Well, who has not heard about Chernobrivtsy, beloved by our mothers and grandmothers - marigold flowers? They decorate flower beds, delight the eye in squares and parks, are frequent guests in the garden, palisade, and areas adjacent to shops. Marigolds are very famous for their varied bright colors, they have a pleasant specific smell that many insect garden pests do not like.
The scope of this plant is very wide: they are used to decorate decorative panels on the walls of the facades of houses, loggias, balconies, they also grow well in flower beds and flower beds. They look good when making a decorative landscape in the architectural design of the design of the plots.
How to grow marigolds?
Marigolds are very picky in their care, it is not without reason that the glory of one of the most unpretentious flowers that are grown artificially has strengthened behind them. They can grow in any land. But they love bright places, waterlogging of the soil is undesirable. not frequent, which can be combined with top dressing with mineral fertilizers, diluting fertilizers in water.
Often gardeners practice planting marigolds between beds or near a greenhouse.
- Having a specific smell, this plant repels harmful insects. Marigolds can grow in flower beds, special containers, flowerpots and even shallow pots decorating walls or loggias.
All varieties of flowers can be sown in open ground with seeds. To do this, it is best to purchase seeds in specialized outlets. With further breeding, there will be enough of those seeds that cause after seed maturation. But be sure to consider: if you use the seeds of the same plants for several years, they may lose the properties of the original variety, and will not look like the variety that you purchased.
There are two ways to sow and grow:
- pre-grown seedlings;
- sowing seeds directly into the ground;
The choice of growing method may depend on growing factors: what time the flowers are needed, the duration of flowering, the required amount, weather conditions and growing conditions.
When to plant marigolds in open ground? Remember: night temperatures should not fall below 5 degrees. Usually it is the end of April in regions with a mild climate. You can plant seedlings in open ground until the end of May-beginning of June.
How to plant marigold seeds in open ground
When to plant marigolds in the ground with seeds? It all depends on the climate, the main thing is that at night there are no more frosts and the soil is ripe. Keep in mind that the seeds of Chernobrivtsy are not afraid of frost, and can even overwinter or endure sowing before winter. They just won't come up until the ground warms up. Still often worries many how many marigolds sprout. If the weather is warm, you have to wait two to three weeks before the first shoots appear.
We sow like this:
- The embedment depth is small, you can make grooves with a chopper or small holes, up to 5 cm deep.
- They strive to make the distance no closer than 10-15 cm between plants. But you can also sow with a continuous tape, and then transplant extra plants.
- We cover the seeds with earth using a rake.
- Watering.
On this, all the wisdom is over. However, you can slightly speed up flowering and improve the conditions of detention, more on that below.
When marigolds in open ground, consider the conditions that are necessary for the growth of young plants. Namely: the site should be well lit, they certainly tolerate the shadow, but still do not like it, reacting with a decrease in the abundance of flowering and stretching of the bushes, which causes their decorativeness to suffer.
To get marigolds without seedlings ...
- In the garden, they often strive to prepare a fertile, well-fertilized soil mixture with mineral and organic fertilizers, but this is not an urgent need: the flowers are so unpretentious that they can grow on the poorest soils, it is enough just to provide them with the necessary amount of moisture.
- They respond very well to watering, but drying out of the soil is fraught with trouble: the lower leaves dry up, and the bushes themselves stop growing, flowering is poor, inconspicuous.
- Flowers will bloom only one and a half to two months after sowing, this should be taken into account. Early sowing (mid-April) and germinating the seeds before planting will help to slightly reduce the time before the buds open and increase the flowering time. It is this method that experienced flower growers use.
To do this, it is enough to place the seeds in a shallow plate, cover with damp gauze folded in several layers, place in a plastic bag or wrap with a transparent film. After completing these procedures, place the plate in a warm, sunny place: one suitable place is a windowsill.
After two or three days, the seeds can be sown, having previously examined them for germination, healthy seeds should be swollen and with a slightly cracked peel. You can lightly dry the seeds in the sun for two or three hours until flowability, or do not wait, but mix with dry sand and sow with it.
Before planting, it is necessary to moisten the soil, make holes or grooves 4-5 cm deep. It is best to sow the seeds in a square-nest way, that is, the distance between the seeds should be 15-20 cm square. After the seeds have germinated, thinning should be done, leaving the healthiest seedlings.
For those who don't like extra action...
- it is quite possible to limit oneself to simple sowing of seeds in rows without any preparation and soaking. Chernobryvtsy will rise anyway and will develop beautifully. Just a week or two later. But still do not be lazy to water, no flowers grow without moisture!
How to grow marigold seedlings from seeds at home
When to plant marigolds for seedlings? To get flowering plants as early as June, it is necessary to prepare seedlings in advance, which will be planted immediately after the end of night frosts. Sowing dates begin from the end of February and shift until the end of March-mid-April.
You can prepare a nutritious soil mixture in the fall. Peat, turf land, humus and sand are mixed. Sand can be used river sand, but before adding it to the soil mixture, it is advisable to ignite it in the oven or treat it with potassium permanganate.
However, you can not bother yourself and just buy a ready-made flower substrate in which you can grow beautiful seedlings with strong trunks and spreading leaves.
How to grow seedlings of Chernobrivtsev on the windowsill:
- Needle seeds are easy to distribute evenly in the planting container, it is better to leave a distance of 3-4 cm so that the plants turn out powerful. Embedding depth 1 cm, two can be.
- You can immediately plant the seeds in separate cups, which will further simplify the task of transplanting to a permanent place. Marigolds get sick longer when the roots are damaged than the same asters, so it’s better not to disturb them once again. However, even withered bushes are accepted over time and take root perfectly.
- For quick germination, you can cover with a film or glass, creating a greenhouse effect. Marigolds take a long time to sprout, so be patient.
- When we see the first shoots, we open the greenhouse.
- You need to water regularly, but do not be zealous so that rot does not develop and the seedlings do not die. A simple wet state of the soil is enough.
- Do not overheat the air in the room where the seedlings grow. The temperature must be less than 25°C.
- If you notice that the seedlings are stretched out and have a pale color, it means that there is not enough light for them. You need to choose the sunny side of the apartment or organize additional lighting.
- If you really want to try, water the seedlings 1-2 times with a solution of complex fertilizer for flowers, with an interval of 10 days.
- Before planting for a couple of weeks, we begin to harden the seedlings, accustoming them to the sun, wind and coolness. Take it out to the balcony, loggia, threshold of the house. We gradually increase the time spent on the street, so that by the time of planting the plants are completely accustomed to the street.
At a height of 10-15 cm, marigold seedlings are ready for transplanting into open ground.
How to sow marigolds for seedlings video:
As you can see, everything is simple: the seeds are large enough, which allows you to plant them one by one in cups without any hassle and just water them until the time comes to transplant the seedlings to a permanent place.
