Marigolds a merry mix.
I’ll admit I don’t usually get excited about French marigolds. Shorter than their African cousins and with smaller flowers, they are dependable but unremarkable.
This year is different. I’m eager for the little French marigold seedlings that I’m growing under lights to be blooming in the garden. That’s because they are a breakthrough variety named Strawberry Blonde.
Exclusive from the W. Atlee Burpee Co., this new kid on the block is not the usual yellows and oranges, but instead a combination of pastel pink, rose and yellow.
To keep things interesting, this marigold’s merry mix of colors changes with the weather: Yellow-pink when temperatures are warm, changing to pink-plum when temperatures are cool.
I still want to also grow the traditional signet marigolds ( Tagetes tenuifolia), an old favorite too often overlooked by gardeners. These small, 8inch-tall plants have masses of dainty flowers and lacy foliage that smells like lemons. My favorite signet marigold is a variety called Lemon Gem.
But for the biggest and boldest plants and flowers, choose African marigolds. These grow into big, shrubby plants with carnation-like blossoms. Deadheading their spent flowers is a must to keep these plants looking and performing their best.
Whichever kind of marigolds you choose, all are easy to grow from seed. The seeds are big enough for easy handling. They are also quick to sprout, and so dependable that they are often the first choice when planning a garden activity for children.
I gave my Strawberry Blonde seeds an early start indoors just to hurry the blooms along, but there’s no requirement to do so. Any marigold seeds can succeed if planted directly in the garden, about two weeks before the last expected frost.
Starting marigolds from seeds not only saves money but also provides a much larger choice of varieties, with many variations in color and size.
Marigolds like hot weather and need lots of sunlight.
Problems are few, but sometimes spider mites attack in hot, dry weather, leaving the plants looking pale and lifeless. At times, you may see tiny webs. Luckily, these tiny pests are easy to discourage: just regularly hose off the plants with water.
If one of your marigold plants has yellow leaves and looks stunted, pull it out and dispose of it. A disease called aster yellows is the likely culprit, and it can be spread by leafhoppers to healthy plants.
When autumn weather arrives, large-flowered marigolds are susceptible to a fungus disease called gray mold, or botrytis. Removing spent flowers goes a long way toward keeping plants healthy. Write Jan Riggenbach at 2319 S. 105th Ave., Omaha, NE 68124. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you’d like a personal reply, or visit midwest gardening.com.