When to sow marigolds for seedlings: basic rules for growing and caring

Marigolds, or scientifically “tagetes”, are very loved by many gardeners. They are unpretentious, prevent the spread of fungi in the soil and are good at repelling harmful insects due to their pungent aroma. So, if you plant tagetes over strawberries, you can get rid of the weevil, and over cabbage, you can get rid of the white weevil. If there are asters nearby, then they are not afraid of fusarium, and clematics and phlox can be protected from nematodes.

The collected flowers also have benefits - they are used as a spice and medicinal crop. Now there are many varieties of marigolds (another name for a flower), which have different shapes and colors from brown-red to lemon, so anyone can find their ideal option. Another plus is the bright flowering from May to October. By combining a plant with others, even a beginner can create a real masterpiece in the flowerbed.

Calculation of days suitable for planting

To select the most favorable timing for planting marigold seedlings, you need to take into account several factors: the weather and climatic conditions of the region, the plant variety and the lunar calendar.

Effect of variety

Different varieties of Chernobrivtsev (another name for the flower) develop differently. The difference in the appearance of seedlings may be more or less by 5-7 days; the time when to sow marigolds for seedlings will depend on this.

• Tall varieties grow more slowly, their flowering occurs later, which means they can only be sown by seedlings.
• Low-growing varieties are not afraid of open ground. In the south they can be sown as early as April, and in regions with a cool climate - throughout May.
• Thin-leaved varieties. If you grow them through seedlings, development will proceed rapidly and the buds will set early. This variety will be ready for planting 7-10 days later than low-growing varieties, that is, in the last days of April - early May.

To ensure that marigolds delight you with their flowering from May to September-October, start seed planting in February with slow-growing varieties and continue re-seeding until April.

Influence of growing region

In general, marigolds grow quickly; 40-50 days pass from germination to flowering. We add about another week to these periods for the emergence of seedlings. This means that the best age for planting in open ground is 1.5-2 months.

In different regions, due to climate conditions, pick-up and drop-off times will vary. So in the central zone, which includes the Moscow region, it is better to start seed planting at the end of March or at the beginning of April. It is warmer in the South, so you can safely sow marigolds already in March, but in cold regions, such as the Leningrad region, Siberia and the Urals, you should wait until the end of April.

And one more important point! Mexican marigolds are the most heat-loving of the entire family; they bloom only where there is a lot of sun. Therefore, gardeners in the northern and central regions will have to choose other varieties.

Marigold thin-leaved Mexican

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar

The landing calendar is based on the position of the Moon on each day of the year. It is good to sow annual plants when the Moon is under the signs of Pisces, Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio. This year the favorable days will be:

• in January: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 23, 24, 28 and 29;
• in February: 2, 3, 6, 7, 24 and 25;
• in March: 2, 3, 27, 28, 30 and 31;
• in April: 1, 2, 6, 7, 28 and 29;
• in May: 3, 6, 25, 26 and 30.

Should be avoided:

• in January: 10, from 25 to 27;
• in February: 9, 10, 22, 23;
• in March: 7, 8, 9 and from 24 to 26;
• in April: 8, 21, 22, 23;
• in May: 7 and 22.

If you choose the first week for sowing, from new moon to full moon, the inflorescences will be more lush.

When to plant marigold seedlings in 2022 according to the lunar calendar

The lunar calendar will help you figure out what dates to plant seeds in order to get strong and healthy seedlings.

In 2022, unfavorable days fall on the following dates:

• January – 2, 3, 17, 18
• February – 1, 2, 16, 28
• March – 1, 2, 18, 27, 28
• April – 1, 2, 16, 23
• May – 1, 16, 30
• June -14, 18, 29
• July – 13, 14, 28, 29
• August – 11, 12, 27-28
• September: 9-10, 26, 27
• October: 9, 10, 25, 26
• November: 1, 2, 7-9, 24, 25, 28, 29
• December: 7-9, 23-25

Features of the plant and popular varieties

Tagetes (marigolds, marigolds and other names) belongs to the Asteraceae family and, depending on the species, can be annual or perennial. The bush can grow from 20 centimeters to almost one and a half meters in height. The foliage can be openwork and pinnate, the inflorescences-baskets can be simple or double, in color from yellow to brown with darker or lighter inclusions. Reproduction occurs through seeds and one fruit can contain from 500 to 700 grains. In nature, there are more than twenty species of marigolds, but only 4 have been cultivated, which are also divided into varieties.

