How to Grow Marigold Plants

If you are looking to cheer up any garden, marigold plants can get the job done! While they come in an assortment of colors, the yellow and orange varieties are by far the most popular. The flowers do not necessarily have the best smell as they are strong and pungent but they are used to repair some types of skin damage such as broken capillaries or sunburn. Not to mention, the sap in the stem of marigold plants can be used to treat calluses, corns and warts.

Marigold plants are generally propagated by seeds. Once seeding is complete, the flowers generally appear about 45 days later. When you sow the seeds, leave about two centimeters between each one and only cover with the lightest layer of soil.

Water your seeds thoroughly and you can expect to see some type of growth within a few days. After leaves form on your marigold plants, you can either transplant them to their own separate containers or outdoors in your flower garden.

Marigolds are fairly robust and certainly do not require much fussing. What's most important is that they are offered well-drained, moist soil and a location with partial or full sun. To prolong flowering periods, potash fertilizers can be used and you should also pinch the first few blooms prior to opening so your plants will produce a larger amount of flowers.

Maintenance

Marigold plants really do take care of themselves but to enjoy a bountiful bloom, you can do a few things to keep the flowers plentiful.

• Pruning - You don't really need to prune these flowers but deadheading is recommended.

• Staking - Taller marigold plants should be given stakes to help protect them from strong winds and heavy rainfall.

• Pests - Not many insects are attracted to the pungent odor they provide except slugs can become bothersome in the wet season. Slug pellets typically are helpful with this problem.

Marigold Facts

• Marigolds are used as a very effective herb for treating skin issues that result in inflammation including varicose veins, sebaceous cysts, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, impetigo and mastitis.

• Thousands of bright marigolds are used to create garlands to decorate religious statues and buildings in South Asia. They are also used for funerals and weddings.

• The pigments from marigold plants are often used for food coloring.

• In the 12 century, Macer suggested that marigold flowers could improve eyesight.