Here's another interesting way: sowing marigolds in a snail on paper, the video will tell about this:
Well, probably even the laziest florist will find an acceptable way for himself and grow Chernobrivtsy for his flower bed!
Planting marigold seedlings in open ground
It's very simple:
- We prepare shallow holes so that a clod of earth fits completely into them.
- You can pre-pour water and put a handful of humus on the bottom.
- Carefully release the seedlings from the cups, install vertically, sprinkling with soil.
- We water so that the soil subsides, but the water does not stagnate.
- You can immediately mulch the surface with what is at hand. It can be last year's leaves, fresh grass, hay or needles from the forest.
- The distance between the holes depends on the selected variety. For undersized varieties, 10-15 cm is enough; for medium and tall varieties, leave more space, about 30-40 cm.
Chaotic look original, creating an unpretentious naturalness. We are all used to rows for a long time, they look boring and familiar. Create a composition, for example, by planting petunias in the foreground, and black-breasts in the background.
Another video on how to grow marigold seedlings, plant them in the ground and care for flowers:
Luxurious flower bed that does not require special care? Now you see that with marigolds it's easy!
Outdoor care
Plants are not demanding to care and do not require special costs and efforts. However, perhaps, like all cultivated plants, watering and weeding from weeds and tillage in the form of loosening are required.
How to water
Watering is necessary in moderation, but you cannot do without it, otherwise your flower bed will be covered with dried brooms, only the tops of which will be preserved. Especially if it's a hot summer. Do not rely only on rains, water at least once every three days, remembering to loosen the ground after watering to conserve moisture. Simultaneously with watering, top dressing can be carried out by diluting mineral and organic fertilizers in water.
In summer, when the weather is hot, to prevent the formation of a crust on the ground, watering is best done in the morning or evening after sunset. If watering is done during the day, then it is necessary to loosen the top layer of the earth.
Foliar and root top dressing
If the land is prepared correctly before planting, then the marigolds do not need additional feeding. If the plant shows that the development is rather weak, you can fertilize with complex fertilizers on the leaves.
It must be remembered that an overdose of fertilizers adversely affects plant growth. Mineral fertilizers are applied for the first time during the period of intensive plant growth, the second time when the first buds appear, and the third time before flowering.
Formation of bushes
It's very rare for anyone to bother with this. However, if you have time, you can give the marigolds a beautiful shape. Trim some extra branches from the main stem. This procedure will significantly improve the nutrition of the remaining buds. The optimal pruning time is summer, when you can already see how the buds are blooming. Buds with signs of any disease, small or withered, are also cut off. After the formation of the bush, the appearance of new additional branches of the stem stops.
Seed collection
For planting next year, it is enough to use seeds that can be collected from flowers grown on the site. To do this, just choose a bright and healthy bush, let it fully mature, then cut the buds and dry them. After that, the seeds will easily separate, you can store them in a paper bag. When using this method, it must be borne in mind that this will not affect the health of the plant itself, but you can get a different color of the baskets, different from the mother.
Pests and their control
Thanks to its natural properties, the plant not only protects itself from various infectious diseases, but also covers the surrounding area with special essential oils (expressed by a specific smell), which has antiseptic properties. Using this property, gardeners and gardeners plant marigolds next to vegetable beds and greenhouses, or in combination with other flowers.
Slugs and snails
To combat them, you can use special preparations that are purchased in stores, or use an old recipe: sprinkle the edges of the garden, if possible, and the entire garden, with dry ash. Having previously collected all the snails and slugs from the beds.
spider mite
When a spider mite appears, it is best to immediately eliminate the plants in order to prevent the spread of the disease to other bushes; to prevent the disease, in addition to special preparations, you can use folk recipes, for example, a mixture of yarrow with onion infusion.
Gray rot
This disease most often appears in wet weather, when morning fogs come and the earth does not have time to dry out. If this disease is detected, the plants must be removed and burned. the place must be treated with potassium permanganate, or spilled with boiling water, otherwise there will be a risk of infecting all plants and not only marigolds.
Marigolds in landscape design photo
Marigolds look very nice in compositions with ageratum
These flowers can be used in a wide variety of combinations to decorate a personal plot or flower bed.
This is all the more pleasant, because: unpretentiousness in care, various bright colors, a difference in growth height, an abundance of color, a long flowering period can be used almost unlimitedly.
Marigolds are great in single plantings and combined, they are planted in parks, on the curbs of footpaths, flowerpots for various recreation areas. They decorate balconies and loggias or even billboards, facade walls of houses.
Some flower growers recommend different planting dates for seedlings. In their opinion, tall varieties are suitable for the earliest planting date (approximately March), in April it is necessary to sow seeds of low-growing crops. Another option that deserves attention is the purchase of seedlings in specialized stores, which can be found in Internet sources.
When purchasing seedlings in specialized stores or special nurseries, seedlings are sold already germinated in special peat cups. Before you need to look at each leaflet for damage or foreign brown spots. Be sure to ask the seller about the conditions for planting and growing these seedlings, as they may differ from those described above.
Varieties of marigolds with photo names and descriptions
Marigold erect or African Tagetes erecta
Representatives of this species are annual plants that reach a height of up to 120 cm, some species grow up to only 30 cm. Gardeners use this seemingly shortcoming to create the illusion of an endless field of flowers.
Flowers of various sizes in compositions are good in flower beds, flower beds or specially created areas with enough land. Large baskets of flowers look good in bouquets. The stem on which the buds are held is hard and strong.
Cirrus leaves are arranged alternately, have a light green or green color. Flower buds are mostly double, spherical in shape, monochromatic shades from bright yellow to deep orange with dark edging. The species is undemanding to care, has good resistance to low temperatures and various diseases.
Varieties of upright marigolds:
Antigua- baskets in diameter from 8 to 10 cm. bright yellow or orange. It belongs to undersized varieties: the average flower height is from 20 to 30 cm.
kilimanjaro- a distinctive feature of this species is the light petals of flowers, there are white with cream shades. Grow up to 70 cm.
White marigolds erect variety Eskimo photo
Eskimo- this type of "Marigolds" have buds of white colors. Differs from Kilimanjaro in short stature. Grows up to 30 cm.
Aztec Lime Green- Marigolds with a hint of bud petals between white and brown. The variety is medium.
Marigold rejected
Marigolds rejected terry Carmen planting and care photo
One of the distinguishing features of this species is the presence on the stem of numerous shoots with small spherical baskets. It is this structure of the stem that makes it sprawling.
The height of the bush of this variety reaches 20 or 40 cm, that is, they can be different in height and volume of flower baskets.
The color palette of the buds can be two-tone, usually in the middle towards the edges there is a color change to yellow or red.
