There are many benefits of growing marigolds in the garden (which makes them one of my favorite flowers to grow!) Learn all about these useful plants and what they can do to benefit your garden this year.
Marigolds are Low Maintenance and Easy to Grow
When I was a little girl, our Sunday School would deliver potted marigolds in foam cups for May Day. We had one hour for our deliveries, and I remember running all around the teensy town with our marigolds (probably letting a few tip over in the box as we raced around…), knocking on doors and wishing the residents a “Happy May Day!” before dashing away to the next house. Tough enough to handle the journey with a bunch of kids in a hurry, our marigolds always made it to their destinations with perfect stems. They are sturdy little plants, that’s for sure, but that’s not the only good thing about marigolds.
They’re Hardy
Marigolds can handle wild temperature fluctuations once they’re established and will bloom until the first killing frost in the fall.
Marigolds Are Easy to Grow
They transplant well and are easy to grow from seeds. In fact, some varieties will self-seed for the next growing season if you don’t deadhead the spent blooms.
They’re Low Maintenance
Marigolds are my favorite low maintenance flowers. They thrive with little to no help from me. Simply give them access to plenty of sunshine, hit them with water from time to time, and they’re bound to do well!
A Few Tips to Remember When Caring for Marigolds
- Water marigolds when the top inch of soil under the foliage is dry. Give it a good soak.
- Plant marigolds in full to part sun for best growing results.
- Marigolds grow well in the ground or in containers. Keep in mind that containers might need to be watered more frequently than ground dwelling plants.
- Harvesting the marigold seeds and saving them for the next growing season is easy and fun. Check out this video to learn how to do it!
Add Beauty to Your Garden by Planting Marigolds
There are dozens of species of marigolds available on the market, so there’s a great chance that you can find one that you enjoy. Marigolds provide gardens with long-lasting blooms, and add a beautiful pop of texture and color to assorted bouquets of flowers. Gather some inspiration for what variety you’d like in your garden by checking out this list of 31 gorgeous varieties of marigolds.
Marigolds Make Great Companion Plants
If you’re not sold on their simplicity and beauty, think about growing marigolds as companion plants.
Attract Pollinators to the Garden
Every garden can benefit from the addition of more plants for pollinators- especially if you’re growing food crops that need pollinated!
When selecting marigolds for a pollinator garden, opt for varieties with open centers that are easy for pollinators to access.
Deter Certain Pests
Marigolds aren’t known for having the best smelling flowers, and because of that strong aroma, pests like mice, squirrels, rabbits, and snakes have been known to steer clear of the plants.
Marigolds make great companion plants for tomatoes as they help repel hornworms. They also repel many types of insects in the garden, including nematodes, mosquitoes, and certain types of beetles.
However, there is one type of beetle that loves marigolds- the Japanese beetle. Marigolds have made an excellent decoy plant for my gardens in the past. The Japanese beetles swarm the foliage and ignore (for the most part) my other, more important garden crops. If I have to sacrifice my beautiful marigolds to protect my food crops, so be it!
Attract Beneficial Insects
Having an issue with aphids in the garden? Adult green lacewings (and their larvae) love the nectar that marigolds produce. Green lacewings are commonly known as ‘Aphid Lions’, so there’s no doubt that they will help manage your garden’s aphid population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Marigolds Edible?
Some varieties of marigolds are edible, but some varieties might be toxic! Check out this helpful article to learn more about selecting marigolds that are safe to eat.
How Long Do Marigolds Last?
Most cultivars are annuals that last less than a year. When grown outdoors with the proper care and maintenance, marigolds will bloom the entire growing season until the first hard frost arrives.
Should You Deadhead Marigolds?
Regular deadheading of the withering blooms will improve the appearance of the plant and encourage the plant to produce more blooms throughout the growing season. If you are planning on harvesting the seeds from the flower, you’ll want to check out this video to learn how to do it.
Are Marigolds Perennials?
Most marigolds are annuals, but according to sfgate.com, there are three types of perennial marigolds that will grow well in certain growing zones (9 and above):
- Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida)
- Lemmon’s marigold (Tagetes lemmonii)
- Mountain marigold (Tagetes palmeri)
Since annual marigolds will self-seed (if you let them, that is,) so new marigold plants will be likely to sprout at the beginning of the next growing season on their own.
In Summary
Marigolds are a great addition to the garden because they’re low maintenance, easy to grow, beautiful, and make great companion plants. For more garden inspiration, check out these other posts.
- Using Companion Plants in the Garden
- How to Create a Bee Garden
- Vegetable Garden Design – How to Find Inspiration
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