Erect

Such marigolds are also called African marigolds. Almost always, the flowers of this species are single-colored, double and reach from 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter. The maximum plant grows up to a meter in height. This tagetes has several subspecies:

• variety Vanilla, with creamy white flowers with a diameter of 12 cm and a height of 70 cm;
• Kilimanjaro, or densely double marigolds, which also grow up to 70 centimeters in height;
• Antigua are the smallest of this species in height, only 35 centimeters. The inflorescences of the variety are large, lemon yellow or orange, 13-15 cm in diameter.

Marigold erecta (Vanilla)

Thin-leaved

This type of marigold began to be cultivated at the end of the 18th century, and now there are up to 70 varieties. This species differs from its relatives in its openwork-shaped leaves and delicate, subtle odor. Its inflorescences are small but numerous. The height of the bush is 35-40 centimeters. The root system of the species is well developed, which helps the plant easily survive the winter. This species produces red-orange, golden-orange and golden-yellow inflorescences. Popular varieties are Golden Jam, Lulu, Paprika and Gnome.

Marigold thin-leaved (Gnome)

Dwarf varieties

These kids came to us from the United States of America. They are also called border or Turkish carnations. Among the most popular varieties:

• Orange is a hybrid variety that grows up to 25-30 cm and blooms with bright orange large inflorescences;
• Eye of the Tiger. These are balls up to 7 centimeters in diameter, light orange in color with double flowers.
• Petite is one of the most colorful varieties: it can be from orange to light red.

Gabi lemon flowers and Bolero marigolds are also in demand among gardeners.

Dwarf marigold (Tiger's eye)

Low-growing varieties or Rejected

This plant, 50 to 60 centimeters high, is also called French. The inflorescences are usually spreading, up to 8 centimeters in diameter, and can be either double or smooth. Blooms for a long time with a large number of inflorescences. The most popular variety of this species is Bonanza, whose height does not exceed 30 cm.

Low growing marigold (Bonanza)

Types and colors of marigolds

Today there are various types of marigolds, which differ in a whole range of characteristics. First of all, you should pay attention to the height of the stem. Rejected marigolds usually rarely grow above 30 cm. They are used at the front edge of a flower bed or planted along a garden path. They are difficult to replace in cabbage plantings, where their fragrant leaves repel a huge number of pests.

Terry low-growing marigolds have a large number of varieties. Their typical colors are carmine red, yellow, orange with brown splashes.

Erect marigolds are always large-flowered with a double inflorescence structure. This is a wonderful flower for cut bouquets. Luxurious compositions from them are obtained in combination with pompom or peony asters.

Yellow marigolds "Antigua" are an exquisite variety with huge caps of double inflorescences. They look great in any flower arrangement and decorate the garden with their blooms until late autumn.

Thin-leaved red marigolds have medicinal properties. Experienced flower growers grow them to harvest medicinal raw materials and use them in winter for colds and decreased immunity. This exquisite, modest plant will fit perfectly into a flowerbed with cosmos, godetia, nasturtium or snapdragon.

Interesting colors of Chernobrivts are orange, lemon and white. Try planting them in your garden for variety. What if you like it? In the meantime, look at the photos of flowers, which illustrate the most exquisite varieties and types:

Step-by-step instructions for sowing

Marigolds are unpretentious plants, so even a novice gardener can cope with their cultivation. To get a healthy plant that will bloom for a long time, you need to follow a number of rules.

Selection of capacity

You can choose one of the options as a container for sowing:

• in a container. These can be special boxes, plastic cassettes, cups or containers.
• in the snail. This structure is not difficult to build. Below we will discuss this method in more detail.
• sowing in boiling water. For this method we need a container with a lid.