Varieties of rejected marigolds, popular in Russia:
lemon jam- low well-branched bushes with bright yellow, lemon flowers.
Carmen, undersized variety up to 20 cm, bushes well. Flower buds are small, up to three to four centimeters, the core is yellow, gradually turning to dark red along the extreme petals.
Queen Sofia. A distinctive feature is dark red petals, the edges shimmer with a bronze color, slightly terry in the form of an extract, they are distinguished by red petals, which have a slight shade of bronze along the edges. In the form of one row of petals, inflorescences are weakly double.
Tagetes tenuifolia
This is a less common marigold variety, but its difference from the rest is so great that it seems that this flower is of a completely different kind. The difference is that the trunk branches very strongly, and the baskets can be of different colors. Additional attraction is created by leaves, which are carved, long, narrow leaves in rosettes of which small multi-colored flowers are beautifully attached. The height of the trunk reaches 30 - 40 cm. The flower itself is small and resembles a chamomile in shape, there are a lot of them on a bushy trunk, which creates a bouquet of unique beauty. Petal colors can range from bright yellow to red or purple.
Varieties of thin-leaved marigolds:
Red Devil- profusely flowering variety with large blood-red flowers and rich green leaves. Stunning contrast is truly mesmerizing both in single plantings and in combination with colors of white, yellow, blue shades.
Red Gem- A medium-sized (up to 30 cm) plant with reddish petals framing a bright yellow center. They bloom until autumn frosts. Bushes well, care is not demanding.
Dwarf. The name itself indicates the low growth of the plant (up to 20 cm), the main trunk has many branches, resulting in a highly branched bush with numerous bright yellow flowers and a red core.
In order for marigolds to grow well, it is necessary to follow certain agricultural practices when planting and caring for flowers.
Marigold small-flowered Tagetes patula
Small-flowered marigolds Tagetes patula ‘Bonanza Harmony’ photo
The name speaks for itself, these are low plants up to 30 cm tall with a scattering of small basket flowers on long peduncles. Delight with beautiful flowers from July to the end of August.
Description of marigold flowers, their distinctive features
The plant belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family. These flowers are mainly grown in gardens, but due to their amazing unpretentiousness, flowers have also become very popular in the design of loggias, they are also grown on balconies.
Another name for the flower is Tagetes (Tagétes) - This name refers to distant legendary times. Once upon a time in ancient Roman mythology, there were many gods. One day, one of them, whose name was Jupiter, had a grandson, they named him Tagetes.
The grandson had a divine gift of foresight, a romantic character and was very handsome. When it was time to show the world a beautiful plant newly discovered in South America, the Swedish scientist, famous naturalist and physician Carl Linnaeus, called it this name of the young god. And indeed, flowers called Tagetes still continue to amaze people with their romantic original beauty.
The plant received the popular name Marigolds because of the inflorescences that bloom with bright buds, very tender to the touch, somewhat similar to velvet shreds of fabric. The homeland of the flower is considered to be the Central part and south of America, where the largest number of different species is distributed. In the middle of the 16th century, the Tagetes first came to Europe, and then to Russia. The scientific approach to selection and cultivation of these flowers makes them popular all over the world. Already, seeming, their "Tagetes" can be found in all countries of the world.
The marigold itself is a herbaceous plant with flowering buds, a bit reminiscent of small bushes with a large stem and shoots extending from it in the form of branches. The height of the stem and the size of the bud are different depending on the variety. There are very small specimens, the opposite of them there are varieties that grow more than a meter. Such a plant looks very good in individual plantings in flower beds and flower beds.
The breeder also managed to bring out undersized varieties with small flower buds, such plants are best suited for decorating exterior walls, balconies and loggias in hanging flowerpots.
The stem is erect or branched, which allows the formation of a bush of buds standing on one stem, the stems are stiff and very strong. The leaves of the plant are pinnate or porous - divided. The color of the leaves depends on the composition of the soil and can be bright green or plain. The root system is widely branched, fibrous. Inflorescences consist of baskets of various colors and shades. The traditional color for marigolds is considered to be yellow and burgundy-brown on the edges of the petals, with shades of orange, white and red varieties are less common.
A basket of flowers consists of two parts: the middle ones are tubular, towards the edge the flower is represented by a petal inflorescence. In appearance, baskets can be simple and terry. On one stem, several baskets of various sizes and colors can bloom at the same time. Duration of flowering, from early summer to autumn frosts. After the basket fades, they have a fruit in the form of an achene, resembling hedgehog needles. Seeds retain high germination, so if they fall into the ground, they can germinate anywhere where there is fertile land.
Marigolds have a specific smell that insects do not like; gardeners use this property by planting them along the edges of flower beds or other plantings. Some types of marigolds are used in folk medicine.
They live in America, in the 16th century they were taken to Spain. Then they quickly spread to European and Asian countries, including Russia. The Latin name for the flower tagetes comes from the name of an Etruscan deity.
Flowers are simple and terry, bright red, yellow and orange colors, and bicolors are often found. The base of the flower is elongated, covered with green leaves. Stems are straight. The foliage is dense, dark green, composed of pinnately divided leaves with a serrated edge. Bush height from 20 to 120 cm. Rod root system. The plant has a peculiar smell. They bloom very long and profusely. You can familiarize yourself with the characteristics of flowering marigolds, as well as the necessary conditions and photos of blooming plants in, and you will find descriptions and photos of various perennial and annual species and varieties of these plants.
Reference! Marigolds are very easy to maintain and care for, they easily tolerate various climatic hardships, air pollution, and the bush itself is quite strong. That is why they are widely used in landscaping streets and other public areas, as a border plant, along the edges of flower beds and along sidewalks and paths.
Reproduction methods
There are only two ways to propagate a new plant:
- Stem cuttings. This method is used extremely rarely for the propagation of hybrids that, when propagated by seed, do not produce a similar plant.
- Seeds. The main method of reproduction of marigolds is with the help of seeds. This is done by growing seedlings. Shoots appear together and grow quickly.
What are the seeds of a plant?
Marigold seeds:
- thin;
- long;
- bicolor.
Length about 1.5 cm. Half white split, the other half black, smooth and dense. From one flower you can collect up to 500 pieces.
Simple flowers have both male and female organs of reproduction, and therefore are self-pollinated. Terry flowers are only female, they are cross-pollinated.
If you want to get a plant similar to the parent in all respects, do not plant close different varieties of marigolds. At home, pollen from a male flower is transferred with a brush to the pistillate stigma. Pollen is taken from later flowers, as it matures a couple of days earlier than the pistil.
When do they ripen?
Seeds ripen in late summer and early autumn. On average, the seeds ripen 1.5 months after the flower opens.
How and when to collect?
Germination features
There are no special subtleties in growing marigolds from seeds. It's simple:
- sowing;
- conditions;
- care.
