You can’t venture into a big box store, nurseries or pass a flower-loving gardener’s yard without seeing marigolds this time of year. It is the perfect flower for North Texas! It is heat-tolerant, easy to grow in poor soil, and produces beautiful blooms.
Marigolds are easy-care, hardy annuals and will produce flowers from late spring through fall for floral arrangements.If you would like to grow your own marigolds, here are some tips to help you have an abundance of beauty in your yard or containers next year:
Plant your marigolds in the spring after the last frost. If you choose to start from seeds indoors, you can begin the process about two months before the last expected frost. Seeds will germinate anywhere from 4 to 14 days in warm soil with an average temperature of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Marigolds grow best in full-sun locations and prefer soil with good drainage. Soggy soil can cause root damage and death. Once they are established, the plants can tolerate drought.
Regularly deadheading will encourage more vigorous flowering for a longer period.
Water at the base of the plant without getting leaves wet to avoid powdery mildew.
I have had luck with repotting and planting the marigolds available now in my containers and garden and following the tips outlined above. I hope that works for you; if not, spring is still early enough to begin to fall for marigolds!
