Growing marigolds. Features of growing marigolds: how to feed them for abundant flowering

Marigolds, tagetis, marigolds - the name of the genus of annual and perennial herbaceous garden plants, with which you can not only decorate flower beds, use to decorate flower beds and the surrounding landscape. Marigolds as a fertilizer are used by gardeners.

Biological description of the plant

In nature, there are many varieties of marigolds, which differ in the shape of the bush, the structure of the inflorescence baskets, and dimensions. Depending on the structure of the inflorescences, marigolds can be:

• Anemone;
• cloves;
• Terry;
• Semi-double;
• simple;
• Chrysanthemum.

Some varieties are formed in the form of a small, compact bush, others are tall and sprawling. Pinnately dissected leaves are located on strong erect stems. The variety determines their arrangement, opposite or alternate, and the color is green, from light to dark.

The flowering of marigolds is long, abundantly strewn bright inflorescences bushes begin to bloom from mid-June until the onset of the first frost.

Prolong lush bloom marigolds that form seed pods can be removed by removing wilted flowers. Self-sowing tagetis form abundant seedlings. hybrid varieties do not give seeds, so this rule does not apply to them.

Planting, propagation and care of marigolds

Breeding marigolds as a decoration of the garden, suburban area, is simple. To provide a flower bed or rabatka with yellow-red-orange flowering, it is enough to plant a small amount of seedlings on the site. Seed germination is very good (), shoots that have appeared with a couple of leaves can be planted at night temperatures of at least 5 ° C. If it is not possible to plant seeds for seedlings yourself, you can purchase ready-made seedlings at the flower market.

When you need to remember that the plants grow, so when planting them, an interval of at least 20 - 25 cm should be observed.

During the season, faded baskets open, and the fallen seeds give new shoots that can be planted, complementing the garden with new bushes.

Marigold bushes practically do not require care. They don't need pruning. During the season, faded inflorescence baskets are removed from the plant. This procedure enhances appearance plants and at the same time stimulates its flowering before the first frost.

Using the biological properties of marigolds

The fertile layer of any soil in the course of many years of intensive exploitation is depleted, changes its structure, and becomes very dense. Such soil is difficult to dig.

The most relevant is the use of green fertilizers, the revival organic farming. It is based on the use of green manure. In their capacity, crops grown on the site are often used. So, for example, marigolds can be used as a fertilizer that improves soil composition. They are used:

• For making compost;
• As a mulching component;
• For the preparation of liquid fertilizer;
• In order to improve the structure of the soil by introducing them into the soil;
• For the preparation of solutions used in the fight against pests and diseases of horticultural and horticultural crops;

The positive effect of such treatment of plants and soil is valid for 5-6 years.

Such a picky plant as a bright bush of tagetis has the properties of repelling pests:

• Planting marigolds around a plot of potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, cleanse and disinfect the soil from harmful bacteria and microorganisms. The smell of marigolds is unbearable by many insects from the category of pests;

• It is noteworthy that marigolds in areas planned for planting strawberries and strawberries clear the land of pests such as nematodes;
• The roots of marigolds enrich the soil with essential secretions that neutralize the action of fungal microorganisms;

• You can use growing on the site, as well as dried marigolds as fertilizer, capable of enriching the soil with microelements, improving its structure;
• Tagetis is effective in repelling onion flies and cabbage white butterflies.

Aphids on bushes and fruit plants will disappear if marigold bushes are planted under them. However, too large plantings of tagetis or the introduction of green manure based on them can slow down the growth and development of plants.

The use of marigolds as a fertilizer

The presence of single and mass landings tagetis on the garden or garden plot helps to cleanse the soil from pests, enrich it with useful trace elements, The action of marigolds as useful plant intensifies if:

• Bury marigold bushes in vegetable beds or dig them around the perimeter of berry and fruit plantings;
• A tincture of dry marigolds is recommended for spraying plants. In this way, external nutrition of the plant is provided and it is protected from pests;
• Marigolds as a fertilizer in the form of tincture are considered at the same time effective tool treatment and revival of rose bushes.

The use of natural fertilizers on garden, garden and melon plots will help restore soil fertility, replenish it with useful nutrients, exclude defeat cultivated plants pests, provide plants with lush growth and high fruiting.

Marigolds, velvet, hats - this flower is affectionately called by the people in Russia. The "velvet" name of this flower is associated with its beautiful terry inflorescences.