At home
Advice! For indoor maintenance, marigolds can be planted at any time of the year, but you will get the best result if you do this in March.
In this case, the natural biorhythms of the plant will be observed, which will necessarily affect its development. Enough natural light, do not have to install artificial lighting.
In the open ground
In warmer southern regions, marigolds can be planted in May immediately in the ground. However, it's better. So the plant will bloom faster. Moreover, this method is suitable for the middle lane, where the last night frosts occur in late May - early June. Seedlings are sown at the end of March or at the beginning of April. From germination to flowering will take 45-60 days.
Soil preparation and planting material
Preparing seeds for planting:
- We make a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, it should not contain undissolved particles.
- Pour the solution over the seeds and leave for 15-20 minutes.
- We drain the liquid, leave the seeds to dry.
- If desired, you can leave the seeds in a damp cloth until sprouts appear.
Preparing the soil:
- We buy a universal soil mixture for flowering
- Or we prepare soil from sand, peat, humus and soddy soil in a ratio of 1:2:2:2.
- We put the soil in the container.
- Spill with a rich pink solution of potassium permanganate.
- We put it closer to the heating radiator, for warming up for a couple of hours. You can not put on the radiator itself! The earth should be warm, slightly above room temperature.
Watch a video about growing marigolds from seeds:
Watering
After removing the shelter, the seedlings are watered. No need to pour on seedlings, only on the ground, which should always be moist. You can do this with a syringe, spoon, or a small syringe. Water should be at ambient temperature.
picking
It doesn’t matter if you are growing seedlings for open ground, or on a windowsill, an intermediate step before landing will be a pick:
- From the container, the plant is transplanted into cups one at a time.
- Do this when the plant releases true leaves.
- When transshipping, you can carefully remove the tip of the main root.
- This procedure will make the plant stronger.
Interesting fact! Marigolds perfectly tolerate transplanting at any time, even when they already have flowers.
We watch a video about diving seedlings of marigolds:
The last step will be planting marigolds in a pot:
What should be the pot?
For the home, it is better to choose more compact types of marigolds. The larger the plant, the larger pot it will need. This flower has a tap root system, so the pot must be tall enough.
Marigolds are often planted in boxes, so they look very advantageous. Just do not overdo it with the amount, otherwise your pets simply will not have enough moisture, space, food, or light. There must be holes in the bottom of the container to drain excess water. The material from which the dishes are made is not important. Drainage materials are laid at the bottom: small stones, expanded clay, or brick chips.
We talked in detail about the features of growing marigolds at home in pots and boxes.
Soil selection
Important! Marigolds grow well in almost any soil. But for room content, where the volume of the container is not large, it is worth choosing a fairly fertile, light soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
- You can buy the soil in the store, the composition of the universal soil mixture for flowering plants is suitable.
- With self-preparation of the soil, you can mix ordinary earth, compost and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. Before planting, it can be fried in the oven, or held for 2 days in the freezer. This is done to destroy possible infection and pests. After the soil is brought to normal temperature, slightly above room temperature.
Consider the necessary conditions behind them:
Conclusion
In my opinion, a great idea is to make marigolds a houseplant. They bloom beautifully and profusely, have beautiful dense greenery, are unpretentious in care, and are easily and quickly grown from seeds. In addition, they purify the air, repel insects and are even used as a spice in some countries.
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Colored in a warm palette of colors, the hardy marigolds are extremely popular as flower bed annuals. Lush flowers are unpretentious, easily grown by sowing in open ground or through seedlings. The compact root system allows you to place bright mini-flower beds in flowerpots, hanging planters and balcony boxes. But in order to achieve the maximum decorativeness of these wonderful letniki, it is worth considering some of the subtleties of their cultivation.
Site selection and soil preparation
Marigolds grow well in open areas, requiring sufficient sunlight for abundant flowering. At the same time, some hybrid varieties of upright type, for example, white-flowered, feel better being covered with a thin shadow during the hottest periods.
Against, thin-leaved varieties, with openwork leaves and delicate shoots, do not develop well in the shade, quickly losing their attractiveness, so they are planted exclusively in open areas.
Any soil is suitable for these plants, but with high water permeability - marigolds do not like stagnant water. Excessive presence of nitrogen leads to the growth of shoots and leaves to the detriment of flowering, so the site should not be fertilized with fresh manure or nitrogenous mineral fertilizers.
Sowing letniki or planting seedlings is carried out in the spring, while the site is prepared in advance - from the fall. The soil is dug up on a shovel bayonet, carefully choosing the roots of weeds, humus or compost is added at the rate of 4–5 kg per 1 sq. m, adding sand to improve permeability.
In areas where stagnation of melt water is possible in early spring, trenches are dug for drainage in the fall.
Preparing seeds for sowing
Elongated black achenes of marigolds with a beige or yellow membranous tuft remain viable for 2-3 years and germinate in the following terms:
- erect varieties and hybrids - in 10–12 days;
- rejected varieties and hybrids - after 10-18 days;
- thin-leaved varieties and hybrids - after 12-18 days.
To speed up seed pecking and germination, you can soak the seeds in clean water or, more effectively, treat with one of the growth stimulants, for example, heteroauxin. This technique will reduce the waiting time for sprouts by 5-7 days.
For soaking, a weak solution of heteroacusin is prepared at a concentration of 0.001% and the seeds are immersed for 6–12 hours, after which they are slightly dried and sown. For the same purposes, you can use Epin's solution.
In dry weather, sowing swollen seeds, be sure to carry out frequent irrigation. In general, the use of stimulants will not only contribute to obtaining early shoots, but will also enhance the development of plants, and will have a positive effect on the formation of lush inflorescences.
When processing seeds, pay attention to weather conditions - if sowing is to be done in open ground, and the weather is cold and rainy, it is better not to soak the seeds, otherwise they may rot or become moldy. Dry seeds, lying in the ground, will germinate at the most favorable moment for them.
Sowing seedlings. When to sow?
luxury erect marigolds and openwork thin-leaved varieties bloom quite late - only in the middle of summer, and some - not earlier than August. Flowers bloom earlier rejected or French marigolds. So, the wonderful variety Petit Gold throws out buds already in mid-June.
To get flowering plants early, seeds upright large-flowered marigolds (Lemon Queen) and thin-leaved(Gnome, Ursula) sown for seedlings in the first decade of March. This will make it possible to observe lush flowering already in mid-May - early June.
Varieties rejected marigolds sown for seedlings in late March - early April, and planted as soon as the threat of frost has passed, will begin to bloom in the twentieth of May.
When sowing seeds for seedlings keep in mind that marigolds are not frost-resistant plants and if seedlings are planted too early, the plants will die from recurrent frosts. At the same time, overgrown seedlings with already opened buds do not take root well, and when planting such bushes, it is advisable to remove the buds.
