Gardens

Long Blooming Marigolds
Marigolds add brilliant color to your landscape from spring till late fall and can also get rid of some destructive garden pests.

by Sid Mullis

Perhaps the best thing about marigolds is they will thrive and bloom prolifically in this region up to seven months out of the year.

VARIETIES

Though they are most widely known for their yellow and orange blooms, marigolds are also available in various shades of maroon and white. Depending on the variety, heights range from six inches to three feet with flower sizes available from tiny, half-inch single blooms to huge, four- to five-inch doubles.

Generally you'll find marigolds in your seed catalogue or garden center divided into three categories: French, African and triploid. French marigolds are small bushy plants that grow six to 12 inches tall, with blooms up to two inches across appearing in a dense arrangement of "rays" in yellow, orange and a unique bronze color. This variety blooms continuously from planting in spring until the first frost.

African marigolds, also called American marigolds, produce tall stout plants that grow to a height of three feet. They feature larger blossoms with a shorter blooming period than their French cousins. You can remove faded flowers to encourage a second flush of blooms.

Triploid marigolds are sterile hybrids obtained by crossing the French with the American species. Since they are sterile they produce flowers in profusion over a longer period of time. They have impressive three-inch flower heads in clear warm colors of gold, yellow, red and russet.

One thing all marigolds have in common is a distinctive fragrance, earning it the inelegant nickname of "stinking Roger." Since they derive their fragrance from the entire plant, not just the bloom, their is little variation in strength of aroma from one variety to the next.

If flowers are to be planted in a place where the fragrance is an issue, odorless cultivars, such as Sweet 'n Gold, Sweet 'n Yellow and Odorless Mixed, are available. They are, however, generally available only in a few mail order seed catalogues.

CULTIVATING MARIGOLDS

Marigolds may be grown from seed or bedding plants. If you choose to grow from seed, start them approximately 50 to 60 days in a greenhouse before the last frost. You may also sow them directly in on the ground if you wait till after the last frost and when the ground has warmed to about 70 degrees, usually by May. After the plants have germinated, thin them to the proper spacing for your particular cultivar.

Site selection is an important consideration. They will tolerate full sun or partial shade. But when planted in too much shade, they will not bloom well. As a rule of thumb, they will probably need a minimum of six hours of full sun daily.

According to Cold Creek Nurseries green house manager Alan Maclay, good soil is helpful but not essential. "They can be planted in your basic garden soil. But if you can, enrich it with compost."

Plants should be fertilized while they are growing and Maclay recommends several options. "You can fertilize with a basic household plant food. I also recommend using a timed-release bedding type fertilizer. Ferti-Lome offers a pansy and bedding plant food that is timed release. There is also Osmocote," he says. You can also use a general garden fertilizer such as 5-10-15.

Fertilize monthly using a half-cup per square yard of planted area. Be careful not to over do it because a soil that is too rich can result in excess foliage and not enough flowers.

Keep them well watered, but not overwatered as this can result in disease problems. Depending on the soil type, established marigolds normally need watering every three to five rainless days.

During the growing season, most marigolds need to be deadheaded (the process of removing faded flowers from the plant before they go to seed). If you want to avoid deadheading, Signet variety marigolds are a good choice. Their blooms are small and the fading flowers are quickly covered by fresh blooms. You may also grow any of the triploid varieties, which don't set viable seed.

PESTS

Marigolds are subject to far fewer insect and disease problems than most annual flowers, but slugs can be a problem, particularly during wet weather. Probably the number one enemy of marigolds is spider mites. Simply spraying the plants with water occasionally during dry periods will cut down on mite numbers. For minor damage spray with a miticide rather than an insecticide.

Because marigolds attract mites, they are often planted in vegetable gardens to protect the veggies. "A lot of organic gardeners and old timers know the trick that if you are going to have a vegetable garden, you plant marigolds off to the side because that is where all your spider mites will go and they will leave your vegetables alone for the most part," Maclay says.

Marigolds also reduce nematode populations that feed on plant roots, particularly in vegetable gardens. As a matter of fact, University of Georgia research has shown that you can indeed reduce nematode numbers because their roots contain a chemical that is toxic to them. If this is your goal, plant Tangerine, Petite Gold, Petite Harmony, Goldie and Nemogold varieties.

For best results, plant them closely spaced in a solid block or try planting half your garden in marigolds. Alternate rows of marigolds with rows of vegetables and the next year reverse the order. Think of it as doing something good for your soil while beautifying your garden.

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

There are many good uses for marigolds in the landscape. Dwarf varieties are excellent for edging walkways, flower beds and borders. They are also perfect for containers, where they combine well with other plants. Intermediates (12- to 24-inch) are appropriate for mass plantings and mixed flower borders. Tall cultivars are ideal planted in rows in the vegetable garden or in a cutting garden.

Don't forget to plant marigolds in your fall garden, a season in which they are often overlooked. Hardy annuals such as pansies and chrysanthemums are a good choice for fall, but don't be afraid to include the brilliant yellow and gold of marigolds.

It is hard to pinpoint the exact time for planting fall marigolds, but a good rule of thumb is in late August and early September, earlier if planting from seed. Though shorter lived than a spring planting, you can still enjoy their color all the way into November.

So the next time you're planning your spring and fall flower gardens, don't overlook the simple marigold. Bloom for bloom you'll find they are likely to give you more bang for your buck.