How To Grow French Marigold From Seeds
French Marigold is a popular annual flower, well known for its bright and cheerful blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Marigolds are easy to grow from seeds and are a great addition to any garden or flower bed.
In this article, we will go over the steps on how to grow French Marigolds from seeds.
Step 1: Choose the Right Seeds
There are many different varieties of marigolds, so make sure you choose the right one. French Marigolds are known for their large flowers and bushy growth habit.
Step 2: Start the Seeds Indoors
French Marigolds can be started indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Fill the trays or pots with seed starting mix and wet the soil. Sow the Marigold seeds 1/8 inch deep and cover them with soil. Place the trays in a warm and bright location, but out of direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist, but do not over-wet to become soaked. Germination take place within 7-14 days.
Step 3: Transplanting
When the seedlings have two sets of true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into individual pots. Choose pots at least three inches in diameter with drainage holes. Transplant Marigold seedlings in pots filled with potting soil, making sure to plant them at the same depth they were growing in the seed tray. Water the seedlings thoroughly and place them in a bright location, but out of direct sunlight.
Step 4: Hardening Off
Once the seedlings have grown strong and healthy, they need to be acclimated to outdoor conditions. The "hardening off" process should take around 7-14 days. Start by placing the pots in a protected location outside for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they spend outside until they can be left outside overnight.
Step 5: Planting in the Garden
French Marigolds should be planted in the garden after the last frost date in your area. Choose a location that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. Space the plants about 10-12 inches apart and water thoroughly after planting.
Step 6: Care and Maintenance
French Marigolds are relatively low maintenance and require only occasional watering and deadheading to keep them looking their best. Deadheading means removing spent blooms to encourage the plant to produce more flowers. Water the plants deeply once a week, making sure the soil is evenly moist but not soaking wet.
In conclusion, growing French Marigolds from seeds is an easy and rewarding process.
With a little patience and care, you can enjoy the bright and cheerful blooms of these beautiful flowers in your garden or flower bed.