Sowing is carried out to a depth of 1.0–1.5 cm with distances between rows of 8–10 cm, and in a row of 4–5 cm. For sowing, use boxes filled with light soil prepared at the rate of 3 parts of sod or rested garden soil, 2 parts of humus and 1 part of sand. Successfully use ready-made soil for seedlings, peat pots or Jiffy tablets. Landings are watered, mulched with sand or peat, and the surface is covered with polyethylene or glass.
If sowing seedlings is expected in early April, film shelters or cold greenhouses can be successfully used.
Growing seedlings
Immediately after sowing the seeds, seedling boxes are placed in a warm, dark place at a temperature of 18–20 ° C. As soon as shoots appear, they remove the shelter and place the plants on a light windowsill, at first shading from too bright sunlight. The temperature is maintained within 17–18 ° C - colder air will lead to slower growth and damage to tissues by fungal diseases. At high temperatures and lack of light, seedlings will turn out pale, elongated, weak.
In warm weather, boxes with young seedlings are taken out into the street, trying to protect them from the harsh spring wind. Such hardening will positively affect the stability of the planting material.
During the growing period, depending on the length of the period, one or two top dressings are carried out with a complex water-soluble fertilizer. The modern universal drug Crystalon has proven itself well.
For the first top dressing, which is carried out 10–14 days after germination, you can use Crystal green, which contains the most important nutrients in equal parts.
For the second top dressing, carried out 5–6 days before planting seedlings, it is rational to use Crystal Yellow, which will help strengthen the root system and improve plant survival during transplantation.
Marigold seedlings are watered infrequently, but plentifully, making sure that the water does not stagnate in the pans. The accumulated water is drained no later than an hour after watering.
Transplanting
Marigolds do not tolerate the slightest frost, so they start planting seedlings only when they are completely convinced that the threat of a sharp cold snap has passed. If the seedlings are planted, but frosts are expected, you can resort to sheltering the plants with light agrofiber or other materials.
seedlings upright tall marigolds are planted with distances of 40–50 cm between plants. Some varieties look great in solitary plantings, and to increase the decorative effect, they are planted in three plants, located in the corners of a triangle with sides of 40-45 cm.
seedlings medium-sized marigolds are placed at distances of 30–35 cm, and dwarf varieties are planted thicker - after 20-25 cm, getting even solid flowering borders.
Sowing seeds in open ground
Marigolds are excellent for sowing in open ground. Such specimens, although they begin to bloom later than those grown through seedlings, form strong bushes, are more resistant to adverse weather and retain their decorative properties longer.
Sowing marigolds carried out in warm, well-ripened soil, in mid or late April. With a protracted cold spring, planting dates are postponed to the beginning of May.
If there is a lot of planting material, the seeds are sown densely in rows, after the appearance of two true leaves, the plants break through, leaving the best bushes. The distances in the row are the same as when growing through seedlings.
Landing Care
Successful selection of varieties, careful preparation of the site, compliance with the main points of growing seedlings and sowing seeds in open ground - these are the main conditions for obtaining a wonderful flower bed of flowering marigolds. In care, these plants are quite unpretentious.
Watering
Like other flowering plants, marigolds are extremely responsive to watering, which is carried out every 7-10 days in dry weather. At the same time, it must be remembered that large-flowered varieties, especially hybrids, may lose their attractiveness when water gets on the inflorescences. Therefore, it is advisable to water the marigolds by the ground method at the rate of 8–10 liters of water per 1 sq. m.
Despite the fact that marigolds, when watered in a timely manner, give abundant flowering and look amazing, they may well survive long dry periods, partially losing their decorative effect, but quickly restoring it as soon as moisture appears.
top dressing
After the start of flowering, with the blooming of several buds, the plantings begin to be fed with complex fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. If the site has been well seasoned since autumn, it is enough to carry out 2-3 top dressings per season. Agricola, Fertika and Kristalon fertilizers have proven themselves well.
For general strengthening, it is advisable to carry out regular foliar spraying with Humate solutions every 10-14 days - this will promote long-term flowering and support plants in case of adverse weather.
If an even yellowing of the leaves is noticed with the veins remaining green, the plants suffer. chlorosis associated with iron deficiency. In this case, special fertilizers of the Agricola brand "From yellowing of the leaves" or Ferovit are used.
Pest and disease control
In general, marigolds are resistant to many pests, which are repelled by the specific smell of plants. But still they can be annoyed aphids, spider mites and slugs.
Small light green or black ones cling to the shoots of young plants, suck out the juices and can quickly weaken the strongest bushes. To combat the pest, one of the insecticides is used - Confidor, Bi-58, Aktara.
The treatment of plants with an infusion of tobacco dust is effective, which is prepared as follows:
- 200 g of tobacco dust is poured into 5 liters of hot water;
- insist the drug for 48 hours, stirring several times a day;
- the resulting infusion is boiled, cooled and filtered;
- add another 5 liters of water and 20 g of soap chips.
This harmless environmentally friendly product is effective not only against aphids, but also against , and.
By sowing several rows of flowers around the perimeter of the site and between the beds of tomatoes, peppers or eggplants, you can protect them from pests and at the same time decorate the site.
Growing these flowers near onion beds will help to protect vegetables from attack.
To fight caterpillars and weevils on fruit trees, strawberries and berry bushes, an infusion of marigolds is used. To do this, take fresh raw materials and prepare the drug according to this recipe:
- half a bucket of chopped greens is poured into 5 liters of hot water;
- insist the drug for 48 hours, stirring several times a day;
- filter the infusion, add 40 g of soap chips.
To achieve the destruction of pests, plants are treated at least 2-4 times.
Video about planting and growing marigolds
Wonderful marigolds are the most popular flowers - it is rare for a yard to do without these bright plants. Such universal recognition is not at all surprising - a colorful variety of resistant letniki will decorate the flower garden throughout the season, and their cultivation does not require much trouble.
Flowers such as marigolds are widely used, as they are not only beautiful, but also have medicinal properties.
In addition, the flowers repel some insect pests.
Growing, planting and caring for marigolds in the open field is not a difficult task.
Even a person who has never been involved in the propagation of flowers can easily cope with this, since these herbaceous plants for open ground are considered unpretentious and are rarely affected by diseases.
Marigolds still have many names, including Tagetes, lights, Chernobrivtsy. There are a large number of their species, varieties, differing in color, the height of the plants themselves.
You can also see large-flowered Chernobrivtsy or with smaller flowers. The height of the bushes can reach 130 cm, but dwarf varieties are also bred by breeders.
The flowering period is quite long - from the beginning of June until frost comes. In addition, velvet flowers are annual and perennial.
All this allows gardeners to choose the varieties they like most, to decorate their site with them.
