 20 centimeters to 2 meters. The stem is powerful and straight. The inflorescence is formed by a combination of tubes and reeds - this is how marigolds bloom.

Based on the number of petals and their type, the following types are distinguished:

1. Regular or non-double. Contain up to 3 reed rows of inflorescences.
2. Semi-double. Their tongue-shaped petals occupy about half of the total number.
3. Terry. This group includes anemone-like, dianthus and chrysanthemum marigolds. Each of them will have more than half of the tubular (reed) petals in the inflorescence.

The plant has a sharp, peculiar smell, which is compensated by the richness of colors and types. The growing season lasts from June to October (until the first frost). The natural result of flowering will be the formation of a seed pod, containing from 2 to 7 hundred seeds per gram of weight. Germination persists for years. Perennial marigolds bloom in various shades, from pure white to mixed variegated.

Is it possible to sow marigolds in the fall?

Most sources authoritatively state that marigolds are sown only in the spring. The arguments are compelling: the plant is heat-loving and does not tolerate frost well.And in order for planting to give a positive result, a certain temperature regime is required - not lower than plus 5 on the Celsius scale.

So novice gardeners plant marigolds exclusively in the spring, missing the opportunity to experiment. The vast majority of marigold fans will recommend the “spring” method, as it is familiar and completely justifies itself.

Meanwhile, winter planting is no worse. The main thing is to know how to sow marigolds.

Benefits of autumn planting

When deciding when to plant seeds, which planting is preferable - autumn or spring, many, without hesitation, will choose the latter. And they will present weighty, ironclad arguments in defense of their position. It seems like everything is so, but not quite.

Autumn planting has the following advantages:

• during hibernation, plants gain strength and get used to life in the open outside world;
• the formation of the root system of marigolds occurs faster due to early planting;
• there is no need to select the “correct” planting date; by the warm season, the flowers develop independently, growing from a seed to a seedling.

A serious disadvantage of cold planting is the increased use of seed reserves. You need to be prepared for this so as not to get into trouble.

Preparing for landing

It starts with choosing a place. Here it is important to take into account 2 points: the absence of stagnation of liquid and the planned slope on the site. Additional nuances concern the soil. It should be loose and permeable rather than dense. The latter circumstance automatically solves the problem of waterlogging.

Therefore, preparations for planting begin by bringing the soil to the required consistency. To do this, soil, peat, river sand and humus (compost) are mixed.The next subtlety is to plant in frozen soil, not cold soil. Preparation of the landing site (digging of grooves and holes, mixing) is carried out in September, and with the onset of cold weather the seeds will fall into them.

Seed selection

The seed fund of plants is selected based on the color scheme and variety (if purchased). Or they use seeds collected in the fall from their plantings, selecting large and healthy ones. The ability to germinate remains up to 3 years. Treatment with a stimulant (soaking in water) increases the chances of pipping, at the same time reducing the time for the appearance of the first shoots by 5-7 days.

The varieties most often chosen are Lulu, Golden Gem, Gnome, Bonanza Orange, Flame, Carmen, Antigua or Kilimanjaro.

Selecting a location

It depends on the location whether the seeds will sprout, develop into full-fledged plants, or die. It is advisable that this be a site with a slight slope, not too saturated with moisture. The soil will most likely have to be replaced with a complex composition. This will increase the permeability of the mixture and allow you to get rid of excess water (melt or during irrigation).

If you didn’t manage to plant it right away in a sunny, open place – no problem. Marigolds can be replanted after they have taken root, put out leaves and strengthened the root system.

Sowing process

Before sowing, plants determine its timing: whether it will be winter or spring. Also, depending on the choice made, they plan to plant them in open ground, immediately at a “permanent place of residence” or in planting pots, so that later, when the seedlings are formed, they can be moved to a flower bed.

In open ground

Standard planting in open ground involves 2 options. Which one the gardener likes is up to him to decide. Is it spring sowing or autumn sowing.

To implement the first method, select a suitable time (one when the night temperature does not fall below plus 5 degrees). At first, the plants are planted shallow. Be sure to keep a distance of one and a half to two centimeters between future bushes. When planted sparsely, marigolds will begin to grow, become long and flaccid, and if planted too often, they will choke each other. The planted seeds are sprinkled with a layer of soil (up to 1 centimeter) and watered.

It is advisable not to overdo it with the water regime so that the seedlings do not rot. After pecking the first 2-3 leaves, replanting with burial in the ground is allowed.

Pre-winter sowing of plants is different in that the seeds are placed in frozen, cold soil. They take 2 times more, taking into account possible losses. Fresh plantings are covered with a layer of soil and mulched. In the spring, the hatched sprouts are planted, moved to a new place or thinned out.

In pots

In addition to the well-known methods of planting marigolds directly into the soil, others are used in gardening practice. Plant the plants in pots (in early spring), wait for them to develop normally, and then send them to the flowerbed in May. The method is essentially simple and does not require deep knowledge or excessive expenditure of effort. It is necessary to provide future bushes with warmth and light, as well as regular, but not excessive watering.

