Mexican marigold for sale – Easy plant to grow, mostly grown for the ornamental flowers and for the leaves, planting season in spring to summer and in hot climate winter to spring, better to buy plant or another option to start from seeds.
Mexican marigold – information before buying:
Growing information: annual plant, growing as annual in hardiness zone: 3+ or as perennial in hardiness zone 10b+, water needed – small to big amount, light conditions – full sun, height: 20-80 cm, 8-32 inches.
Blooming in the spring to autumn in round full shaped flowers that appear in yellow, orange, white-cream color.
Alternative names: Tagetes erecta, Aztec marigold, African marigold, Aztec marigold
Mexican marigold for sale
Here are some growing tips:
Uses – The plant is used for digestive problems, coughs, sore eyes and colds. The roots are laxative. In foods and beverages, Mexican marigold flower is used as a flavor component and as a yellow-orange colorant. The flowers are used as a mosquito repellent. The essential oil of the flower contains antioxidants against maggots.
Location – Full sunlight, can grow in less the full sun but might will bloom less, in cold climate without too much summer days must be in full sun, in desert need to put it in 75% of sun
Propagation from seed– Mexican marigold seed can be sown in the soil before the last expected frosts. The germination will takes place in 15 days. It will requires 1.5 to 2 months to bloom. Direct sowing eliminates transplanting issues. You can also plant seedling from pots to the ground in the spring in single or double rows.
Watering – In the first 2 weeks, keep the soil moist. Established Mexican marigold needs watering once a week. Water to a deep of 20 cm (8 inches).
Blooming – flowers color can be: yellow, orange or white, if it’s for cut flower need to choose variety that will be higher and cut all the flowers that grow on the side, as garden flower need to cut the flowers when it’s fully ready that will produce more flowers.
Harvesting – About 3 months after planting, when the plants have 2 fully developed heads, they are considered as mature and it’s time to harvest. The flower heads can be harvested by hand or mechanically. By hand, the plant is harvested each month, only tall Mexican marigold flowers should be pruned. Check for spent flowers each week.
After harvesting – The flowers are dried, can dry them in full shape and keep them dry
Pruning – Dead flowers and leaves it’s the part to prune, but also infected, if grown as perennial need to prune also for design, it is important that the plant won’t grow into itself, need that each stem will have direct sun, than the plant will bloom more and more healthy flowers
Pest and diseases – Be careful with spider mites, thrips and slugs. Spider mites cause the leaf to lose the green color. In severe cases, the plant will be covered with fine webbing. The plant is good repellent for nematodes.
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