Tagetes seeds are quite large, so it will be more convenient to sow them in an individual container with a volume of about 0.5 liters. Here preference should be given to peat pots or tablets, plastic cups, and even better - cassettes. Having planted the marigolds in a common box or bowl, they will need to be picked. The seedlings will survive this procedure just fine.

There are no strict rules when choosing a container, so choose what seems more convenient for you.

Seed selection

Marigold seeds can be purchased at the store or collected yourself.

When buying seeds, pay attention to the reliability of the manufacturer and a trusted store. You should not buy the cheapest material, as it may be of poor quality. The packaging must not be damaged. The pack should contain recommendations on the timing of planting, planting in the ground, information about the plant and contacts of the manufacturer.

Collecting the seeds yourself is not difficult. Exceptions are hybrid varieties (they are marked F1 on the packages). Harvesting should be done after flowering, when the flower stalks turn yellow, but before frost sets in. The weather during collection should be dry. Flowers should be carefully collected, seeds removed, and dried on paper at room temperature. Then the material should be wrapped in cloth or paper and stored in a dry and dark place. Such seeds will remain viable for up to 2-3 years.

If several varieties were planted in the flowerbed from which you are harvesting, your seeds will acquire mixed properties. Future flowers may differ from those from which the material was collected. This happens due to cross pollination.

Seed preparation

Marigold seeds will germinate perfectly without any special preparation. But to get 100% germination, you can soak the seeds in a solution that will stimulate growth. Such drugs include, for example, “Zircon” or “Epin-Extra”. The packages of these products contain detailed instructions on how to make the solution and soak the material.

Germination can also be used as pre-sowing preparation.

In order for the seeds to sprout, they need to be placed on a cotton cloth, then wet it, cover with another piece of cloth, wrap in a bag and leave in a warm place for 2-3 days. Cotton pads are also suitable for germination.

You can also soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

All these preparatory procedures are not necessary, but will help you get more resilient plants with lush flowering.

Soil preparation

Although Tagetes is unpretentious, it still has some soil preferences. They should be taken into account for better development and growth.

The soil should be loose, breathable, light and sufficiently fertilized. Suitable for planting is universal soil for flower seedlings. But you can prepare it yourself. Ideal mixture recipe:

• 1 part clean river sand;
• 1 part humus or compost;
• 2 parts peat.

You can add soil from the garden (2 parts) to the soil mixture, but then the peat will need to be reduced to 1 part.

Before planting, any mixture should be additionally treated with fungicides. The container for planting can be treated with the same substances. This will also help avoid blackleg.

You can buy Fitosporin, Maxim and other products in the store, dilute them and use them according to the instructions.

Calcination of the soil also shows excellent results. The sifted soil can be steamed in a double boiler for 60 minutes or in the oven.

After any soil treatment, you will need to wait 14-21 days and only then begin planting.

Direct sowing

Let's look at sowing marigolds for seedlings step by step.

1. It is necessary to place drainage material at the bottom of the selected container. These can be small stones, perlite, ground brick or expanded clay. The layer should be about 1.5 cm. If you use peat tablets or pots, drainage is not needed.
2. Fill the container with soil, leaving a small distance between the soil and the edges of the container.
3. Moisten the soil generously. The easiest way to do this is with a spray bottle. Use warm, clean, settled water. No need to use tap water!
4. Then arrange the seeds. This can be done either with your hands or with tweezers. They need to be laid horizontally. Do not stick seeds into the ground under any circumstances! If the containers are individual, distribute one seed into each. If the drawer is shared, make grooves (you can use a regular ruler) no more than a centimeter deep. Leave 2 cm between the grooves. We leave the same distance between the seeds. You can ignore this rule, and then make a pick, which the plants will tolerate well.
5. Cover the crops with soil. Do not overdo it, the layer should be no more than 1 cm. And then lightly press, but do not compact. It is better to make the top layer of soil from a mixture of sand and soil in equal proportions. To avoid blackleg, a disease to which marigolds are susceptible, it is worth mixing a little wood ash into the sand and soil.
6. Water the crops again. Only a spray bottle is suitable here so as not to damage the seeds. Here, too, it is important not to overdo it, so as not to compact the soil too much.
7. Make a greenhouse. Marigold seeds love warmth and humidity. To give them the necessary conditions, cover the container with glass, film or a lid.
8. Label your seedlings. Indicate the variety, name of the flower, date of sowing.

