Features of growing and feeding marigolds for abundant flowering. Growing marigolds from seeds: timing, rules for sowing at home and care in open ground How to grow marigolds from seedlings

They live in America; in the 16th century they were taken to Spain. Then they quickly spread throughout European and Asian countries, including Russia. Latin name The flower Tagetes comes from the name of the Etruscan deity.

The flowers are simple and double, in bright red, yellow and orange colors, and often bicolor. The base of the flower is elongated, covered with green leaves. Stems are straight. The foliage is dense, dark green, and consists of pinnately divided leaves with a serrated edge. Bush height from 20 to 120 cm. Tap root system. The plant has a peculiar smell. They bloom for a very long time and abundantly. You can familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the flowering of marigolds, as well as the necessary conditions and photos of blossoming plants, and you will find a description and photos of various perennial and annual species and varieties of these plants.

Reference! Marigolds are very easy to maintain and care for; they can easily withstand various climatic adversities, 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

You can propagate a new plant in only two ways:

1. Stem cuttings. This method is used extremely rarely for propagating hybrids that, when propagated by seed, do not produce a similar plant.
2. Seeds. The main method of propagating marigolds is through seeds. They do this by growing seedlings. The shoots appear quickly and grow quickly.

What kind of seeds does the plant have?

Marigold seeds:

• thin;
• long;
• bicolor.

Length about 1.5 cm. Half is white, split, the other half is black, smooth and dense. You can collect up to 500 pieces from one flower.

Simple flowers They have both male and female reproductive organs and are therefore self-pollinating. Double 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 marigolds. At home, pollen from male flower transfer with a brush to the pistil stigma. Pollen is taken from later flowers, since it ripens a couple of days before the pistil.

When do they ripen?

The 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?

Features of germination

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 results if you do this in March.

In this case, the natural biorhythms of the plant will be respected, which will certainly affect its development. Enough natural light, no need to install artificial lighting.

In the open ground

In warmer southern regions, marigolds can be planted directly into the ground in May. However, it's better. This way the plant will bloom faster. Moreover, this method is suitable for the middle zone, 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 it will take 45-60 days.

Preparation of soil and planting material

Preparing the seeds for planting:

1. We make a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate; there should be no undissolved particles in it.
2. Pour the solution over the seeds and leave for 15-20 minutes.
3. Drain the liquid and leave the seeds to dry.
4. If desired, you can leave the seeds in a damp cloth until sprouts appear.

Preparing the ground:

1. We buy a universal soil mixture for flowering
2. Or we prepare soil from sand, peat, humus and turf soil in the ratio 1:2:2:2.
3. Place the soil in a container.
4. We spill a rich pink solution of potassium permanganate.
5. We place it closer to the heating radiator to warm it up for a couple of hours. You cannot put it 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 cover, the seedlings are watered. There is no need to pour on the seedlings, only on the ground, which should always be moist. You can do this with a syringe, spoon, or small syringe. The water should be at ambient temperature.

Picking

It doesn’t matter whether you grow seedlings for open ground or on a windowsill, The intermediate stage before landing will be picking:

1. From the container, the plant is transplanted into cups one at a time.
2. This is done when the plant produces true leaves.
3. When transshipping, you can carefully remove the tip of the main root.
4. This procedure will make the plant stronger.

Interesting fact! Marigolds tolerate replanting well at any time, even when they already have flowers.

Watch a video about diving marigold seedlings:

The last stage will be planting marigolds in a pot:

What kind of pot should it be?

For home use, it is better to choose more compact types of marigolds. How bigger plant, the more voluminous the pot he will need. This flower has a taproot system, so the pot must be high enough.

Marigolds are often planted in boxes because they look very attractive. Just don’t overdo it with the quantity, otherwise your pets simply won’t 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 placed 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 indoor keeping, where the volume of the container is not large, it is worth choosing fairly fertile, light soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

• You can buy soil in the store; a universal soil mixture for flowering plants will be suitable.
• At self-training soil can be mixed ordinary land, compost and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1. Before planting, you can fry it in the oven, or keep it in the oven for 2 days. freezer. This is done to destroy possible infections and pests. Afterwards the soil is brought to normal temperature, slightly higher than room temperature.

Let's consider the necessary conditions behind them:

Conclusion

I think it’s a great idea to make marigolds a houseplant. They bloom beautifully and abundantly, 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 in some countries as a spice.

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Marigolds, Chernobrivtsy, lights - this is what people call tagetes. The culture is distinguished by its rapid growth and ease of care, and therefore enjoys considerable popularity. The article will discuss when to sow marigold seedlings and how to do it correctly.

The sizes of the inflorescences of this culture, as well as the shape, vary. The same applies to colors - Tagetes flowers can be either brown-red or lemon. Another feature of marigolds is that they can be grown both in flower beds and in containers; in addition, they can be used to “cover” bare areas that remain after bulbous plants bloom.

But marigolds can not only decorate the garden. The fact is that they contain phytoncides – useful material, inhibiting pathogenic fungi and repelling pests(even those that live in the ground). For example, tagetes is planted to protect against weevils, and cabbage is planted to repel white grass.

More marigolds are planted:

• from fusarium (together with asters);
• from nematodes (next to clematics and phloxes);
• for subsequent use as a spice or medicinal crop.

Which marigolds to choose?

Seven types of marigolds were introduced into culture, those that are most popular among gardeners are shown in the table below.

Table. Popular types marigolds.

