If you’re looking for a cheerful, easy flower to start your gardening journey, you’ve found the perfect choice. This simple step-by-step guide on how to plant marigolds will show you everything you need to get bright blooms from spring until fall.
Marigolds are one of the most reliable annual flowers. They ask for little but give so much in return: vibrant color, pest-deterring properties, and continuous flowers. Whether you’re planting in pots or garden beds, the process is straightforward and rewarding.
How to Plant Marigolds – Simple Step-by-Step Guide
This main guide covers the core process from seed to bloom. Follow these steps in order for the best results.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Gathering your supplies first makes the planting process smooth. You likely have many of these items already.
- Marigold seeds or young seedling plants.
- A sunny planting location (at least 6 hours of direct sun).
- Well-draining garden soil or a quality potting mix.
- A small trowel or shovel.
- A watering can or hose with a gentle spray nozzle.
- Optional: Compost or all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer.
Step 1: Choose the Right Time to Plant
Timing is crucial for success. Marigolds are warm-season flowers that cannot tolerate frost.
If you are planting seeds indoors, start them about 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. For planting seeds or seedlings directly outside, you must wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. A good rule of thumb is to plant them around the same time you would plant tomatoes.
Step 2: Pick Your Perfect Spot
Sunlight is the most important factor. Marigolds thrive in full, all-day sun. The more sun they get, the more flowers they produce.
Also consider drainage. Marigolds do not like to have “wet feet.” Avoid low spots in your garden where water collects. If your soil is heavy clay, ammending it with compost will help improve drainage.
Step 3: Prepare Your Soil
Good soil prep sets the stage for healthy growth. You don’t need perfect soil, but a little effort goes a long way.
- Loosen the soil about 6-8 inches deep with your trowel or a garden fork.
- Remove any large rocks, sticks, or weed roots.
- Mix in a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost if you have it. This feeds the plants and improves soil texture.
- Rake the area smooth so it’s level.
Step 4: Planting Marigold Seeds
Planting from seed is very economical and offers more variety. Here’s how to do it directly in the garden.
- Create a shallow furrow in the soil, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Sow the seeds sparingly along the furrow, spacing them about an inch apart.
- Gently cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil and pat down lightly.
- Water the area gently but thoroughly using a fine mist or spray to avoid washing the seeds away.
- Keep the soil consistently moist (not soggy) until the seeds sprout, which usually takes 4-7 days.
Once seedlings are a few inches tall and have a couple sets of true leaves, thin them to the proper spacing by snipping extras at the soil line.
Step 5: Planting Marigold Seedlings (Transplants)
This is the instant gratification method! You’ll see color much sooner.
- Water your seedlings in their pots an hour before planting.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of your seedling.
- Gently squeeze the pot and tip the plant out, cradling the base. Try not to pull on the stem.
- Place the root ball in the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with the surrounding soil surface.
- Fill in around the roots with soil and firm it gently with your hands.
- Water deeply at the base of the plant to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
Step 6: Spacing Your Plants Correctly
Proper spacing prevents disease and promotes bushy growth. Check the plant tag or seed packet for the mature width of your specific variety.
- Smaller French or Signet marigolds: Space 6-8 inches apart.
- Larger African or American marigolds: Space 10-12 inches apart.
Giving them room ensures good air circulation, which keeps fungal issues at bay.
Step 7: Watering Your New Plants
Watering correctly is key, especially in the beginning. Your goal is to encourage deep, strong roots.
Water deeply at the base of the plants immediately after planting. For the first week or two, check the soil daily and water when the top inch feels dry. Once established, marigolds are quite drought-tolerant. It’s better to water deeply once or twice a week than to give them small, daily sprinkles.
Ongoing Care for Bountiful Blooms
Your job isn’t quite done after planting! A few simple maintenance tasks will keep your marigolds looking fantastic all season.
Deadheading for Continuous Flowers
Deadheading is simply removing spent blooms. This prevents the plant from putting energy into making seeds and tells it to produce more flowers instead.
Pinch or snip off the faded flower head just below the base of the bloom, right above the first set of leaves. Do this regularly, and you’ll be amazed at how prolifically they bloom.
Fertilizing (Less is More)
Marigolds don’t need heavy feeding. In fact, too much fertilizer, especially high-nitrogen ones, will give you lots of leaves and few flowers.
If you added compost at planting time, you may not need to fertilize at all. If plants seem sluggish mid-season, a light application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer or a bloom-booster formula is sufficient.
Managing Pests and Problems
Marigolds are famously pest-resistant, but they can occassionally have issues. Spider mites can be a problem in hot, dry weather. A strong spray of water from the hose under the leaves can dislodge them.
Slugs and snails might nibble on young seedlings. Use an organic slug bait or set out a shallow dish of beer at soil level to trap them. Good spacing and avoiding overhead watering helps prevent powdery mildew.
Collecting Seeds for Next Year
One of the joys of marigolds is saving your own seeds. Let a few flowers fully fade and dry right on the plant. Once the base of the flower head (the seed pod) turns brown and dry, snip it off.
Pull the dried pod apart over a paper plate. You’ll find dozens of slender, black-and-white striped seeds. Store them in a cool, dry place in a labeled paper envelope until next spring.
Great Companion Plants for Marigolds
Marigolds aren’t just pretty; they’re functional. Their scent is said to deter certain pests like nematodes and whiteflies.
- Plant them near tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
- They look beautiful combined with herbs like basil and lavender.
- Try them with other sun-loving annuals like zinnias, salvias, and celosia for a stunning display.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I water marigolds?
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Established plants are drought-tolerant and prefer deep, infrequent watering over frequent light sprinkles.
Can marigolds grow in pots?
Absolutely! Use a pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix. Ensure the pot is large enough for the mature size of your marigold variety.
Why are my marigolds not flowering?
The most common reasons are not enough sun (they need 6+ hours), too much nitrogen fertilizer, or overcrowding. Make sure you’re planting in full sun and deadheading regularly.
Do marigolds come back every year?
Most common marigolds are annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one season and won’t survive winter frost. In very warm climates, they may sometimes act as perennials.
What is the best way to plant marigold seeds?
Sow them shallowly, about 1/4 inch deep, in warm soil after frost danger has passed. Keep the soil moist until germination. Thin the seedlings to the proper spacing once they’re a few inches tall.
With this simple step-by-step guide, you have all the information you need to succesfully grow vibrant marigolds. Their bright, sunny blooms are sure to bring you joy from planting right through to the last days of autumn. Get ready to enjoy a garden full of color.