Sparky Mixture French Marigold Seeds

Start French Marigold seeds indoors 4-6 weeks prior to your last frost date. This gives them a head start, which means blooms by early summer instead of mid-July. Plant heirloom Marigold seeds 1/4 inch deep. Keep the temperature between 65-80°F, and seedlings should emerge in 7-21 days. Direct sowing is also an option after the soil has warmed up and the threat of frost has passed. Simply thin seedlings to 6 inches when they reach 2 inches tall. When started indoors, don't forget to harden off your seedlings to prevent transplant shock, which can halt growth right when you want it to accelerate.

Full sun is required for French Marigold seeds. If you put them in shade, they'll get leggy, produce fewer blooms and become more susceptible to fungal diseases. Well-drained soil that is moderately fertile is the goal. Too rich in soil pushes foliage at the expense of flowers. Gently water Marigold seeds during the first days. Once the plant established roots, water at the base of the plant rather than the leaves. Wet leaves invite diseases such as powdery mildew and Botrytis. Once the roots have developed, these plants can tolerate dry spells.

Deadhead spent blooms to encourage plant produce more flowers. No complex fertilizing is required. Just a light balanced feed when planting, and once mid-season. Marigolds are low-maintenance when they are planted into the ground. They need no staking, they are not invasive, and they require no fuss. Compact plants are perfectly sized for edging paths, trimming the back of a small garden, or brightening containers and patio pots. Marigolds seeds for planting deter common garden pests, so they would be great companion plants in vegetable garden.