Place the container in a warm, bright place where the temperature is not lower than 20-22 degrees and there are no drafts.

Soil for growing marigolds

Growing marigolds from seeds is not a difficult process. It does not require any special agrotechnical knowledge and skills. But the quality of the soil should be given maximum attention.

The easiest way is to prepare all the components yourself. To create a suitable nutritional mixture you will need:

• 2 liters of turf soil;
• 1 liter of leaf soil;
• 200 ml wood ash;
• 1 liter of sifted river sand;
• 1 liter of compost or humus;
• 1 tablespoon each of ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium;
• 500 ml vermiculite and perlite.

Mix all components and pour boiling Fitosporin-M solution. After cooling and airing, you can grow marigolds from seeds in such soil, either at home or in a greenhouse. Beautiful seedlings grow that bloom quickly and tolerate transplanting into the ground well.

When to plant marigolds for growing from seeds in 2022 - described above. Decide on deadlines in advance and prepare everything you need by this time. Well, we will continue.

How to get early flowering

If you correctly calculate the timing of sowing, marigolds will bloom when you planned. To make flowers delight you already in May, you should plant them in January or early February. In order for the seedlings to grow faster, you can provide additional light with a phyto-lamp. It is worth considering that the flowering of these marigolds will not last long, so it is worth germinating the seeds in April-March. When planting in open ground in the northern regions, you should think about additional shelter. In order for the plant to bloom in May in Siberia or the Urals, they should be kept on the terrace, veranda or balcony until this time, and taken into the warmth at night. In order for May flowering to last longer, faded buds should be removed so that the plant does not waste its energy on forming seeds.

How to determine sowing time?

Marigold seeds
Experienced gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar, the characteristics of the chosen variety, and the climatic characteristics of the region when planting marigolds. The exact day for planting seeds is calculated taking into account the desired flowering time.

Transplantation into open ground is carried out 30, 60 days after the sprouts appear - by this day the soil should warm up sufficiently, and the temperature should not drop below 15 degrees at night. It is also necessary to take into account the developmental features of some varieties.

There are 53 species of marigolds, divided into 3 groups:

• rejected;
• thin-leaved;
• erect.

The first, most common, are not demanding on the soil. Flowering begins even with a lack of soil, so they are often grown as a houseplant. The first flowers appear in June, the last ones fade in September-October, the peak is August.

Thin-leaved plants grow on roadsides, easily tolerating dusty air, exhaust fumes, and poor, hard soil. They are not demanding to care for, so they are often found in city flower beds and open balconies. Thin-leaved marigolds bloom from June until the first frost. Temperatures below +10 stop the growth and development of the plant.

Erect Chernobrivtsi grow up to 110 cm. Most often, varieties are grown for cutting; flowers last a long time in a vase. Flowering is long and extended - from July to October, marigolds will delight the eye.

Sow marigolds in a snail

The easiest way to make a snail from regular toilet paper.

1. We apply three layers one on top of the other with a slight indentation;
2. Wet the paper generously;
3. Sow the seeds vertically using tweezers;
4. Roll the paper;
5. Wrap in plastic;
6. Transfer to a dark place.

After the shoots appear, unroll the roll, water it and sprinkle it with soil. Then we wrap the snail in a bag and leave it on the windowsill. It is better to sow marigolds in this way at the end of March - April. In a week the sprouts will be ready for transplanting.

