Many annual or non-hardy plants in the garden develop seeds during the summer that you can collect and use for breeding. This also applies to the marigold, which produces many seeds that germinate very well and are therefore ideal for propagating marigolds.
How can I harvest marigold seeds?
To harvest marigold seeds, allow the flower heads to dry on the plant in autumn. Break off the dried heads and dry them on kitchen paper for a week. Shake the seeds in a closed freezer bag and separate them from the pods using a sieve.
When are the seeds harvested?
So that the marigold continually produces new flowers, it is advisable to cut off the dead parts of the plant as quickly as possible. The optimal time for harvesting seeds is therefore autumn. Don't remove any dead flowers anymore, instead let the flower heads of the marigold flower dry on the plant. The elongated, black seeds of the marigold are contained in small seed tubes, on the top of which there are often dried petals when harvested.
How to harvest?
If you want to collect the seeds, follow these steps:
- Break off the dried head from the stem.
- Store the flowers on some kitchen paper for about a week until they are completely dry.
- Put the seeds in a freezer bag, inflate it a little and close it tightly.
- Shake the garbage bag vigorously for a minute to loosen the seeds from the flower heads.
- Empty the seeds into a coarse sieve placed on a plate. This causes the seeds to separate from the pods.
Of course, you can also pluck the seeds from the tubes by hand. However, this is tedious and quite time-consuming for larger quantities.
How to store marigold seeds?
The well-dried seeds should be stored cool and protected from light. Paper sandwich bags are suitable as packaging because, unlike plastic bags, they are breathable. This prevents the seeds from forming mold. The bags are also easy to label.
Be careful with cultivated varieties
It is not always guaranteed that home-grown student flowers will have exactly the same flower colors and growth heights as their parents. Nevertheless, breeding is worthwhile, as many marigold young plants can be grown very cheaply from the seeds you collect yourself.
Tip
In mild regions you can sow the marigold directly into the flower bed. It also germinates well there and quickly grows into strong plants.
