The marigold not only looks beautiful, it also improves the soil and combats snails. So it's no wonder that the pretty flowering plant is one of the most popular perennials. You can buy marigolds relatively inexpensively from gardening stores. But it's much more fun to sow and grow the flowering plants yourself.
When and how are marigolds sown?
Tagetes can be sown in nutrient-poor substrate in small cultivation containers from the beginning of March. They are light germinators and require covered containers for regular watering. Young plants should be pricked out after the second pair of leaves and planted outdoors after the ice saints.
Seed collection
Marigold seeds are available from specialist retailers. Alternatively, you can use the seeds that are in the wilted flowers. Therefore, do not remove everything that has faded during the summer, but rather allow a few flower heads to dry out, from which you can get the seeds for the next generation of marigolds. Store the well-dried seeds in labeled paper bags until next spring.
Sowing marigolds
Since the marigold is very sensitive to ground frost, the marigold should only be sown directly outdoors after the ice saints in very mild regions. It is safer to grow in planters, which does not take a lot of time and is successful thanks to the high germination capacity of the hourflower flower. The right time to sow is the beginning of March.
Sowing procedure
In addition to the marigold seeds, you will need numerous small cultivation containers (€9.00 on Amazon) as well as substrate that is as low in nutrients as possible. Special potting soil or unfertilized coconut fiber are well suited. If you use soil that is too nutrient-rich, such as conventional potting soil, the plants will grow too quickly. The stems of the young plants are then hardly resistant and bend over due to the weight of the second or third pair of leaves.
When sowing, proceed as follows:
- Fill the cultivation containers with soil and press them down lightly.
- Distribute marigold seeds on the substrate.
- Do not cover with substrate or cover it very thinly, as the marigold is a light germinator.
- Wet carefully with a sprayer so that the seeds are not washed away.
- Cover the cultivation container with a hood or a clear plastic bag.
- Air daily. If this is not done, there is a risk of mold and rot.
- Water regularly.
Under these conditions, the marigold germinates very quickly and the first shoots often appear after just one to two weeks.
Pricking
Since the marigold is sown over a large area, the small plants must be pricked out as soon as the second or third pair of leaves appear. Continue to care for the plants until after the Ice Saints in a bright but not full sun place on the windowsill.
Planting outdoors
So that the small student flowers can get used to the changed conditions outdoors, you should put them on the terrace or balcony on warm days and bring them back into the house overnight. As soon as there is no longer any risk of night frosts, you can plant the marigolds in the flower bed.
Tip
The marigold loves full sun locations. However, it also thrives in partial shade.