Tagetes are easy to sow and propagate yourself. As early as February you can plant the attractive summer flowers in a bright place in the apartment or in the air-conditioned greenhouse. As soon as the small plants have reached a height of ten centimeters, it is time to prick them out so that they can develop well.
When and how should you prick marigolds?
Tagetes need to be pricked out as soon as they are about 10 cm tall and have developed their first real leaves. Pricking out gives the plants enough space and nutrients for he althy growth. Use a pricking stick, individual pots and seeding soil for the process.
Why does pricking have to be done?
If you have sown the marigold over a wide area and many seeds have sprouted, after a while it will become too narrow for the plants. They would compete for space and nutrients in the growing container, so ultimately only the strongest plants survive.
The small student flowers themselves show you when to prick. Once the first “real” leaves have developed after the cotyledons, this is the optimal time for this care measure.
Separate marigolds professionally
You will need the following materials for this work:
- a special pricking stick (€2.00 on Amazon), alternatively a wooden handle that is not too thick is also suitable
- Individual pots or connected pot plates from the garden trade
- Sowing soil that can be mixed with a little potting soil
Carefully remove the seedlings from the soil by pressing the pricking stick into the substrate next to the seedlings and carefully lifting the small plants out of the soil along with the tiny root ball. You can shorten very long root threads slightly with scissors. This stimulates the formation of a strong root ball.
Place the offspring in the new container significantly deeper than before. Press the substrate a little so that the isolated marigolds have a secure hold. Watering is done with a sprayer, as a sharp jet of water could damage the delicate plants. A cover that ensures a warm, humid greenhouse climate is no longer necessary.
Moving to the open air
Before planting, it is important to slowly get the marigold used to the changed conditions outdoors. On mild days, place the small marigolds in a shady spot on the terrace to make it easier for them to get used to it.
Tip
If you have enough space, you can use medium-sized flower pots to grow the marigolds yourself. Only put three to five marigold seeds in each. This saves you having to prick.
