marigold, (genus Tagetes), genus of about 50 species of annual herbs of the aster family (Asteraceae), native to southwestern North America, tropical America, and South America. The name marigold also refers to the pot marigold (genus Calendula) and unrelated plants of several families.
Growing marigolds from seed is relatively easy and rewarding. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Materials Needed:
- Marigold or Calendula seeds
- Seed trays, small pots (or some bare ground)
- Seed-starting mix, light potting soil( or a bit of bare ground)
- Watering can, spray bottle (or rain)
- Plastic wrap or a humidity dome (optional)
- Fertilizer (optional and seriously unnecessary)
- Garden bed, larger pots (or a bit of bare ground, even a spot of soil where absolutely nothing else wants to grow) for transplanting (because almost all of your seeds are going to germinate!)
- Glass Jar
- EVOO Olive Oil
- Yogurt Maker
- Seed Saving Envelopes
Note: I have included Amazon affiliate links to each item on the Materials Needed list above. Although I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase any of them, I have included them because they are all quality Items that I do or would choose to use.
Steps:
- Timing:
- Start your marigold seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. If planting directly outdoors, wait until after the last frost.
- Timing EASY WAY: Toss your marigold seeds where you want them to grow what ever time of year it is. They know when to germinate.
- Preparing the Soil:
- Fill your seed trays or small pots with a seed-starting mix or a light potting soil. Make sure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
- Preparing the Soil EASY WAY: Choose a patch of bare ground that will receive some sunlight and rain.
- Sowing the Seeds:
- Sprinkle the marigold seeds evenly on the surface of the soil. Lightly press them into the soil with your fingers or cover them with a thin layer (about ¼ inch) of soil, as they need light to germinate.
- Sowing the Seeds the EASY WAY: Scatter the marigold seeds on the patch of bare ground. Lightly press them into the soil with your fingers or cover them with a thin layer (about ¼ inch) of soil, as they need light to germinate.
- Watering:
- Gently water the soil using a spray bottle or a watering can with a fine rose attachment. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Covering (Optional):
- To maintain humidity, you can cover the seed trays with plastic wrap or a humidity dome. Remove the cover as soon as the seeds start to germinate.
- Germination:
- Place the seed trays in a warm, sunny spot or under grow lights. Marigold seeds typically germinate within 5-7 days.
- Germination the EASY WAY: The seeds will germinate when they are good and ready. Like bringing a pot of water to boil, if you stand there waiting for it to do it’s thing, it is going to feel like it is taking forever!
- Caring for Seedlings:
- Once the seedlings have a set of true leaves, thin them out to avoid overcrowding, leaving the strongest seedlings. Continue to keep the soil moist and provide plenty of light.
- Caring for Seedlings the EASY WAY: Leave them until they get a bit bigger and then thin them, transplanting the thinned ones into areas where you want a splash of golden color.
- That is how I got them to grow on the edges of our black top driveway where the heat had absolutely killed everything else that previously attempted to grow in those spots, including pesky weeds!
- Transplanting:
- When the seedlings are large enough to handle and after the danger of frost has passed, transplant them outdoors into well-draining soil. Space them about 8-18 inches apart, depending on the variety.
- the EASY WAY: You have already accomplished this step! Go YOU!!
- Ongoing Care:
- Marigolds thrive in full sun and should be watered regularly but allowed to dry out between waterings. Fertilize lightly if desired.
- the EASY WAY: I completely ignore mine and they grow like weeds, very pretty weeds 😉
- Deadheading:
- To encourage continuous blooming, pinch of spent flowers regularly.
- STOP! YOU MUST NOT WASTE THOSE SPENT FLOWERS! When you deadhead, which simply means to cut off the less than fresh blossoms, collect those flowers for the making an skin loving oil infusion!
- Saving the Deadheads:
- Let the cut blossoms dry out completely. Pull the flowers out of their green cup-shaped base. Discard the base (I toss these outside to decompose). Place the tops into a glass jar. When the jar is full, cover it with some good quality olive oil and you will have started your very own skin loving marigold / calendula infusion!
- Nurturing the Oil Infusion: Place the glass jar into a window sill or other sunny spot. Give it a gentle shake every few days for two moon cycles (fancy way of saying a couple of months). Sometimes I will give my oil infusions a “quick start” by placing the jar into a yogurt maker for 24 hours before placing it in a window sill.
- Using the Oil Infusion: Many people like to strain their infusion at this point. Personally, I rarely strain a botanical oil infusion until I am using it. When you are ready to use your Calendula Oil Infusion, so ahead and strain it using a sterile stainless steel colander or cheese cloth. I prefer the colander as it is not only faster but also allows more of the botanicals to filter through.
- Saving the Seeds:
- At the end of the season, allow the flowers to die and dry on the plant. It may not look pretty but it will reward you with plenty of seeds to repeat the whole process! Simply pull the completely dead and dry blossoms out of their base and store them in a dry place until ready to plant. Check out the materials list to see the small seed saving envelopes I use.
- Ta-Dah! Now you are an herbalist and a seed saver!
Physical description
Members of the genus Tagetes have attractive yellow, orange, or red composite flowers that are solitary on the stems or clustered. The leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stem and are usually finely cut. Characteristic bracts (leaflike structures) form a cup-shaped base below each flowerhead.
With these steps, you should be able to grow vibrant and healthy marigolds! Let me know if you have any questions!
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