If you want to add bright colors to your garden, feel free to choose marigold flowers (the scientific name is "Tagetes"). After the marigolds bloom, your flower garden will instantly fill with juicy yellow, orange and brown spots. In this article we will describe in detail marigold perennial, consider landing and care on them.
Description and photo
Marigolds grow in height to 120 cm. At the same time, the stalks of bushes are branched, upright. Leaves are openwork, pinnately-separated. Located on the stalk opposite each other or alternately. Inflorescences can be terry and simple, in the form of a basket of medium size. Along the edge of the head are located in one row of petals, fused at the base.
Did you know? Farmers use tagetes as a dietary supplement for poultry. This makes the color of the yolk rich yellow.
When is it best to sow: terms and conditions
Marigolds are grown in two ways - directly in the ground and with the help of seedlings. Consider both options and find out what optimal terms and conditions flowers need for good growth and abundant flowering.
For direct sowing
Deciding to sow the seeds directly into the ground, remember that the best time is the end of May – mid June. During this period, the weather becomes steadily warm, and there are no night frosts.
For growing seedlings
If you want your marigolds to be grown from seed, then it's time to find out when to plant the seed for seedlings. The best period for growing seedlings lasts from mid-March to mid-April. Sowing the seeds in these terms, you will get a blooming flower bed in June. Early planting in a still cold soil can lead to the extinction of seedlings.
Garden flowers such as petunia, lisianthus, Turkish carnation, Zinnia, Levkoy, Platicodone, Aubriet, Osteospermum and Lumbago can also be grown with seedlings.
Did you know? Marigolds are often planted near vegetable crops. The specific smell, which is emitted by the leaves of the plant, repels insect pests.
How to sow seeds (rassadny way)
Growing germinated seeds of marigolds will help to correct the density of shrubs. In this case, the seeds are wrapped in a well-dampened cloth and left in a warm place. Three days are enough for the first shoots to appear.
Choosing planting material
Proper breeding of marigolds begins with the selection of inoculum. Good germination and thick greens have seeds no older than 2 years. Seeds should be completely dry and crumbly. If you soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours, then in the future this disinfection will help to avoid many diseases of the plant. 
Capacity and Substrate
For the seeds to be taken, you need to provide them with fertile and loose soil. The following mixture is suitable for this: peat, humus and sod land mixed with sand. Proportions accordingly - 1: 1: 1: 0,5. Temperature - from 18 ° C to 21 ° C. There are no special requirements for capacity - flowers grow equally well both in pots and in seedlings. The main thing is not to forget to lay drainage at the bottom of the tank.
Important! Marigolds prefer to grow in sunny places. A strong shadow leads to the growth of stems and lack of flowering.
Planting and care
Selected seeds are planted groove to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. If you plan to plant several rows, then leave a distance of at least 2 cm between them. Care is reduced to regular watering and compliance with temperature conditions. 
Landing in the garden
It is not difficult to determine when marigolds can be planted in open ground. This is best done from late May to mid-June. At this point, 2-3 leaves should grow in marigolds, and the root system should be sufficiently developed for open ground. In the prepared place, dig the right number of holes, and they drop grown seedlings. The depth of the holes should not exceed 3 cm.
Important! Planted plants in the garden should be given their variety. Low varieties are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm. Varieties of medium height are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm. High varieties are planted at a distance of 35-40 cm.
Cultivation from seeds (in open ground)
With the cultivation of Tagetes from seeds directly in the open ground, too, there will be no trouble. 
Seed preparation and selection
As with the seedling method, the seeds should be no older than two years. To increase the percentage of germination can be pre-soaked seeds in water at room temperature. From above, you can even cover with polyethylene - this will help create optimal conditions for seed germination. Seeds for planting can be used directly from the bleached tagetes in your garden. It will be enough to leave the flower to dry in the garden, and then easily get the seeds for the next planting.
If you want to get the expected result in the cultivation of marigolds, learn the main rules of planting and caring for marigolds.
Soil for planting
There are no special requirements for the soil in Tagetes. Neutral acidity, a mixture of peat and sand - this will be quite enough to sprout the seeds. 
Sowing, thinning, care
With the time when it is necessary to plant the seeds of marigolds in the ground, we decided - the end of spring or the beginning of summer. Land before planting need to loosen. After about 10 days, the first shoots will appear. If you notice thickening on the beds, it is better to carry out the thinning procedure. Further care of flowers includes:
- Regular watering (in hot time - in the morning and in the evening).
- Weeding from weeds.
- Regular pruning of damaged leaves and flowering inflorescences.
- Somewhere once a week, it is necessary to slightly loosen the root space in order for the roots to breathe.
After reading the article, you are convinced that the cultivation of marigolds is not at all troublesome. With proper care, these sunny flowers will delight you with their bloom all summer and before the onset of the first cold weather.
