How to Grow Marigolds

Marigolds are annual flowers that are easy to grow from seed and resilient. They can be grown in the garden, in containers, and they play a role in Companion Planting. Some even have edible flowers! Learn how to grow Marigolds from seed, and they will earn a place in your garden every year.

Latin
Tagetes patula, T. erecta, & T. tennuifolia
Family: Asteraceae

Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun

Timing
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow 2 weeks before last frost. 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 prevents tall, spindly plants. Dead head regularly throughout the growing season.

Companion Planting
French Marigolds (Tagetes patula) produce chemicals that kill soil nematodes and repel whitefly. Avoid planting them near beans. Mexican Marigolds (T. minuta) have the same effect, and may repel rabbits.