Name, photo	Short description
	A compact crop with weak branching, but a straight and strong stem. Large, densely double inflorescences different colors– from dark orange to cream. All varieties of this group can be of two types - chrysanthemum and carnation.
	Spreading plants with thin shoots and relatively small (about 4-9 cm in diameter) inflorescences. The height varies between 20-90 cm. Also note that the inflorescences can be one- or two-color. These varieties are also divided according to the degree of terry into terry and simple.
Marigold thin-leaved	Small spherical plants 20-40 cm wide/height. A large number of thin shoots. As for the inflorescences, they are small (no more than 2 cm in diameter), orange or yellow.

Prices for marigolds

marigold seeds

Timing for planting marigold seedlings

Marigolds reproduce by seeds. The latter can be sown in the ground when the frosts are over, and then, after thinning, the plants can be planted more freely. There is another option - to plant marigolds as flowering seedlings immediately after the end of frost. As a rule, about 40-50 days pass from the first shoots to the beginning of flowering (more exact dates depend on the specific variety), which means optimal time sowing of marigolds is the beginning of April.

Note! It is very important that the soil for sowing is extremely loose and fertile. Here is one of possible options soil mixture: 1 part compost (can be replaced with humus), 2 parts peat and 1⁄2 part washed river sand.

Video - How to harvest marigold seeds

Step-by-step instructions for sowing marigolds for seedlings

First you need to do some preparatory activities. The main enemy of marigold seedlings is the black leg, from which the seedlings often die. To avoid such troubles, the container with the soil mixture is spilled with a fungicide solution even before planting (you can use, for example, Fitosporin-M) or, alternatively, a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. The best results are demonstrated by steaming pre-sifted soil for 60 minutes in a double boiler. Thanks to this, not only fungal spores will be destroyed, but also weed seeds.

After preparation, follow the instructions below.

Step one. First of all, you need to slightly compact the prepared soil in the container, and then make grooves about 1 cm deep. It is important that the soil mixture is slightly moist.

Step two. Next, you need to distribute the seed along these grooves. This can be done conveniently using a small piece of white paper (like the image below). If there are only a few seeds, they can be spread out along the grooves using tweezers. If there are several varieties, it is recommended to take care of labels with names.

Step three. The seeds need to be sprinkled with the same soil mixture in a layer of about 1 cm. If the thickness is less, then at the first shoots the seed coat will remain on the cotyledon leaves. The seedlings will not get rid of the peel, which is why their subsequent development will be difficult.

Step four. Sprinkled crops should be moistened. Moreover, this must be done especially carefully so that the earth does not wash away and the seeds do not end up on the surface.

Step five. After this, the crops need to be covered with a transparent lid or film - this way the soil will always remain moist. The container with the crops must be moved to a warm and bright place. At temperatures within +15-20°C, the first shoots will appear within a week.

Note! The temperature here is very important, because if it drops below +15°C, the seeds will not germinate well. If it is above +25°C, then they most likely will not sprout at all.

Step six. When the first shoots appear, the seedlings must be ventilated every day, since it is during this period that the black leg is especially dangerous for the seedlings. But if signs of the disease are still detected, the lodging plants should be immediately removed along with earthen clods, and the remaining holes should be sprinkled with fresh soil mixture. Then it is recommended to water the crops again with a fungicide solution.

Step seven. When all the shoots appear together, the cover must be removed completely. As for watering, it should be done only after the soil in the container is completely dry; You also need to ensure that moisture does not accumulate in the pan. Every 14 days, marigolds should be fed with a special seedling fertilizer (such as Mortar, Agricola).

Step eight. When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, you can start picking.

How to plant marigold seedlings?

When planting, seedlings can be buried down to the lower oblong-shaped leaves (also known as cotyledons), but they should not touch the soil.

For picking seedlings, a simple one can be used. By the way, you can even pick flowering marigold seedlings, and it is not necessary to preserve the root balls. However, it is most convenient to grow it in cassettes. The soil mixture may have the same composition as when sowing, but there is no need to sift it. But you need to add complex mineral fertilizer (1 tablespoon per 5 liters) and wood ash (half a glass for the same volume of mixture). To ensure uniform distribution of fertilizers, the soil must be thoroughly mixed.

Next, the mixture needs to be poured into cassettes, lightly compacted and holes made in it of such a size that the roots of the seedlings can fit freely there. If the roots are too long, they can be slightly shortened. During diving, seedlings should be buried 10 mm.

The harvested seedlings should be carefully watered. When the soil settles, it can be added from above. In the future, you need to water regularly - after each drying of the soil mixture. Here is one of the main rules for growing marigolds: it is better to underfill than overwater. Remember this.

Planting marigolds in open ground

About 14 days before transplanting, you can begin to gradually accustom the seedlings to natural conditions. But it should be remembered that marigolds can die even with the slightest frost, and therefore planting in the ground is possible only when the threat of cold weather has passed. For example, for the middle zone this is the beginning of June.

Note! The area of ​​land chosen for planting should be well lit. Yes, marigolds develop well in partial shade, but they bloom much worse in such conditions.

Step one. The soil does not have to be fertile, it just needs to be loose and well-permeable to moisture and air. If the soil is heavy and clayey, it can be improved with peat and sand.

Before planting, the soil should be dug up using a shovel, and then nitroammophoska (or other complete mineral fertilizer) should be added. Approximate consumption – 30 g per 1 m². Then all that remains is to incorporate the fertilizer into the soil by digging again.

