Growing marigold

Generally, you sow marigold seeds about four to six weeks before your last frost date. Fill your pot or seedling tray with lightly moistened seed starting mix. I place them in a small seedling tray with a couple of seeds per plug. Press seeds about a quarter of an inch into the soil. Press them flat, not end first. DO NOT COVER THE SEEDS WITH SOIL!

Place your seedling tray in a sunny window or under grow lights (I use the latter to start my marigolds). Use a spray bottle or mister to water (unless you have a self-watering container for seed starting).

Try to avoid over-watering young marigold seedlings. They can be prone to damping off, which is caused by a fungus or mold that can develop in overly wet conditions, killing the plant. Make sure there is air circulating between your seedlings, as well.

Hardening off your plants is an important step if you start marigold seeds indoors. It allows your plants to gradually acclimatize to the spring air after being in the house. Start by placing your seedling tray outdoors in a shady spot. Bring them in at night. Keep placing them in shade for about three or four days, and then you can start introducing them to gradual amounts of sunshine.

When you’re ready to plant, choose an area of the garden that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. Dig a hole about the size of the root ball of your seedling, fill in the hole around your plant, and use your watering can to water the base of the plant.

How far apart you space your marigolds will depend on the variety. You want to make sure there is space between plants for air flow. Add a layer of mulch around the plants to keep the weeds down.