Planting dates vary depending on the variety. Straight large-flowered or thin-leaved ones are planted in early March, rejected ones - in the same month, but towards the end. If these conditions are met, marigolds will bloom in May-June.

When cultivating seedlings, it is important not to miss the moment when they outgrow (start to bloom). Such bushes are reluctant to take root in a new place. The situation can be corrected by mechanically removing the buds.

How to care for marigolds during cultivation

Caring for seedlings consists of carefully observing the light regime, obtaining sufficient heat, and timely watering. Weak, rotten shoots are removed, and at the same time (if necessary) thinning is carried out. Once the seeds are sown, the pots are placed in a shaded place with a constant temperature of 18-20 degrees. You can use film or cover with a sheet of plastic, periodically opening the boxes for ventilation.

When sprouts appear, the marigold seedlings are moved to a brighter place (on the windowsill), not forgetting to protect them from direct sunlight. The temperature in this case is 17-18 degrees Celsius. These are optimal indicators so that the seedlings do not burn or rot.

It is allowed to “walk” marigold seedlings, take them out into the fresh air, trying to protect them from drafts. Feeding is welcome, there should be several of them. Plants are watered sparingly to prevent root rot and the development of fungi and mold.

Watering and fertilizing

When watering growing marigolds, it is important not to overdo it. Plants should receive enough liquid, but not excessively. To avoid water accumulation, it is useful to use a box with a tray or periodically drain the excess after watering. For additional nutrition of marigolds, complex preparations (water-soluble) are used.

When feeding for the first time, it is permissible to use Kristalon (green), a modern universal means for plant nutrition. It is carried out approximately 10-14 days after the seedlings emerge. 5-6 days before the planned planting in the ground, marigold seedlings are once again watered with a solution of yellow Crystalon.

This step will help relieve stress and have a positive effect on strengthening the roots of marigolds. After the seedlings have taken root, they are also fed.It is advised not to do this very often, so that the plants do not grow at the expense of flowering.

Despite the fact that the plant is an unpretentious plant that makes good use of the nutrients contained in the soil, an additional dose of fertilizer will not harm it. It is only important not to exceed the dose.

Weeding and loosening of rows

Experienced gardeners know the benefits of loosening plantings: this way the roots are provided with oxygen in the required quantity. Marigolds are not an exception, but a confirmation of this simple rule. Only they can combine loosening with weeding, destruction of weeds and weak shoots.

While the marigold seedlings are not yet strong, they are susceptible to the influence of unwanted pest neighbors. Gradually, as they grow, marigolds will learn to protect themselves. All that remains is to regularly loosen the beds and break up soil lumps.

Preparing for winter

If you do not plan to collect seeds, move the marigolds to another site, they are able to survive the winter. The plants are covered with film and sprinkled with leaves and small branches. For the mild southern winter of Central Russia, this will be enough to preserve the marigolds until spring. When preparing a plant “for seeds,” marigold bushes are dug up, transferred to a warm, dry place, where they are kept until the stems darken.

Disease and pest control

The tart aroma of flowering marigolds guarantees protection against fungal pathogens, so they can be used as a prophylactic to ensure the safety of nearby garden plantings.

But the plants themselves are vulnerable to pests and diseases. If there is insufficient watering, there is a possibility of spider mites appearing.Excessive moisture in marigolds is accompanied by rot and fungal development.

It is treated in the opposite way: dryness - by moistening and spraying, rot - by drying, transferring to a warm place. If slugs or snails appear on plants, it is better to refrain from treating with chemicals in order to avoid the flowers falling off the marigolds.

Gray rot occurs when marigolds are cold or in a damp, excessively humid atmosphere. Signs of the disease are wet, spotted brown formations. It is recommended to immediately isolate diseased plants and then destroy them so as not to harm healthy ones.

“Spoiled” marigolds can be used to repel pests: if you throw them into compost, then midges and parasites will never appear there.

Combination of marigolds with other plants

Marigolds make wonderful flower beds, forming carpet paths and entire areas in combination with begonias, asters, cineraria or ageratum. In addition to their decorative purpose, marigolds perform a very real function: they protect garden areas from the penetration of pests, scaring them away from plants with their smell. The bright, yellow-red inflorescences of Chernobrivtsev go well with purple, blue or light blue asters.

Collection and storage of marigold seeds

Chernobrivtsi are annual plants, but their existence can be easily extended if you collect them, save the seeds, and then sow them again. Inflorescences in plants are female and bisexual. The latter do not require additional pollination and produce the most seeds. At the same time, the qualities of velvety and terry petals are obtained from “female” seeds. The choice of source for obtaining plant seed depends on this.

The average ripening time for marigold seeds is 40 days or more.As soon as the inflorescences begin to turn yellow and the stems of the plant turn brown, the “harvest” can be harvested. To do this, cut the marigold flowers, being careful not to damage them, then pour the seeds into a bag or envelope. Collection is carried out in dry, windless weather. Storage is carried out in a warm place with normal humidity to avoid rotting of marigold seeds. They are stored for several years, fully retaining their properties.