How to Grow One of the Easiest Flowers: Marigolds

by Jennifer Lachney

Many of you may ponder which flower is the easiest to grow. Whether you’re a beginner at gardening or well experienced in the department, marigolds are one of the simplest and easiest flowers to grow. The good thing about marigolds is that they don’t come in just one color. You have your choice of various yellows, reds and orange colors. Marigolds are cheerful flowers, so many people tend to enjoy planting them no matter their experience in gardening.

When planting marigold seeds outdoors, you can either start planting 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date, or you can plant them right after the last frost date.

To begin planting your marigold seeds, you’ll want to be sure they are planted in rich, well-drained soil. Depending on how tall the specific type of marigold you picked out grows, you’ll want to space the seeds anywhere from 8 to 18 inches apart. Once you have them placed in the soil, cover them with 1/4 inch of soil. This will enable them to gather nutrients from above them as well as from below.

If you choose to purchase marigolds as bedding plants from a garden center, choose a set of marigolds that appear to be some what bushy and healthy. Do not choose marigolds that have wilted leaves or any sign of disease. Plant them during the spring after any sign of frost can be seen.

The two ingredients that marigolds require are full sun and well-drained soil. Another thing you can do to improve growth - something that's good for any plant, really - is to place mulch on the soil surrounding your marigolds once they have begun to sprout. Mulching conserves moisture as well as helping to prevent weeds. Some people tend to fertilize their plants anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks after planting. While this is not required, it doesn’t hurt to do it. You can also snap off spent blooms to prolong flowering.

Even though marigolds tend to be well kept flowers, it does not mean they are completely free of all problems known to plants. Grasshoppers and spider mites can cause damage to marigolds during hot weather. One disease that can be a problem to marigolds is called Aster Yellow.

Once frost blackens the leaves of the marigolds in the autumn, you may wish to discard the plants. For more information on marigolds, consult flower and gardening books or try searching the Web with your favorite search engine.

May you all have wonderful luck in the garden this year!

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