• 40x40 cm (for tall varieties/hybrids);
• 30x30 cm (for medium ones);
• 20x20 cm (for short people).

Also note that recommended planting distances are often indicated by the manufacturer on the seed bags. Therefore, they (the bags) must be preserved, and the marigolds must be provided with stickers with the names of the varieties. As for the depth of the holes, it should be such that the stems can be buried by about 1-2 cm when planting. Root systems must be placed in the finished holes.

Step three. After this, the voids remaining around the root systems must be thoroughly filled and lightly compacted.

Step four. The final stage is watering the planted open ground seedlings. You can water on the leaves, since marigolds are not afraid of this (as well as rain).

As for further care, it consists of maintaining the looseness of the soil. If mineral fertilizers were applied to the soil, then one or two fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers throughout the season will be quite enough. By the way, thanks to these elements, the flowering of marigolds will be more magnificent. And if there is too much nitrogen in the soil, the plants will grow greatly, which, of course, will be to the detriment of the formation of new buds.

Prices for nitroammophoska

nitroammophoska

Diseases and pests of Tagetes

Marigolds have quite a lot of “enemies”, not only the black leg mentioned above. Let's get acquainted with pests and diseases in more detail.

Table. Pests and diseases of marigolds.

Name, photo	Description of how to fight
	As a rule, it affects young shoots. The main signs of the disease are light spots at the bottom of the stems, which darken and rot over time. Soon constrictions form on the stems, causing the marigolds to wither and die. We have already considered the prevention of blackleg - this is treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide. If the disease does appear, the affected sprouts should be removed and watering should be reduced. You can additionally sprinkle soil around healthy plants perlite or wood ash. If all else fails, replant the marigolds in fresh soil.
	They are already observed in open ground and manifest themselves in the form of slower growth, yellowing of foliage and stems. If nothing is done, the plants will die. To avoid disease, you need to make sure that the soil on the site is loose; You should also avoid stagnation of water and perform weeding periodically. Fresh manure cannot be used for fertilizing.

Marigolds (lat. Tagetes) is a genus of perennial and annual plants belonging to the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. The plants are native to South and Central America. They have long been used in rituals of local Indian tribes, as well as to get rid of various diseases. Marigolds came to Europe in the 16th century and were the first overseas flowers to appear in Russia. Marigold flowers owe their name to Carl Linnaeus, who named them in honor of Tages, an Etruscan demigod, grandson of Jupiter, famous for his gift of fortune-telling and beauty. Today marigolds, or, as they are also called, black-browed ones, number about 40 species and are cultivated in many countries around the world.

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Planting and caring for marigolds

• Landing: sowing in open ground at the end of May or beginning of June. For seedlings - in March.
• Bloom: from June until frost.
• Lighting: bright sunlight or partial shade.
• The soil: loamy, well moistened at the beginning of the growing season, nutritious, neutral.
• Watering: regular and sufficient until flowering begins, then moderate.
• Feeding: mineral solutions: 1st – at a seedling height of 10 cm, 2nd – during budding, 3rd – at the beginning of flowering.
• Trimming: possible, but not required.
• Reproduction: seed.
• Pests: spider mites, thrips, aphids, caterpillars, snails, slugs.
• Diseases: gray rot, black leg, root rot, viral infections.

Read more about growing marigolds below.

Marigold flowers - description

The stems of marigolds are erect or branched, forming a bush with a height of 20 cm to 130 cm. The root system is fibrous, the leaves are pinnately divided or pinnately dissected, opposite or alternate, the color of the leaves is from light green to dark green. Flower baskets in different shades of yellow, brown and orange flowers. The middle flowers are tubular, bisexual, the marginal flowers are pseudolingulate, with five stamens. The pistil has two stigmas and the ovary is inferior. Marigolds bloom very profusely from June until the first frost. The fruit is a linear achene. Marigold seeds self-sow abundantly and remain viable for 3-4 years. The flowers do not emit a strong spicy smell as much as the leaves of marigolds.

Growing marigolds from seeds

Planting marigolds is not difficult even for a beginner, since these flowers are completely unpretentious. You can dig in the finished one flowering bush, and he will almost certainly accept it and make you happy long flowering. Or you can easily sow the seeds directly into open ground. This should be done in May, when the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Use a hoe to make a furrow approximately 5 cm deep, water it, sow seeds into the furrow and cover them with soil. The shoots will appear in a couple of weeks, and if they grow too thick, replant them.

But for those who are not looking for easy ways and are ready to test themselves as a breeder, we will tell you how to sow marigolds, how to grow marigolds from seedlings, how marigolds are obtained from seeds and when to plant marigolds as seedlings.

Preparing marigold seeds for planting

Marigold seeds are purchased only for the first planting, since at the end of flowering you can easily get seeds from your faded marigolds. You just need to let a few inflorescences dry well right on the bush and, if there is no rain, you can easily remove the ripe seeds from the cup, dry them and save them until spring sowing. Just remember that almost all marigolds existing in cultivation are hybrids, which means that every fourth seedling does not retain varietal properties and can inherit either paternal or maternal characteristics. Many gardeners plant marigold seedlings with sprouted seeds. To germinate, place the seeds on a saucer covered with a damp cloth, place the saucer in plastic bag and place in a warm place. After three days, the seeds should hatch.