Care

After emergence of seedlings (3-7 days), the covering material must be removed and the ambient temperature reduced to 18 degrees Celsius. It is necessary to ventilate the seedlings daily, since now the black leg is especially dangerous for sowing. At this stage, you need to use drip irrigation using a syringe. It is important to constantly check the soil moisture; the soil should not be dry. It is best to place marigolds on the east or south side on a windowsill. There is no need to pinch the plant. After 7-10 days you need to make a pick and plant the seedlings.

How and when to dive

Seedlings need to be picked when the first three or four leaves appear. After thinning, there should be 5-7 cm between plants, the foliage should not touch. For the procedure, you can use a regular seedling box. The soil is the same as for sowing, but it does not need to be sifted. Complex mineral fertilizer (1 tablespoon per 5 liters) and wood ash (half a cup for the same volume) should be added to the soil. After the procedure, carefully water and do this regularly in the future.

It is necessary to deepen the seedlings by 10 mm; if the roots are too long, you can shorten them a little.

Hardening

2 weeks before transplanting into open ground, it is worth hardening off the plant. This way it will withstand replanting better, take root faster, and the marigolds themselves will be better able to withstand environmental influences. You should start by airing the room for several hours. After three days, the plant can be taken outside or onto the balcony. The main thing is that the temperature outside the window is more than +12 degrees. Such “walks” should initially not exceed 20-30 minutes. The time needs to be increased daily, but gradually. The same applies to light: in the first days we put it in the shade, then in a dark place, and at the end - in the sun.

Watering and lighting

While marigolds are still seedlings, they require good watering and a lot of light. If the plant does not have enough sun, growth will slow down and the inflorescences will be small. The main thing is to water moderately so as not to damage the root system, that is, moisten only after the soil has dried.

To increase daylight hours, you can use additional lighting lamps.

Fertilizer

Marigolds will need fertilizing several times during the season, so the flowering will be more intense and brighter. It is enough to feed 3 times during growth:

1. when the sprouts are 10cm;
2. when the first buds appear;
3. when the inflorescences bloom.

Weed removal

Loosening will get rid of unnecessary weeds. This procedure is mandatory for any variety of tagetes. Do not forget about this, as weeds will take away the necessary moisture and nutrients from your flowers.

Loosening marigolds is an important part of growing.

Protection from insects and pests

The marigolds themselves repel many pests with their strong smell, but they can still pick up fungus or spider mites. This is mainly due to improper landing. If you find rot or fungus on a sprout or flower, you should remove it, sprinkle the hole with earth and treat healthy shoots with antifungal mixtures. If you find a spider mite, you can use folk remedies: infusions of garlic, wormwood, red pepper or tobacco dust. You can also use ready-made preparations: Fitoverm, Fufanon or Anti-mite.

How to pick marigold seedlings

In the phase of 2-3 true leaves, tagetes dive. The event accelerates the growth and development of seedlings. Without picking, plants begin to compete for sunlight, nutrients and water. Their roots are strongly intertwined, so when planting they will be under stress for a long time.

Picking is carried out in separate containers, plastic cups or seedling boxes. To fill them, soil of the same composition as for sowing seeds is suitable.

Tagetes are dug up with a small spatula or a wooden stick, and one at a time they are transferred to a pre-made hole.

Deepen the seedlings to the cotyledon leaves. Lightly compact the soil around the seedling to avoid the formation of air chambers near the roots.

Marigolds are planted in planting boxes according to a 7x7 cm pattern in a checkerboard pattern. After picking, they are watered abundantly and put away in a shaded place for a day, then the box is returned to a well-lit place.

Specifics of sowing in open ground

There are two ways of sowing: in spring and for winter. Marigolds are not planted in summer.

Sowing seeds before winter

This method is applicable immediately after frost, as follows:

1. We form beds;
2. warm up, but do not wet the soil;
3. we plant in dry soil;
4. We mulch with compost, sawdust or fallen leaves;
5. cover with warm earth.

In spring, the mulch needs to be removed so that the earth can bask in the sun.

Spring sowing in greenhouses

We begin this process after the heat has established, when all the night frosts have passed. To protect the plants, you need to additionally cover them and put water in the greenhouse for more warmth and humidity. After the sprouts appear (7-10 days), the protective materials can be removed and the flowers can be watered. Do not forget about constant loosening and weeding.