Tagetes is also used for medicinal purposes. An infusion of flowers will help relieve inflammation, dried plants are often used as a seasoning for various dishes.
To date, more than 60 types of tagetes are known. Most often, gardeners grow only three. The features of these species will be discussed next.
All flowers near the lights can be double, semi-double or regular.
The leaves are dark green and beautiful. Marigolds are difficult to confuse with any other plants.
The most common types:
- erect marigolds (tagetes erecta) - they are also called African, since their homeland is Africa, South America.
African marigolds are annuals. If you look at the bush, you can see one main shoot. Plant height can reach 120 cm.
The stems are branching, the inflorescences are large, reach a diameter of 10-13 cm. The African species blooms from the end of June. Flowers may be yellow or bicolor;
- marigolds rejected (tagetes patula) - they are also French. They are small-colored marigolds with a branching stem.
In height, the plant can reach 60 cm. There are also undersized French marigolds up to 15 cm.
- thin-leaved marigolds (tagetes tenuifolia) - or Mexican. These are compact low bushes.
Mexican marigolds can grow 20-40 cm. Their flowers are yellow or orange.
Note! The best varieties of marigolds allow you to use them to decorate any garden plot. It is worth remembering that undersized plants bloom faster than tall ones.
Popular are:
- Taishan marigolds;
- marigolds Vanilla;
- marigolds Mimimix;
- anise marigolds.
And this is not the whole list, since Chernobrivtsy are very popular among gardeners.
They have a pleasant aroma, perfectly adapt after transplanting to another place of growth.
Growing marigolds from seeds in open ground
Perennial marigolds are not so common. Mostly annual flowers are grown.
To do this, the seeds are purchased for the first time in specialized stores, and then after flowering they collect the seed material on their own.
It is stored all winter, and in early spring it is sown in the soil. It is also possible to grow marigolds through seedlings.
The composition of the soil mixture
Tagetes is not considered a whimsical plant, but if it grows under favorable conditions, its flowering will be plentiful, bright, long.
The site must be selected sunny, protected from stagnant moisture and gusts of strong wind.
When to sow seeds in the ground
It is possible to accurately determine the time suitable for sowing seeds directly into open ground by the climatic features of the region.
For example, if warm weather sets in in early May, no frosts are expected.
Under adverse conditions, it is better to cover the area with a film or non-woven material for the first time after sowing.
Sprouts should appear in about 10-14 days.
Preparing and planting seeds in the ground
Some flower growers sow already germinated seeds, others prefer to work with dry ones.
The first case involves the following steps:
- Take a napkin or gauze, moisturize with a spray bottle.
- Seeds are placed on one part, they are covered with the second.
- Additionally, cover with a film so that the moisture does not evaporate quickly.
- Cleaned in a warm place, where the temperature is 20-25 ° C until the seeds germinate.
After that, grooves 5 cm deep are made on the site, watered. Dry or germinated seeds are carefully placed, sprinkled with soil on top.
Leave about 5 cm from one seed to another.
Seedling cultivation
A faster and more reliable way is to grow seedlings, transplant them to a permanent place in the garden or vegetable garden.
Soil preparation
Plants are unpretentious to the soil. But to get strong and healthy flowers, it is recommended to mix the earth with peat, humus and sod. You can also add some sand.
Before sowing, shed the soil with a Fungicide or a solution of potassium permanganate. This measure is necessary to disinfect the soil.
After they fill up the soil, water it. Start preparing seed.
How to prepare and sow seeds
Just like when sowing seeds in open ground, there are 2 ways. The first is the sowing of dry material into the wells, and the second is pre-germinated seeds.
If the seed is not soaked before germination, it is laid out in wells every 2 cm.
Sprinkle the earth a little on top, cover with a film and leave until shoots appear.
When using already germinated seeds, professionals recommend selecting individual pots with a diameter of at least 4 cm.
Earth is poured into each of them, watered, 1-2 marigold seeds are placed.
Sprinkle with more earth, spray the soil from above with a spray bottle. They are also covered and cleaned in a warm place until sprouts appear.
After a few days, it is necessary to remove the seedlings on the windowsill or other lighted place. At this time, sunlight is important for seedlings.
seedling care
After the sprouts appear, they need not only sunlight, but also regular watering. At this stage, it is important not to flood the plants.
It is better to spray dried soil with a spray gun. Otherwise, when overflowing, you can infect the roots with a black leg.
It is formed with excessive soil moisture, can destroy fragile seedlings.
Many gardeners are wondering whether it is necessary to swoop marigolds, or whether growing in a common container can be dispensed with.
When 2 true leaves appear, you can start picking. If you take large boxes, you need to seat according to the scheme 7x7 cm.
Tagetes perfectly tolerates picking and landing in a permanent place. He practically does not get sick.
Even during flowering, seedlings can be planted in open ground. After picking, it usually takes 14 days before landing.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Marigolds in the country grow without much hassle. They are not demanding on the soil, bloom for a long time and decorate the garden.
Thus, the time of landing on a permanent place is selected depending on the period in which they want to receive flowering.
When seedlings are planted
It is best to start transplanting in late spring. Then the weather is already more or less warm.
The main thing is that at night there should be no temperature below 0 ° C.
When the ground warms up, seedlings can be transferred to open ground.
By this time, the plant should have at least 3-4 true leaves and a strengthened root system.
The note! Almost all varieties of marigolds are hybrids.
When self-collecting seeds and sowing them, flowers are often obtained that differ from the mother bush. However, it is still possible to grow beautiful and original plants.
Selecting a landing site
Lights grow in any part of the cottage or garden. They are not afraid of either shadow or penumbra.
The only thing to remember in this case is that they will not bloom as profusely, and the bushes will not be too lush. Then it is recommended to water the soil frequently.
In sunny areas and fertile soil, flowers will delight the owners throughout the summer.
How to plant seedlings on the site
When planting marigolds in open ground, it is important to observe the distance between plants. The scheme of planting flowers depends on their type.
The transfer process is as follows:
- First, the containers with seedlings are abundantly watered. So it will be much faster to remove the seedling without damaging the roots.
- Dig holes in accordance with the selected scheme.
- Abundantly watered.
- The plants are carefully taken out one by one from the pots or boxes and placed in the hole.
- Next, they are buried in the ground.
Until the seedlings are fully grown, they need to be watered regularly and plentifully. It is advisable to use liquid at room temperature for this.
The plant is drought-resistant, but in dry weather, the bushes become rare, the inflorescences become smaller.
Outdoor care
Flowers do not require special labor-intensive care, so even novice gardeners can plant marigolds in the garden.
They need regular watering, top dressing for abundant flowering and disease prevention.
How to water
Watering should be plentiful after planting seedlings in a permanent place. Before the marigolds begin to bloom, watering is reduced.