In the photo: Marigold seeds

When to sow marigolds for seedlings

The sooner you sow marigolds for seedlings (at least in early spring), the faster they will bloom. If you are growing different types, then know that upright marigolds are sown earlier than others (in mid-March), low-growing and small-leaved marigolds are sown in early April, and then all three species will bloom in June. Growing marigold seedlings is a simple process, but there are points that should not be missed. Prepare a soil mixture: humus, peat, turf, sand (1; 1; 1; 0.5) and disinfect by pouring a disinfectant fungicide solution or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Make sure that at the bottom of the container there is a drainage layer of crushed stone, sand or expanded clay 3 cm high, add fertilizer to the soil (any organic matter, except fresh manure).

Make grooves at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other, place the seeds in them and sprinkle with a small layer of soil. You need to water very carefully so that the water does not wash the seeds out of the soil. Keep the containers in a warm place (22-25 ºC) and make sure that the soil does not dry out. Sprouts should appear no later than a week later, then the container should be moved to the light and the temperature should be slightly reduced (15-18 ºC).

In the photo: Sowing marigold seeds for seedlings

When to plant marigolds

Seedlings are planted in open ground when the threat of late frosts has passed: marigolds come from warm regions and cannot tolerate cold weather. In addition, you need to wait until the seedlings have formed at least 3 leaves and a powerful root system. This usually occurs at the end of May or beginning of June. Marigolds need nutritious soil, well-moistened in the first half of summer, loamy and neutral. If the soil is infertile, you will have to fertilize 2-3 times during the growing season.

In the photo: Marigold seedlings in pots

The distance between seedlings depends on the species and variety. Tall marigolds are planted every 40 cm, the distance between the rows is also 40 cm (40x40 pattern), medium-sized ones - according to the 30x30 pattern, low-growing ones - 20x20. After planting, there is a need for frequent and abundant watering of marigolds, because despite the fact that they are considered drought-resistant plants, if marigolds are not watered enough, they will grow puny and their inflorescences will be small.

In the photo: Marigolds blooming in a flowerbed

Caring for marigolds

Marigolds love bright lighting, and although they tolerate partial shade and even shade well, they bloom most magnificently in the strongest sun. During growth watering should be sufficient, but as soon as the inflorescences begin to form, watering must be reduced so that the moisture does not stagnate: this causes the plants to rot and not bloom. Fertilize marigolds are not necessary at all, but if you feed them, the marigolds will respond gratefully. You need to feed with complex fertilizers when the seedlings reach a height of 10 cm, then when the first buds appear and, finally, at the very beginning of flowering.

Marigolds need regular weeding and loosening the soil, otherwise it is difficult for them to breathe. In summer, if the marigolds have grown, spend pruning to form beautiful bushes. Remove spent blooms and the plants will bloom even more. The peculiar aroma of marigolds and the phytoncides they contain serve as protection against fungal diseases not only for the plants themselves, but also for those growing in the neighborhood. It’s not for nothing that many flower growers frame the entire landscape with marigold plantings. garden plot. But if the summer is too wet, they may appear snails And slugs. The smell of bleach placed in jars between the plants can scare them away.

Sometimes it still appears on leaves and stems. gray mold. In this case, the affected plants will have to be destroyed so that they do not infect the rest of the marigolds. In dry summers, plants may be attacked by spider mites, which will have to be combated by spraying with infusion of onions, yarrow, and red hot pepper. But to prevent this from happening, try to increase the level of air humidity by spraying water around the marigolds several times a day.

Marigolds after flowering

As a rule, decorative marigolds are annual plants, so after flowering they are simply pulled out during autumn digging. If you want to grow marigolds in next year, collect the seeds, dry them and leave them for storage until the end of March or beginning of February.

Do not throw away dried inflorescences; they will be useful to you around the house and in your home medicine cabinet. For example, if you have to work at the computer for a long time, eat 2-3 small heads of dark-colored marigolds before meals or add them to a salad.

In the photo: Dried marigolds

For roundworms or pinworms, adults need to eat 5 heads of marigolds, and children – 2-3 (depending on age), before bedtime for a week.

If you throw a bucket of wilted marigolds at compost pit, there will be no midges around her.

Place it on the windowsill and front door a bouquet of marigolds, and unexpected unkind guests will pass by your house.

And finally, we offer several recipes that may arouse interest among women:

• Lip balm(to achieve softness): mix 2 tablespoons of chopped marigold heads with 1 tablespoon apricot oil and 1/3 cup olive oil. Leave the mixture in the dark for a week, then strain, carefully squeezing out the raw materials. Lubricate lips as needed.
• Facial lotion. Pour 2 tablespoons of crushed marigold inflorescences into a glass of boiling water and leave overnight, then strain, squeezing out the remainder, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of vodka. Store the lotion in the refrigerator. Wipe your face with the infusion three times a day.
• For inflammation or irritation of the skin of the face, prickly heat, use this remedy: pour 2 tablespoons of crushed marigold heads into one and a half glasses hot water, bring to a boil, then leave for 3-4 hours under the lid, strain, squeeze out the raw materials, pour in the juice of a large aloe leaf and 2 tablespoons of water. Store the mixture in the refrigerator. Wipe the inflamed areas twice a day.

Properties of marigolds

A flower bed of marigolds is an invaluable home pharmacy: modern Scientific research confirm the healing properties of marigolds, known from legends and traditions, so growing marigolds not only brings aesthetic pleasure, but also brings real benefits to human health. Lutein, for example, which they contain, reduces the likelihood of developing cataracts.

Also ethnoscience Treats diabetes mellitus and inflammation of the pancreas with marigolds. Medicinal marigolds, dried and then infused, treat stomatitis, bronchitis, asthma and colds, and cleanse the blood. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a tablespoon of crushed flowers into a liter of boiling water, leave for three hours, then strain and drink a glass half an hour before meals for a month.

