Marigolds

With blooms ranging from white to orange to burgundy, marigold brings bright color and ruffly shapes to the summer garden they are one of the most carefree annuals, performing well from seed or transplants in a warms, sunny spot and any well-drained soil.

Marigolds (India)

The compact signet marigold and the mid-size French types are suited to bed edgings and containers. The taller African marigolds are best for the back of the border or for a cutting garden.

African Marigolds

When planting different sold-color marigolds, mix in a few with bi-colored blooms to tie the scheme together.

Water marigolds often until they are well established, then water only weekly if rainfall is inadequate. Start pinching out blooms when they first appear to promote budding and a bushy shape. Deadhead and keep pinching until frost to keep marigolds flowering heavily. 

Start seems in-doors no more than four weeks before you want to set plants out. Otherwise the seedlings may become leggy. 

French and African marigolds are actually misnamed. Marigolds are native to the American Southwest and to Central and South America. In the 1500s, marigold seems were taken to Spain. Fro there, seeds were transported to France and parts of northern Africa, where the taller types eventually became naturalized.