Planting Marigolds in the Garden

Wait until all danger of frost has passed before planting marigold seeds or marigold seedlings directly in your garden. Set out marigolds from spring into midsummer, but start African marigold plants as soon as the soil is warm because they take a long time to flower.
Give marigolds a site in full sun. They can tolerate a little shade, however, in areas with hot afternoon sun.
Loosen the soil for your marigold garden about six inches deep and remove stones and other debris. Marigolds like moderately fertile, loamy soil, so you may want to test yours or ask your local extension service to test it for you. The results will tell you what amendments you need, if any. Marigolds also need soil that drains easily, so you may want to work in some organic matter.
If you don’t test your soil, or you don't think it has sufficient nutrients for plants, work in some slow-release granular fertilizer as indicated on the product’s label. Alternately, plan to water with diluted liquid fertilizer.
Give tall marigold plants a spot where they won’t be beaten down by strong winds and rain. Even in a sheltered site, they may need staking.
Planting Marigold Seeds
Moisten the soil and sow marigold seeds one inch apart and one inch deep. Water them in. When the seedlings pop up, thin signet and French marigold seedlings to every 8 to 10 inches and African marigold seedlings to every 10 to 12 inches.
Should I Start Marigold Seeds Indoors?
Planting marigold seeds indoors is easy and most varieties sprout in a few days. To know when to start the seeds, read the seed packet for your variety and count backward from the date of your last expected frost.
Sow the seeds in a seed starting mix one inch apart and one inch deep and water them in. Thin the marigold seedlings while they’re about two inches tall, leaving signet and French marigold seedlings 8 to 10 inches apart and African marigold seedlings 10 to 12 inches apart.
After all danger of frost has passed, transplant the marigold seedlings into the garden or containers, spacing them as directed on your seed packet.
Care for Marigolds;
Water Regularly
Water regularly but let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Avoid watering overhead since wet foliage can lead to fungal diseases.
When to Fertilize
Once your marigolds are actively growing, don’t fertilize them again if you added slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. Too much nitrogen promotes foliage over flowers. If you didn't fertilize at planting time, use a diluted liquid fertilizer as directed on the label.