Excessive moisture leads to its stagnation inside the soil. The root system ceases to receive oxygen and the plant withers.
In addition, excess water causes various plant ailments to appear.
Foliar and root top dressing
It is possible to make beautiful flower beds from marigolds only if top dressing is applied. Flowers are unpretentious, but fertilizers affect the appearance.
When fertilizing, they become more lush, the leaves are green, and the flowers are bright.
Fertilize flowers 3 times per season:
- The first application of fertilizers when the seedlings grow to 10 cm in height.
- The second time they are fed at the stage of bud formation.
- The last time you need to fertilize before flowering.
It is better to apply complex fertilizers. Mowed grass, compost are also suitable.
Formation of bushes
Gardeners, especially beginners, do not always realize that the tagetes flower will bloom better and thicker if dried and withered inflorescences are removed from it in time.
The formation of bushes is required mainly for tall varieties. So they get a magnificent shape and begin to bloom profusely.
Removing old flowers also leads to the rapid emergence of new ones. Pruning and shaping the bush is carried out in the summer.
Weeding and loosening row spacings
Weed control is also important. They need to be removed regularly. Weeds take nutrients from the soil.
Marigolds need nutrients to grow, develop and bloom profusely.
Loosening contributes to better penetration of moisture into the earth, and also saturates the soil with oxygen. The latter is necessary for the growth and development of plants.
Due to loosening, the earth becomes light, air easily penetrates into the soil.
There, oxygen saturates the root system of marigolds, they begin to develop more actively. It is recommended to loosen the soil constantly, especially after watering.
Seed collection
As a rule, marigolds are grown in the garden as an annual plant. When autumn comes, the bushes are dug up.
To get the same flowers next spring and summer, seeds are collected from the bushes.
On a note! Collected bushes can come in handy, so it's best not to throw them away. Plants after uprooting, some gardeners put in a compost pit. Thus, midges and other insects that do not tolerate marigolds will not start there.
Before collecting seeds, you need to know the following rules:
- Inflorescences are bisexual or female. The latter convey velvety and terry. If you want to get decorative flowers, you need to collect seeds from female inflorescences. Bisexuals self-pollinate, they have more seeds.
- You can start collecting seed material only after 40 days have passed since the formation of the inflorescence.
- You can determine whether the seeds are ripe or not by appearance. The plant turns brown, the flowers dry up and turn yellow.
- The seed material is carefully collected and poured into a box or other container.
- They must be collected in sunny weather so that they are dry. Raw seeds do not store well, they can rot. If you still had to collect wet seeds, then hang the inflorescences with part of the stem in a dry room to dry completely. Under them spread paper, newspaper, so that the seeds fall on it.
Store seed in a dry place where sunlight does not penetrate. As a rule, seeds remain viable for 2 years.
There are cases when they germinate after 3 or more years.
Pests and their control
Flowers are known for their resistance to various diseases. If you properly care for the lights, they will always be beautiful, healthy, bloom for a long time and abundantly.
Sometimes marigold diseases appear due to improper care or due to adverse weather conditions.
The note! Plants have a specific smell that repels many insects. Gardeners even specially plant these flowers in beds with other plants to protect the latter from pests.
Slugs and snails
In damp rainy weather, slugs and snails can begin to annoy the Chernobrivtsy flowers.
Pests attack the plant, eat its leaves, stems. You can identify them by shiny stripes on the leaves, ground and stems.
Some gardeners pick them by hand and also lay cut potatoes around the plants.
Another way to get rid of snails is to scatter ash around the flowers. Pests do not tolerate it, they leave.
A solution of mustard will also help with this problem. For 1 bucket of water, 100 g of mustard powder is enough.
After such treatment, slugs and snails should retreat.
spider mite
The spider mite attacks Chernobrivtsy in dry and hot weather. You can cope with it by constantly spraying with water.
The tick does not tolerate moisture and regular wetting of flowers contributes to its retreat.
You can also treat the bushes with a solution of tobacco, onions. Spray the plant in the morning or evening.
Gray rot
Rot spreads in conditions of high humidity. It is necessary to regularly inspect the bushes, and at the first sign, collect the affected parts of the plant.
Gray rot spreads quickly, so it is important to remove the affected areas immediately after the appearance.
Marigolds in landscape design photo
Marigolds in landscape design are used very widely. They go well with other plants.
There is an opportunity to create original compositions with ageratum, begonia, cineraria.
A flower bed of red or orange marigolds can decorate any area.
The flowers are very bright, they will create an accent in a certain place in the garden.
Border marigolds also look beautiful. For such purposes, undersized marigolds are most often used.
For taller plants, medium-sized Chernobrivtsy are selected.
The unusually shaped Gilbert marigolds with chrysanthemum-like inflorescences look spectacular.
Red marigolds create an accent and attract the attention of all guests on the site.
Tall marigolds will be an excellent option for decorating flower beds, paths. They are often used in landscape design.
Chernobrivtsy are unpretentious in care, rarely get sick and protect neighboring plants from many insects.
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Varieties of marigolds differ in the size of an adult plant, and in the size of the flowers, and in the color of the petals. The richness of shades (from red-brown to lemon yellow) allows you to choose the perfect option for decorating each site. Delighting passers-by, live flower decoration is grown very simply.
Features of marigold seeds
First, let's find out what marigold seeds look like. These are oblong dark, with a white tip, "sticks" that remain in the center of the inflorescence after the petals have dried. Germination of marigold seeds is high, and lasts up to 3-4 years. Thanks to this, flowers successfully propagate by self-sowing.
African varieties germinate more slowly than French ones, but hybrids cannot be propagated by seeds. They either will not sprout at all, or will not show parental properties in new plants.
Sowing dates for marigolds
Marigold seedlings can be purchased ready-made, but most people prefer to grow them on their own: firstly, it is cheaper, and secondly, this way you will be sure of the quality of the planting material. Sowing and growing marigolds from seeds at home is not difficult and is within the power of any summer resident.
When is the best time to sow marigolds
- Starting from March , marigolds are sown on seedlings in cassettes, pots or boxes. Further, seedlings of these flowers are usually grown on the windowsill.
- In the beginning of May you can sow marigolds in a film-protected greenhouse.
- If you want to do without future transplants, then you can plant marigolds in the ground with seeds at the end of May. By this time, the risk of a return of frost has already passed, and you can sow flowers directly in the garden or flower bed.
ON THE PICTURE:March seedlings of marigolds will have time to fully grow stronger by the May landing on a flower bed.
Only a month and a half will pass from the moment of sowing, and you will see marigolds in all their glory blooming.
In the northern regions, where the continentality of the climate is high and frosts are possible even in May, it is better to use the seedling method of growing marigolds.
