The marigold not only looks beautiful, it is also used for soil improvement and snail control. No wonder, then, that the pretty flowering plant is one of the most popular perennials. You can buy the marigolds relatively inexpensively in gardening shops. But it is much more fun to sow and grow the flowering plants yourself.
The seeds for sowing can be collected after flowering in the fall
The seed collection
You can get marigold seeds from specialist retailers. Alternatively, you can use the seeds that are in the withered flowers. Therefore, do not remove everything that has faded during the summer, but let some flower heads dry out, from which you can get the seeds for the next tagetes generation. Store the well-dried seeds in labeled paper bags until next spring.
Sow marigolds
Since the marigold is very sensitive to ground frost, the marigold should only be sown outdoors in very mild regions after the ice saints. It is safer to grow in planters, which does not take much time and is sure to succeed thanks to the high germination capacity of the marigold. The right time for sowing is the beginning of March.
Procedure for sowing
In addition to the marigold seeds, you need numerous small cultivation vessels and a substrate that is as nutrient-poor as possible. Special potting soil or unfertilized coconut fibers are well suited. If you use soil that is too nutrient-rich, for example conventional potting soil, the plants will grow too quickly. The stems of the young plants are then hardly resilient and buckle under the weight of the second or third pair of leaves.
Proceed as follows when sowing:
- Fill the seed pots with soil and press them down lightly.
- Distribute marigold seeds on the substrate.
- Do not cover with substrate, or at best cover it very thinly, since the marigold needs light to germinate.
- Moisten gently with a sprayer to avoid washing away the seeds.
- Cover the culture vessel with a hood or a clear plastic bag.
- Air daily. If this is not done, there is a risk of mold and rot.
- Water regularly.
Under these conditions, the marigold germinates very quickly and the first shoots often appear after just one to two weeks.
pricking
Since the marigold is sown flat, the small plants must be pricked out as soon as the second or third pair of leaves appear. Continue caring for the plants until after the ice saints in a bright but not full sun spot on the windowsill.
Planting outdoors
So that the small marigolds can get used to the changed outdoor conditions, you should place them on the terrace or balcony on warm days and bring them back inside overnight. As soon as there is no more threat of night frost, you can plant the marigolds in the flower bed.
tips
The marigold loves full sun. However, it also thrives in semi-shade.