MARIGOLD RED GEM

With hundreds of petite mahogany crimson flowers with lovely lacy green foliage, these beautiful Tagetes are perfect for pots and bedding and are particularly useful for underplanting tomatoes to protect again green and whitefly. The leaves are edible and the flowers make an attractive garnish too. 12”. HA.

Marigolds, or Tagetes are versatile, easy to grow and easy to care for. They enjoy full sun and grow well in both dry or moist soils. Their hardiness adds to their appeals as bedding plants and container plants.

There are four different types of Marigold Flowers. African Marigolds, which tend to be tall; French Marigolds which tend to be dwarf; Triploid multi-coloured Marigolds, which are a hybrid between African and French types; and Single Marigolds, which have long stems and resemble daisies.

Sometimes Calendulas are called ‘Pot Marigolds’ but they are not related to the Tagetes that most people know as marigolds.

Sow Marigold seeds from February to March in trays or pots filled with damp potting mix. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite and cover the pot or tray with plastic to maintain moisture levels. Place the tray in a warm spot. 65-70F is ideal, and germination should occur within 7 to 10 days.

Once the marigold seedlings appear, remove the plastic cover and position the tray to a location where the seedlings will get at least 5 hours of light daily. Keep the potting mix damp by watering from below. This will help to prevent damping off.

Once the seedlings have 2 sets of true leaves, they can be transplanted to their own pots where they can grow indoors under light until after the last frost has passed.