Dates for planting seedlings of marigolds
Seedlings of marigolds of different varieties may show their own specific requirements for the timing of planting and care in the early growing season. So undersized compact varieties marigold mimics sown towards the end of spring, so as not to risk overcooling young shoots.
ON THE PICTURE: Mimimix marigolds decorate a garden bed.
If you become a happy owner of seeds rejected marigolds (another variety of undersized), it is better to plan sowing in mid-spring or later. They are considered more resistant to cold and frost.
ON THE PICTURE: Rejected terry marigolds of the Carmen variety.
Many people like unusual mexican marigolds , they are also thin-leaved. The optimal time for their landing - end of April or beginning of May. The variety is heat-loving and develops well only with an abundance of sunlight.
ON THE PICTURE:Thin-leaved marigolds "Lemon Jewel".
How to properly collect seed
It often happens that suddenly somewhere there are beautifully flowering or some unusual color marigolds. How to collect the seeds of these flowers in order to plant them next season?
Wait for the flowering and drying of the inflorescences, when the seeds begin to separate from the calyx easily, without effort. They should be dry and crumbly. Spread them on a newspaper or napkin until completely dry, and then put them in an airtight container and put them in a cool place.
ON THE PICTURE:This is what marigold seeds look like.
Seed pretreatment
Before sowing, it is advisable to soak the marigold seeds in a solution of manganese for several hours.
Disinfection with potassium permanganate will greatly reduce the risk of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of flowers in the future.
You can germinate wet seeds on a saucer, covering it with glass or film, but this does not make much sense. Marigolds germinate well without prior germination.
Technology of sowing marigolds for seedlings
Soil preparation
Growing seedlings of marigolds requires the preparation of the substrate before sowing. The soil should be loose and fertile. Make up the soil mixture according to the following recipe:
- 2 parts of peat;
- part of the humus;
- 0.5 parts of sand.
The substrate is shed with a solution of one of the drugs: Vitaros, potassium permanganate. If there is none of the above, you can replace the treatment with steaming for an hour. This is necessary for the prevention of dangerous fungal diseases, including.
Growing marigolds from seeds in individual cups is the most convenient way for a gardener and gentle for plants. You can arrange your own drainage from shards or small pebbles in each cup.
Agrotechnics for sowing marigolds in boxes
- The wet mixture is poured into a container, compacted and grooves are laid half a centimeter deep.
- With tweezers or fingers, marigold seeds are laid out in grooves.
- From above, the grooves are covered with the same substrate (layer thickness - approximately 1 cm).
- Cover the box with a lid and put in a warm light place. After 5-7 days, the first shoots should appear.
It is important to prevent overheating and hypothermia of seedlings. Temperatures above 25°C and below 15°C are detrimental to seedlings.
Seedlings of marigolds in cassettes
The most convenient way to grow marigold seedlings for many flower growers is cassette.
As a substrate, the same mixture is used as when sowing in boxes. But it is enriched with additional fertilizers: tablespoon of mineral supplement(with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the composition) and half a glass of ash for every 5 l. substrate.
ON THE PICTURE: Seedlings of marigolds in a special cassette.
Fertilizers must be well mixed with the soil so that they are evenly distributed in it. The earth in the cassettes is lightly compacted, then a hole is prepared for each seedling, and the plants are buried 1 cm into the soil. After planting, the shoots are carefully watered. The soil settles a little after watering and you can add fresh substrate.
For "hardening", young plants can be taken out to fresh air in good weather and bright sun, which marigolds love so much. Growing flowers from seeds by seedlings will be more successful if you arrange such “walks” for them regularly.
Picking marigolds
Marigolds dive after the appearance of two true leaves in the sprouts. At this time, seedlings usually reach a height of 5 cm.
Planting is carried out to a depth that allows you to hide the entire lower part of the stem in the soil, up to oblong leaves. At the same time, they remain on the surface and do not sink underground (and do not even touch it).
Picking can be carried out both in open ground and in a seedling box. The transplant is very well tolerated by marigolds. They can be planted from cassettes in a flower bed, even flowering. The root system of these plants is unpretentious, it quickly recovers and adapts to new conditions.
ON THE PICTURE: Proper diving will strengthen the health of the seedlings.
Planting marigold seedlings in open ground
Now you know how to plant marigolds for seedlings. A few words about transplanting seedlings outdoors. Planting marigold seeds in the ground eliminates the hassle, but puts the plants at risk of frost. The seedling method will allow you to save each sprouted sprout.
For planting seedlings choose a cloudy day. Heat slows down adaptation and exposes disturbed plants to transplant shock.
Marigolds, who have grown stronger, have reached a height of 15 cm, are planted in a flower bed. Growing seedlings up to these indicators is carried out in boxes or cassettes.
ON THE PICTURE:Thanks to a strong root system, marigold seedlings easily take root in a new place.
Stages of planting flowers in a flower bed
- The soil is dug up to a depth of at least 15 cm.
- Garbage, stones and sticks are removed from the ground so that they do not interfere with the normal growth of the root system.
- The holes are dug with a margin so that the entire root system of the seedlings fits freely there.
- Sprinkle the roots with earth and gently tamp it down. Watered. Top up the earth if it has settled too much.
- Mulch plantings.
Marigolds in a flower greenhouse
A flower greenhouse is a good option for growing marigolds. Such a greenhouse is usually built from boards and plastic wrap. With this sowing technique, you can do without picking young plants, which slows down their growth for the period of adaptation.
ON THE PICTURE: Marigolds in a flower greenhouse.
Marigolds transplanted from a greenhouse usually delight with flowering in a flower bed earlier than with a seedling method of growing.
How to sow marigolds in open ground
So, you have chosen a place to sow marigolds. Growing from seeds in the open field of these flowers has its own characteristics. Proper sowing will provide good conditions for the development of plants in the future.
For this purpose, wide holes are prepared. Hole depth is usually 5 cm, the distance between them depends on the variety of flowers that you have chosen for sowing. So, for compact varieties, a distance of 20-25 cm is sufficient. These include:
- "Spray Petit";
- "Disco Orange";
- "Dainty Marietta";
- "Honorary order".
Tall marigolds are usually separated by a distance of 30-40 cm. These are, for example, "High Yellow", "Silver Light", "Hawaii".
ON THE PICTURE: Marigold varieties "Hawaii".
Before sowing marigolds, the wells are well moistened, and the seeded seed is sprinkled on top with a centimeter layer of earth.
In the future, the sown seeds need careful care: moderate watering, moisture control: the soil should not dry out.
How long does it take for marigold seeds to germinate? The first pair of leaves appears quite soon: already at the end of the first week after planting. If you see that the sprouts have grown too close to each other and prevent the neighbors from developing, transplant the extra ones to another place.
Caring for plantings is nothing complicated: it is enough to regularly water them and weed the aisles. And bright inflorescences will delight the eyes of the owners and guests of the site for a long time.