Tagetes are extremely popular summer flowers that enrich every perennial border with their bright orange-red flower heads. The easy-care and very robust marigold can easily be grown from the seeds collected from the previous year.
Marigolds are best grown from seeds
Harvesting marigold seeds
The faded heads of the marigold shrivel up into brown seed tubes. Each tube contains a rod-shaped seed, which can be easily removed after further drying.
Alternatively, you can buy seeds from specialist retailers. Marigolds come in many different varieties that bloom in different colors. The color spectrum ranges from a delicate yellow to dark, brownish orange.
Prefer the marigold
The marigold can be grown in a bright spot in the apartment from the end of February. Proceed as follows when sowing:
- Fill the growing containers with nutrient-poor growing soil.
- Scatter the seeds loosely and press down a little.
- Since the marigold is a light germinator, they are not covered with soil.
- Moisten carefully with a spray device so that the seeds are not washed away.
- Cover the growing vessel with a hood or a clear plastic bag to create a greenhouse climate.
- Don't forget to air it every day. This prevents the formation of mold and rot.
Place the pots in a light and moderately warm place, around 18 to 20 degrees is ideal. The marigold germinates quite willingly and the first cotyledons often appear after just one to two weeks.
When the second pair of leaves appears, the small marigolds should be pricked out. As a result, the plants thrive more vigorously and do not compete with each other for space.
Sow marigolds outdoors
After the first night frosts, you can also sow the marigolds directly outdoors. However, marigolds grown indoors bloom much faster and are more resilient.
tips
Tagetes prefer nutrient-rich soil. Therefore, enrich the site soil outdoors with compost before planting. This ensures particularly lush flowering and vigorous growth.