In the photo: Dried marigold inflorescences

Baths with the addition of marigold decoction have a beneficial effect on nervous system, relieve stress and anxiety, so they are recommended for depression and neuroses. In addition, peoples have long been South America Marigolds were eaten as a seasoning, for making sauces and baked goods, and for marinades. In the markets of the Caucasus, marigolds are sold as a powder added to pilaf, satsivi and soups and called “Imereti saffron” by culinary specialists. The French, in order to satisfy the demands of their gourmets, grow marigolds on an industrial scale. Marigold leaves included in marinades give canned vegetables elasticity and a pleasant aroma.

In the photo: Dried crushed marigolds

And here is the recipe homemade cookies which you will definitely like: beat 4 egg whites until foamy; Grind 2 tablespoons of fresh marigold petals with 100 g of sugar; rubbing 4 tablespoons of butter, gradually add 4 yolks, petals with sugar, then 100 g of flour, and then carefully place the whipped whites on top and mix gently; Place the dough on a baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden. Cut the cooled cake into squares.

Types and varieties of marigolds

There are many varieties of marigolds in cultivation, but three types of varieties are popular: erect marigolds (usually tall), deviated marigolds (short) and thin-leaved marigolds, which are less common in our latitudes than others. The varieties of these three species are very diverse: among them there are large-flowered and small-flowered marigolds, double and densely double marigolds in all shades of yellow, orange and brown.

Tagetes erecta

Or African marigolds, are giants of the genus, their height is from 30 to 100 cm. The inflorescences, as a rule, are single-colored and double, reaching 15 cm in diameter. Among the most popular varieties are Vanilla marigolds, 70 cm tall with creamy white double inflorescences 12 cm in diameter; Kilimanjaro marigolds 60-70 cm tall with densely double spherical inflorescences; Antigua marigolds, low, up to 25 cm tall, but erect, with large flowers– up to 15 cm in diameter, golden, lemon yellow, orange and bright yellow in color.

In the photo: Erect marigolds (Tagetes erecta)

Low growing marigold (Tagetes patula)

Or marigolds rejected, or French marigolds rarely grow above 60 cm. They are compact bushes with many double and non-double inflorescences, the diameter of which rarely exceeds 8 cm. These marigolds are also called spreading marigolds. Varieties of the Bonanza series up to 30 cm high (Bonanza Bolero, Bonanza Orange, Bonanza Flame, etc.), which have highly decorative double inflorescences, are in demand among gardeners bright colors 5-6 cm in diameter and long flowering time; The Carmen marigolds are very beautiful, decorating the flower garden with double inflorescences with corrugated petals of red-brown on the edges and orange-yellow in the middle shades.

How to grow marigolds from seeds? This question is often asked by beginning gardeners. Because the experienced ones don’t bother at all. They throw the seeds into the ground, water them, and everything grows, blooms and heads on its own. Of course they are being cunning.

Any plant, even the most unpretentious one, requires at least some kind of care. And if you want a really good return, then you’ll have to jump around the flower.

Marigolds are not very capricious, but they also require your own approach. In principle, they are grown from seeds using the classical method, which includes:

• soil preparation
• preparation and placement of seeds
• picking and growing seedlings
• landing at a permanent place

There are a lot of points, but in fact everything is very simple and almost carefree. Follow the instructions exactly and you will have the most beautiful marigolds around.

Soil preparation

As with any seedlings, marigold seeds need a separate soil mixture. It should be loose, non-greasy and at the same time nutritious. This substrate is perfect: 1 part each of well-ripened humus, peat and clean sand. Mix all this thoroughly until uniform, medium-sized lumps are obtained.

The next step is disinfection. What to do if the black leg doesn’t care at all about the phytoncides of marigolds. She perfectly mows down small sprouts. Therefore, we don’t give her the slightest chance. First, leave the soil in the cold for 2 days. Then we bring it into the house and let it thaw. Then thoroughly moisten the entire soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, preferably hot. After 4 hours, place in the oven until completely dry at a temperature of 110-115°C.

All these manipulations will not only destroy pathogens and fungi, but will also kill the larvae of insect pests. Therefore, this point cannot be neglected.

Advice. It is necessary to disinfect not only self-prepared soil, but also store-bought soil. There may also be larvae, pathogenic bacteria and spores.

Preparing and placing seeds

Since marigold seeds are thin and fragile, they cannot be soaked for a long time, rinsed vigorously, or generally actively fermented. But you can’t do without pre-planting treatment. What to do? There is an exit.

Take a saucer and place a piece of cotton fabric, a cotton pad or a piece of cotton wool on it. Then carefully lay out the seeds. Then carefully add a warm, strong solution of potassium permanganate so that it saturates the substrate from below. This way the seeds will remain on it and will not clump together.

After 5 minutes, they are transferred to another saucer with the same substrate. Only now instead of potassium permanganate they add clean warm water. You can add a drop of any biostimulant to it. Leave for 2.5-3 hours. That's it, the marigold seeds are ready for planting.

Our mothers and grandmothers also incorrectly solved the question of how to grow marigolds from seeds. Remember, they sowed them very thickly, almost completely covering the bottom of the bed with seeds. Flowers, of course, sprouted, grew and even bloomed. But why such an overconsumption of planting material? After all, from each tiny strip an independent plant will grow.

