No annual is more cheerful or easier to perform in your garden than Marigolds. These striking flowers are easy to grow and turn your garden into a colourful paradise from summer to autumn.
The popular types of marigolds for garden planting are all annuals, but they eagerly seed themselves and will be back the following year! Plant sizes may vary due to growing conditions and climate.
Marigolds are also popular as companion plants in the vegetable garden as they guard your vegetables against a variety of pests. They deter nematodes in the soil, as well as flying pests.
In addition, they attract bees and Lady Bugs.
Planting Marigolds
Marigolds need full sun. They can be easily grown with seed in spring, but seedlings from Greenside Nursery will ensure instant colour in your garden after the winter.
Marigolds do not require very fertile soil. Add a light application of organic fertiliser before planting. Plant at least 20 cm apart for dwarf varieties and 30 cm apart for tall varieties.
Greenside Nursery’s stunning Marigold ‘Malanseuns Giant Yellow’ produces large, yellow flowers from summer to autumn. They grow up to approximately 25 cm tall.
Pinch back the stems and this will produce more side branching and a sturdier plant.
Marigolds work just as well in containers on their own or mixed with other plants. Plant a second batch in summer to ensure that your autumn garden remains colourful.
Marigolds are fuss-free, quick-growing, and cope even during the hottest time of the year.
Watering
Marigolds do not need lots of water. Be careful not to over-water.
Caring for Marigold
Marigolds need very little care, but it is important to deadhead spent Marigold flowers to ensure continuous flowering. It is not necessary to fertilise Marigolds. On the contrary, soil that is too nutritious will encourage more foliage with fewer flowers. Marigolds are susceptible to frost.
Companion plants
Marigolds make excellent companion plants to keep pests away. And your veggie patch will burst with colour. Plant Marigolds with tomato, cabbage, squash, pumpkin, cucumber, melon, cauliflower, kale, potatoes, beans, orange, lime and lemon. They are excellent for repelling root-knot nematodes.
Medicinal qualities
Besides being a pest-deterrent, Marigolds also possess a number of medicinal properties. It has natural antiseptic properties and when applied to the skin, it reduces inflammation, redness, sensitivity, dryness and swelling.
Marigold essential oil is used as an antifungal treatment. The leaves of some varieties are also edible and can be used in salads. In the food and textile industry, colour is extracted from the Marigold petals and used as food and textile dye.
Marigold dried flowers are used in some countries as a substitute for saffron.
Visit Greenside Nursery to get your marvellous Marigold seedlings and advice on how to plant and care for them.