Marigold: White (Tagetes Erecta 'Kilimanjaro')
Commonly called African marigold, Aztec marigold, American marigold or big marigold, is native to Mexico and Central America. Big marigold may be the best descriptive name because plants are noted for their large flowerheads. They typically grow from 1-4’ tall and feature huge, mostly double-globular flowers (2-4” diameter) in various shades of yellow, orange, and whitish. This variety is unaffected by high summer heat and generally blooms throughout the summer.
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General Information
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Soil Preparation & Start Indoors
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Transplant Outdoors & Start Outdoors
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Crop Care
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Culinary
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Medicinal
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Companion Planting
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Other Uses
Also Known As: African marigold, Aztec marigold, American marigold or big marigold.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Bloom): June to Frost.
Light: Full sun
Water: Medium. Evenly moist.
Soil Moisture: Medium. Well drained.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. The flowers are visited by butterflies and hummingbirds.
Containers?: Yes
Height: 18”
Spacing: 9-12”
Sow Depth: Press into soil lightly
USDA Zone: 2-11
Produces: 3" creamy white flowers
Garden Uses: Beds, edgings, containers
Soil Preparation
Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, Ideal 5.8-6.2. Any well drained garden soil will work. It doesn't need to be very rich as this can result in excessive foliage growth and less flowers.
Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2 inches apart, in top 6" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate compost into the top 6" of soil.
Start Indoors
Soil temp for germination: 60°F to 90°F, optimal 75°F to 80°F, optimal 75°F
Total weeks to grow transplant: 7 to 8 (Spring/Summer), (Fall/Winter)
Germinate:
2-4 weeks before last frost date: The seed doesn't germinate well in cold soil, so it is often started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before planting out. It transplants well so it can be started in flats. Place seeds 1/4" in deep in soil and keep moist.
Transplant Outdoors
Warm, Hot: This tropical plant grows naturally in zones 9 to 11, but can be grown in colder climates as an annual.
When outdoor temp: 60°F to 95°F, optimal temp 65°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 60°F. Don’t plant out until soil is at least 60˚ F, preferably higher.
Spacing: 8"-12", 2 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 2 - 3" apart. Thin to a final spacing of 8 - 12" apart.
Start Outdoors
When outdoor temp: 60°F to 95°F, optimal temp 65°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 60°F. Don’t plant out until soil is at least 60˚ F, preferably higher.
Seed Depth: 0.0"-0.25". The seed can be sown on the surface, but is generally covered with ¼” of soil.
Spacing: 8.0"-12.0", 2 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 2 - 3" apart. Thin to a final spacing of 8 - 12" apart.
Summer Crop:
2-12 weeks after last frost date: The seed can be direct sown any time after the soil has warmed up to at least 60˚ F. Plant 1/4" deep and keep soil moist during germination.
Support: No
Water Needs: Low. Marigolds are somewhat drought tolerant, but flower best if the soil is slightly moist (not wet though).
Fertilizer Needs: Light. Marigolds aren't very hungry plants and growing them in rich soil can actually result in lush growth at the expense of flowers.
Support: No
When: Cut in the early morning, just as the blossoms begin to open.
How: Using a sharp blade, cut the stem at the desired length (ideally at the base). Immediately put cut marigolds in a container of moderately warm water. After 2 hours, strip the bottom leaves that are submerged in the water from the plant. Arrange flowers in a vase with fresh water. They should last a week.
Deadheading flowers will extend the blossoming period all the way to the first frost.
Seed Viability in Years: 2 - 4 years
Companions: Due to the possible allelopathic effects, it’s probably best to plant marigolds and vegetables in separate beds. Grow the marigolds as a cover crop and turn them into the soil at the end of the season. The brightly colored flowers are always welcome in ornamental plantings.
Enemies: Marigolds appear to be allelopathic to beans and vegetables of the cabbage family.
Suggested Varieties
Cabbage: Early Jersey Wakefield (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Cabbage: Late Flat Dutch (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Cabbage: Red Acre (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Cabbage is considered one of the oldest cultivated vegetables, since historians trace it back to 4,000 BC in China. The Romans also cultivated it and praised it for its healing qualities; philosophers Pythagoras and Cato both made the lowly cabbage the subject of a book. Jacques Cartier brought the first cabbage to America in 1536. Cabbages were quite popular in colonial America, being pickled and preserved in every possible way to provide food for the winter.
Cabbage, Chinese: Pak Choi (Heirloom) (Brassica rapa var. chinensis)
Tomato: Amana Orange (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Beefsteak (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Green Zebra (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Sweetie Cherry (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Yellow Pear (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Pepper, Hot: Habanero (Heirloom) (Capsicum chinense)
Pepper, Hot: Hungarian Yellow Hot Wax (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Jalapeno (Organic) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Long Red Cayenne (Organic) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Serrano (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Tabasco (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Eggplant: Black Beauty (Heirloom) (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)
Eggplants date back to medieval times where they were called mad apples. A staple of regions of Asia, known as the "king of vegetables". Eggplant comes in all shapes colors and sizes. Black Beauty is one of the earliest and dates back to the early 1900's.
Eggplant: Long Purple (Heirloom) (Solanum melongena)
This Italian heirloom eggplant, Long Purple, produces dark purple cucumber-shaped fruit with firm, mild flesh. Good yields, especially in northern climates! Plants will typically produce 4 or more 8-10" fruits with harvest beginning in 70 to 80 days. Average water needs. Some parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.