For example, now there are very beautiful varieties. There are usually no more than 10 pieces in a bag. Agree, it’s not very easy to throw around the beds. That's why this work with soaking was needed. Now let's start with the layout.

Prepare a shallow, wide container, about 10 cm high. Place a little expanded clay or large pieces on the bottom eggshells. This will be drainage. Then the prepared soil mixture is spread on top, in a layer of about 6-7 cm. Then the soaked marigold seeds are carefully laid out and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. About 1.5-2 cm. No more needed.

Now the plantings need to be watered. You can’t use a watering can; the water will wash away the seeds. It takes a long time and is awkward to scoop with a spoon. Most best option- spray with a spray bottle. Just don't overdo it. The soil should be slightly moist, but not wet.

Now you need to cover the container with glass, a piece of transparent plastic or thick film. And put it in a warm place for germination dark place. For example, on a kitchen cabinet. The temperature should be approximately 20-22°C.

In 5 days the first shoots will appear. After this, the cover must be removed and the container moved to a bright place with a temperature no higher than 18°C. The remaining seeds will gradually sprout. And if you leave the vessel in a warm place until all the shoots appear, then the latter will still hatch, and the first will already die from overheating.

Where can I find a place in the house with a lower temperature if the heating is very hot? On the windowsill. Only containers with seedlings should be protected from heat with a thick film, and the batteries themselves should be covered with a thick towel or blanket.

Advice. Be careful with the fence, do not overcool the tender roots of the seedlings!

Picking and growing seedlings

You don’t have to dive the marigolds, but then by the time of landing they will most likely stretch out. Even if each seed is planted separately in advance, the sprout will still reach for the light. Therefore, we definitely dive. In addition, additional roots will appear on the buried stem.

This should be done when at least two true leaves are clearly visible. Carefully dig up the sprout with soil and plant it in a prepared cup with soil. We try to deepen the plant down to the very cotyledon leaves. But it is advisable that these leaves do not touch the soil. It is not recommended to compact the soil even with your fingers so that the plant can breathe.

We moisten again with a spray bottle so that the water penetrates to the roots. Then we wait for the seedlings to grow up so that they can be planted in a permanent place.

During this time, carefully monitor the soil moisture. Spray if necessary. Feed once with a solution of any mineral fertilizer. There are approximately 4-5 true leaves in the phase.

Advice. Marigold seedlings are planted in open ground only if they are firmly convinced that the return frosts have already passed. These unpretentious flowers are absolutely not frost-resistant. The plant dies already at 0°C.

Landing at a permanent place

Marigolds prefer light, fertile soil and love a lot of light. Although they grow quite well in partial shade. Depending on the variety and type, the distance between plants should be from 15 to 50 cm. Try to plant seedlings without damaging root system. The transshipment method is optimal. So the flowers quickly adapt and begin to grow actively.

Care

Marigolds are very unpretentious flowers. They tolerate short-term drought well, but respond gratefully to timely watering. By the way, the plants are not afraid of sprinkling; you can safely water them from above, directly over the leaves.

But it is not recommended to overdo it with fertilizing. With an abundance of fertilizers, these flowers begin to become impudent and openly grow green mass. At the same time, it is in no hurry to release buds. Therefore, you need to wait for a few buds to appear, pamper the plant with any mineral fertilizer, and that’s all. It is not advisable to add organic matter, otherwise you may not wait for flowering at all.

The exception is poor, meager soils. In this case, you will have to feed the plants a little.

Weeding and loosening are absolutely standard - as needed. They remove weeds and at the same time loosen the soil around them. At correct landing no hilling required. No need for a garter either.

The only thing that can be done is to slightly shape the plant. For a spherical shape, you need to pinch the tops of the shoots, and for a columnar shape, remove the lower stepsons. But most often the marigolds are left untouched, allowing them to grow wherever they please. This only adds to their charm.

Pests. Due to the specific and strong aroma Almost all pests avoid marigolds. But sometimes when for a long time the weather is dry and hot, it can settle on flowers spider mite. Get rid of it with any suitable insecticide. Folk remedies using strong-smelling herbs will not save you, because marigolds themselves belong to this category. Humidifying the air around the bushes during hot periods helps avoid this scourge.

Waterlogging the soil attracts slugs and snails. A few jars or bowls of bleach or bleach solve this problem. Pests quickly retreat from marigold plantings.

Diseases. Marigolds themselves almost never get sick, and with their aroma they save plantings growing nearby from fungal and viral diseases. The only disease that odorous bushes can handle is gray rot. But it rarely appears, most often when the weather is cool and rainy for a long time.

This disease cannot be cured. You will have to pull out the affected plants by the roots, take them outside the site and burn them. And this must be done as quickly as possible, before the infection spreads to neighboring bushes.

1. Instead of germinating marigold seeds in a container with soil, you can try germinating them on paper. To do this, place 10-12 layers of the simplest material in a low, wide container. toilet paper. Moisten it and spread the seeds. Cover and put in a warm place. Further actions are identical to “earth” plantings. Naturally, such marigolds will have to be picked 100%. Paper contains no nutrients for sprouts.
2. When planted directly into the ground without seedlings, seedlings appear in about 10-12 days. If you are not interested in very early flowering, then you don’t have to bother with seedlings.
3. Some gardeners grow marigolds like weed. And they reproduce by self-sowing. Smart people try not to weed them out. Phytoncides secreted by flowers perfectly repel most pests, and the root system disinfects the soil.
4. To activate the appearance of new buds, you need to pick off old flowers in a timely manner. Then the marigolds will delight you with flowering until the frosts.
5. It is not at all necessary to grow marigolds only in open ground. At good care they grow well in pots or flowerpots on windowsills, and can become worthy decoration balcony or winter garden.
6. By the way, in order to prolong the flowering of your favorite plant, you can transplant it directly with a lump of earth into a suitable container. Then all that remains is to bring it into the house and find a suitable well-lit place. This must be done before the onset of frost, otherwise the flower will no longer be saved.
7. In order not to buy marigold seeds for each season, you can collect them yourself. All you need to do is collect the inflorescences that have faded after flowering and dry them. After this, the seeds are very easily separated from the box. They remain viable for up to 4 years. From one such box you can grow a whole flower bed!

