Tagetes patula

Description:

French Marigolds are compact bushy annuals from Mexico and the flowers come in various combinations of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Other names:

French Marigolds, Dwarf French Marigold

Other Names

French Marigolds, Dwarf French Marigold

Plant Summary

Size:

50cm (h) x 30cm (w)

Flowers:

December – April

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Origin:

Mexico and Central America

Frost Sensitivity

Maintenance

Light Preference

Watering Needs

Tagetes patula

care guide

Do not fertilise your marigolds with nitrogen-rich fertilizer stimulates lush foliage at the expense of flowers.

Feed container French Marigolds every four to six weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser for blooming plants until winter.

Prune French marigolds in spring to encourage bushier growth. Pinch off spent blooms and trim leggy stems. Prune about 1/3 of the plant's height. For best resuslts prune during the growing season.

French Marigolds grow well in heavy cleay soils and in sandy soils which are well drained and moderately fertile.
The soil needs to be moist, but well drained.
They can grow in Acidic, Alkaline, and pH Neutral soil.

Water French marigolds when the top 2 – 5 cm of the soil is dry. Water deeply, then allow the soil to dry before watering again.

When

December – April

How to encourage flowering

Prolong flowering by removing dead flowers before the seeds ripen.

Tagetes patula

problems

French marigolds aren’t prone to problems, but can be susceptible to powdery mildew, Botrytis, leaf spot and rot.

Common pests include spider mites and thrips.

Spider mites will cause silvery dots or tippling on the leaves and you’ll find, upon closer inspection delicate webs in the corners of stems or underneath the leaves with what will look like tiny white dots scattered on them.

Thrips damage will leave streaks, silvery speckling, and small white patches on the leaves and flowers.