Add Colour To Your Landscape With Marigolds

By Jos Van Hage

One of the more popular bedding plants for local gardeners is Marigolds (tagetes).

They are easy to grow, and rarely bothered by pests or disease, and bloom continually throughout the summer until the first fall frost. The leaves are finely divided and ferny and often are strongly scented when crushed. Native to Mexico and South America they are members of the Daisy family and have many different varieties and types to suit any garden area.  If you are looking for bright color in your landscape I do not think that there are any other annual that have as many shades of red, orange and yellow.

Marigolds are a strong sturdy plant that can withstand rain, wind, heat, and sun. They grow best in full sun with average soil conditions and are able to withstand some drought for a short spell once they have been established. They are an easy to grow plant and need very little care but for more continuous bloom the old finished flowers should be removed so that the plant puts all its energies into producing new blooms.

The plants are available in the spring (May) in the bedding plant section of the garden center however if you want to start your own plants from seed they are an easy plant to start. It is best to start the seeds indoors 6-10 weeks (depending on variety) before transplanting them outdoors so that you have a good sized plant ready to bloom by the end of May after all risk of frost has passed.

Seeds germinate in a week so I would start them towards the end of March beginning of April. 

Marigold varieties have been divided into 3 groups:

1.  The African Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) consist of the tall varieties growing 40-90 cm in height with large globe-shaped flowers that tend to be twice the size of the French marigold varieties. They make good cut flowers. Some of the African Marigold varieties are:

• Cracker Jack
• Antigua
• Inca

2.  The next group is the French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and these are shorter growing 15-45 cm tall. Flowers are 3-8 cm across and come in shades of yellow, orange, mahogany, red and bicolored and range from fully double to single. Varieties
in this group make great border plants and include:

• Little Hero
• Bonanza
• Bounty
• Safari
• Disco

3.  The third group is the Dwarf Signet Marigolds (Tagetes tennuifolia) (some gardeners know them as Tagetes) and
these are identified by their fine fern-like foliage which has a lemon fragrance. The plant produces large masses of small flowers growing 2.5 cm across and is single and come in either yellow or golden orange. Flowers are edible and have a spicy tarragon flavor.  These Dwarf Signet marigolds grow 15-20 cm tall making them excellent for borders, rock gardens and
containers. They grow well in poor soil and in hot areas of the garden but do not like to go dry but do not need to be deadheaded making them a low care plant. The varieties available are:

• Lemon Gem
• Golden Gem
  
  

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