How to grow marigolds from seeds? Not that difficult. All you need to do is grow strong seedlings and then plant them in the ground. Now you can wait for flowering to admire your handiwork.

Video: a new tricky way to grow marigolds

Marigolds, marigolds, caps - this is how people affectionately call this flower in Russia. The “velvet” name of this flower is associated with its beautiful double inflorescences.

Marigold-This herbaceous plant is an erect, compact or spreading bush. The leaves are simple, deeply dissected, with oily glands on bottom side. Marigolds have a characteristic smell. This is due to the presence of content in the plant essential oil, which makes it medicinal... Inflorescences-baskets with tubular and reed flowers can be simple, semi-double and double and have a variety of colors from yellow to shades Brown. Marigolds in white, orange, and red colors are very beautiful. Depending on the type and variety, their inflorescences can be small (from 1.5 cm) and large (up to 15 cm). Tagetes blooms from June until frost. Gives abundant self-seeding. The fruit is a strongly flattened oblong achene. Seeds remain viable for 3-4 years.

Marigolds are open-ground and short-day flowering plants.

In ornamental gardening, three types are most widespread:
rejected or French marigolds (T. patula);
erect or African marigolds (T. erecta);
thin-leaved marigolds, or Mexican marigolds (T. tenuifolia).

All three species are very beautiful and come in a variety of varieties and shapes. Varieties differ in color, size of flowers, shape and height of bushes. If the upright ones are simply giants (up to 1.2 m), then the thin-leaved ones are small in comparison (from 20 to 40 cm). Rejected marigolds occupy a middle position, their height is from 30 to 50 cm. Rejected marigolds are the most unpretentious and, perhaps, therefore the most common. Erect marigolds are the most spectacular. Fine-leaved marigolds are the most delicate and more demanding to care for, and they are the most fragrant.

Not many annuals can compete with marigolds in unpretentiousness. Tagetes is a light-loving and heat-loving fast-growing plant, tolerates partial shade, but blooms later and does not set seeds well. It grows well on loamy or sandy loam soils, with timely application of fertilizer. Drainage is required on waterlogged soils. Marigolds belong to drought-resistant plants, so you need to water them when the soil on top dries out.

Tagetes, like all annuals, reproduce by seeds through seedlings or directly into the ground.

Useful properties of marigolds...

Tagetes inflorescences have a variety of sizes and shapes from small “carnations” to luxurious “chrysanthemums”, and colors from lemon yellow to red-brown. Marigolds are planted in flower beds and containers; they are convenient to use to cover areas exposed after the flowering of bulbous crops. Tagetes is suitable not only for decorating the garden. All parts of the plant contain phytoncides, which repel pests and inhibit pathogenic fungi, including those living in the soil. Marigolds are planted next to strawberries to prevent weevils, cabbage to repel white grass, next to asters to prevent fusarium, and near phlox and clematis to prevent nematodes. Tagetes is used as medicinal plant and as a spice.

When to sow marigolds for seedlings?...

Tagetes propagates by seeds. They can be sown in the ground after the end of the frost, and then thin out or plant the seedlings more freely, but you can immediately plant the tagetes with flowering seedlings immediately after the end of the frost.
From germination to flowering of tagetes it takes from 40 to 50 days, depending on the variety, so it is necessary to sow marigolds for seedlings in the first ten days of April. The soil for sowing tagetes must be sufficiently fertile and loose. The following soil mixture is suitable: peat, humus (or compost), washed sand (2:1:0.5).

Sowing tagetes for seedlings...

Tagetes seedlings often die from blackleg. To prevent this from happening, the container filled with the soil mixture must be spilled in advance with a fungicide solution (Maxim, Vitaros, Fitosporin) or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. Best result gives steaming of the sifted soil mixture in a double boiler for an hour. In addition to spores of pathogenic fungi, this will also destroy weed seeds. After lightly compacting the steamed soil mixture, make shallow grooves on the surface. The soil should be slightly moist.

Spread the marigold seeds evenly into the grooves. The easiest way to do this is with a small piece of white paper. If there are too few seeds, you can spread them out with tweezers. Place labels with the names of the varieties.

Sprinkle the same soil mixture on top of the crops with a layer of about 1 cm. With smaller sowings, the seed shell remains on the cotyledon leaves upon germination; marigold seedlings cannot shed the peel, which interferes with their further development.

Moisten the crops. Try to do this carefully, without blurring upper layer soil so that the seeds do not end up on its surface.

Cover your crops to keep the soil moist at all times. To do this, it is convenient to use a suitable-sized lid from a food container. You can simply place the container with the crops in a clean plastic bag and put it in a bright place. At a temperature of +15...+20°C, marigold shoots appear in 5-7 days. Temperature is important because at temperatures below +15°C the seeds germinate poorly, and if it rises above +25°C they do not germinate at all.