Caring for plants in open ground

Just like at home, plants in open soil need to be constantly watered, preventing the soil from drying out. The first few days, watering is regular in the early morning or evening, then as needed. When flowers appear, the amount of moisture should be reduced so that they do not rot. Loosen the soil every time you water or after rain. This will also help prevent an abundance of weeds.

After flowering, the heads should be removed so that flowering is longer and more luxuriant.

Tips from experienced gardeners

When the shoots have 3-4 leaves, the bushes are considered fully formed and ready to be transferred to open ground. Flower growers also advise checking how well the roots are formed. They should be light and resemble a lush panicle.

Now the plants need to be adapted to natural conditions. On the first day, they are taken out to the balcony or veranda for 10–15 minutes; on the second day, the “walk” takes twice as long. The weather should be stable, the air temperature should not be lower than +17...+19 °C.

Hardening is carried out for 1.5–2 weeks, assessing by appearance how well the plants feel in the open air. If the turgor has decreased, the marigolds are cold. You should reduce the walking time and add a dose of fertilizing. The concentration of the solution should be 1.5-2 times lower than when applying fertilizer for the first time. Once the plant is prepared, it can be transferred to the front garden.

Attention!

For flower growers in central Russia and those who live further north, it is better to drive low pegs around the perimeter of the flowerbed. The probability of return frosts is high, and if they come, insulating film is pulled over these pegs.

Preparation and planning of a flower garden for Chernobrovets depends on the selected variety. The transplant resembles a pick. Water the seedlings in containers, form holes in the flower bed - at a distance of 15–30 cm from each other. The depth of the holes is the height of the container with the seedling. They take out each sprout along with a lump of earth and carry out the transshipment. Add soil and lightly compact it, giving the marigold bushes a vertical position. Carry out root watering and mulch the flowerbed with peat or sawdust.

Interesting!

Tagetis do not require much time to care for. After transferring them to the flowerbed, you don’t even need to feed them. But they don’t like temperature changes, especially when they haven’t taken root. In the future, it is enough to limit yourself to regular watering, loosening the crust on the soil surface and removing weeds and faded flower stalks.

Main problems when growing

• lack of moisture. Because of this, the flowers will be small in diameter and the seeds will be poor;
• stagnation of water in the beds. This can cause the root system to rot;
• lack of light and heat. The inflorescences will develop poorly, and the green part will not be lush;
• presence of parasites. As a preventive measure, it is worth washing the bushes with water once a week and, if necessary, using pesticides.
• strong growth. As soon as you notice that there is a lot of foliage, be sure to trim it with pruning shears.

Recommendations from experienced flower growers

There are some recommendations from flower growers that help grow marigold bushes lush and with a large number of buds. The main advice is not to over-moisten the soil, as this crop does not tolerate overwatering. However, if the plant is located in a well-lit area, then it needs more water. Otherwise, the foliage will begin to turn yellow and the inflorescences will become smaller.

When the summer season is rainy, watering is completely stopped to prevent waterlogging of the soil. Moistening the soil in such a situation is replaced by loosening it. Manipulation increases the aeration of the root system and prevents its decay due to waterlogging.

It is not recommended to fertilize marigolds with nitrogen-containing compounds, as they will provoke the development of shoots and foliage, but the buds will become small and their number will decrease. When the marigold bushes have grown greatly, they are pruned, and to protect them from pests, the plant needs a weekly shower with a hose. Only when there are a lot of harmful insects is it permissible to use insecticides.

It is not difficult to grow bright, but at the same time undemanding to care, marigolds. You can also sow their seeds so that the buds bloom at the right time. However, it is advisable to start germinating seed material not only with an eye on the climatic conditions of the region or the varietal characteristics of the selected flowers. It is also recommended to take into account the lunar calendar when choosing a favorable day for sowing. If agricultural practices are followed, the marigold bushes will be lush and their flowering will be abundant.