After the first shoots appear, daily ventilation is necessary: ​​at this time there is a danger of black leg on seedlings the highest. If you notice the first signs of the disease, immediately remove the lodging seedlings along with lumps of soil, sprinkle the holes with fresh soil mixture and re-treat the crops with a fungicide solution.

When friendly shoots appear, the shelter must be removed completely. Water after the soil in the container is completely dry, making sure that water does not accumulate in the tray. Once every two weeks, feed the seedlings with fertilizer for seedlings (Fertika Lux, Agricola, Mortar).

After 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings are ready for picking.

Tagetes pick...

Tagetes are picked at the stage of two true leaves. The seedling can be buried almost to the cotyledons (lower oblong leaves), but so that they do not touch the soil.

You can simply plant marigold seedlings into a seedling box. Tagetes seedlings tolerate transplantation well even in in bloom- it is not necessary to preserve the root ball. But it is most convenient to grow marigold seedlings in cassettes. The soil can be used with the same composition as for sowing, but without sifting. Add to it 1 tablespoon of mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and 0.5 cup wood ash for every 5 liters of mixture. In order for fertilizers to be evenly distributed in the soil, you need to mix it thoroughly.
Fill the cassettes with the mixture, compact it a little, make recesses of such a size that the roots can fit freely in it. If the roots are too long, they can be shortened a little. When picking, seedlings need to be buried 1 cm.

Water carefully. If the soil has settled too much after watering, add soil mixture on top. Water regularly after the soil dries out. The golden rule for tagetes is: it’s better not to add a little than to pour too much.

Planting tagetes in the ground...

Two weeks before planting, begin to gradually accustom the seedlings to fresh air. Marigolds cannot tolerate even minor frosts, so seedlings can be planted only when their threat has passed. IN middle lane this is usually the end of the first ten days of June. Choose a sunny place. Although Tagetes can grow in partial shade, it will bloom much worse there.

Tagetes does not require fertile soil, the main thing is that it is loose and air- and water-permeable, without stagnant water. Heavy clay soil will help improve peat and sand.
Dig up the soil using the bayonet of a shovel, apply complete mineral fertilizer (nitroamophoska, amophoska) at the rate of 30 g per 1 sq. m. m, embed it into the soil by secondary digging.

Prepare holes at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other, depending on the future size of the plants. Typically, the seed manufacturer will indicate on the packets the recommended spacing for each variety. Therefore, it is important to save seed packets and label the seedlings with the names of the varieties. This way you will know exactly at what distance to plant each variety of marigold. Make the depth of the hole so that when planting, the stems can be deepened by 1-2 centimeters. Place the root system in the hole.

Carefully fill the voids around the roots and compact slightly.

Water the planted seedlings. Tagetes is not afraid of watering on the leaves and rain. Further care consists of weeding and maintaining the soil in a loose state. If you've reclaimed the soil mineral fertilizers, then it is enough to feed the tagetes 1-2 times with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers per season. These elements contribute to more lush flowering. With an excess of nitrogen, tagetes grows greatly to the detriment of the formation of new buds.

At high temperatures And large quantities moisture, the plants grow greatly, which weakens their flowering. Compact and abundant flowering plants obtained in warm weather with a moderate amount of moisture. Optimal temperature for the growth of young plants +18+20 C.

The main methods of caring for marigolds are weeding, loosening, watering, for tall ones - placing supports, timely removal of dried leaves and inflorescences, fertilizing, pest and disease control.

Based on the experience of many flower growers, we can say that don't like marigolds:

Dense shade - they elongate greatly, develop poorly, bloom poorly. Thin-leaved marigolds suffer the most from shade.
Cold – growth and flowering of marigolds stops at temperatures below +10C, plants die at temperatures below –1C.
Prolonged heat - temperatures around +30C for several days can lead to damage to the plant by spider mites.
Prolonged rains can rot the inflorescences.
Over-moistened soil - marigolds inevitably develop fungal diseases roots, especially upright ones.

Although marigolds are resistant outdoor crops, they can still get sick, especially if the care conditions are not followed. Mostly they get sick with fusarium and powdery mildew. Among pests, marigolds can suffer from omnivorous aphids. Make sure that there is no tall grass or plants that tightly cover the ground near the marigolds, otherwise they can be destroyed by slugs in a humid summer.

Flower growers value marigolds for their abundant and long-lasting flowering and brightly colored inflorescences. In flower beds you can use them to create colorful spots. Yellow, golden, orange, red - all these warm shades of sunny colors make our gardens bright, cheerful, and attractive.

Spectacular varieties are used in single plantings (tapeworm). To decorate a lawn, lawn or clearing, they are planted in groups. Groups can contain only marigolds (simple, mixed), or they can be combined with other annuals (complex). The combination can be harmonious (one tone) or contrasting. I really like the combination of marigolds and zinnias, especially the contrasting one. Marigolds look great in borders. In this case, plants are planted in no more than 1-3 rows and all bushes should be the same height. Borders will add completeness to any composition. Varieties are used for flower beds medium height and low. Velvet flowers can be used to fill empty space, for example, when spring flowers have faded bulbous plants.

Low-growing marigolds will decorate any balcony, loggia and terrace. Tall varieties of marigolds are grown for cutting to make bouquets. Cut flowers in water remain decorative for a long time.

In addition to decorative and medicinal qualities marigolds also have other advantages that make them welcome guests in every garden and home.

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