Marigold This herbaceous plant is an upright, compact or spreading shrub. The leaves are simple, deeply dissected, with oily glands on the underside. Marigolds have a characteristic smell. This is due to the presence in the plant essential oil, which makes it medicinal ... Inflorescences-baskets with tubular and reed flowers can be simple, semi-double and double and have a variety of colors from yellow to shades Brown. Marigolds of white, orange, red color are very beautiful. Depending on the type and variety of inflorescences, they can be small (from 1.5 cm) and large (up to 15 cm). Tagetes blooms from June until frost. Gives abundant self-seeding. The fruit is a strongly flattened oblong achene. Seeds remain viable for 3-4 years.

Marigolds belong to flower plants open ground and short days.

In ornamental gardening, three types are most widely used:
marigolds rejected, or French (T. patula);
upright marigolds, or African (T. erecta);
thin-leaved marigolds, or Mexican (T. tenuifolia).

All three species are very beautiful and have a variety of different varieties and forms. Varieties differ in color, size of flowers, shape and height of bushes. If the erect ones are simply giants (up to 1.2 m), then the thin-leaved babies are small in comparison with them (from 20 to 40 cm). The rejected marigolds occupy a middle position, their height is from 30 to 50 cm. The rejected marigolds are the most unpretentious and, perhaps, therefore the most common. Upright marigolds are the most spectacular. Thin-leaved marigolds are the most delicate and most demanding in care, and they are the most fragrant.

Not many annuals can compete with marigolds in unpretentiousness. Tagetes - light-loving and thermophilic fast growing plant, tolerates partial shade, but at the same time blooms later and does not set seeds well. It grows well on loamy or sandy soils, with timely fertilization. Waterlogged soils require drainage. Marigolds are drought-resistant plants, so they need to be watered when the ground dries up from above.

Tagetes, like all letniki, propagate by seeds through seedlings or directly into the ground.

Useful properties of marigolds ...

Tagetes inflorescences have a variety of sizes and shapes from small "carnations" to luxurious "chrysanthemums", and colors from lemon yellow to red-brown. Marigolds are planted in flower beds, in containers, it is convenient to use them to cover places that are bare after the flowering of bulbous crops. Tagetes is suitable not only for decorating the garden. All parts of the plant contain phytoncides that repel pests and inhibit pathogenic fungi, including those living in the soil. Marigolds are planted on strawberries from the weevil, on cabbage to scare away whites, next to asters - from Fusarium, near phloxes and clematis to prevent nematodes. Tagetes is used as medicinal plant and as a spice.

When to sow marigolds for seedlings? ...

Tagetes propagates by seeds. They can be sown in the ground after the end of frost, and then thinned out or planted seedlings more freely, but you can immediately plant tagetes with flowering seedlings immediately after the end of frost.
From germination to flowering of tagetes, it takes from 40 to 50 days, depending on the variety, so it is necessary to sow marigolds for seedlings in the first decade of April. The soil for sowing tagetes should be sufficiently fertile and loose. This one will do land mixture: peat, humus (or compost), washed sand (2: 1: 0.5).

Sowing tagetes for seedlings ...

Tagetes seedlings often die from a black leg. To prevent this from happening, the container filled with soil mixture must be shed in advance with a fungicide solution (Maxim, Vitaros, Fitosporin) or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. Best result gives steaming of the sifted soil mixture in a steamer for an hour. In addition to spores of pathogenic fungi, this will also destroy weed seeds. After lightly compacting the steamed soil mixture, make shallow grooves on the surface. The soil should be slightly damp.

Spread the marigold seeds evenly over the grooves. The easiest way to do this is with a small piece of white paper. If there are too few seeds, you can spread them out with tweezers. Put labels with the name of varieties.

Sprinkle the top of the crops with the same soil mixture with a layer of about 1 cm. With a smaller sowing, the seed coat remains on the cotyledon leaves during germination, marigold seedlings cannot shed their skin, which prevents their further development.

Moisten crops. Try to do it carefully, without blurring upper layer soil so that the seeds do not end up on its surface.

Cover the crops to keep the soil constantly moist. To do this, it is convenient to use a suitable lid from a food container. You can simply put the container with crops in a clean plastic bag and put it in a bright place. At a temperature of +15...+20°C shoots of marigolds appear in 5-7 days. Temperature regime important, because at temperatures below +15°C, the seeds germinate poorly, and if it rises above +25°C, they do not germinate at all.

After the appearance of the first shoots, daily airing is necessary: ​​at this time, the risk of the appearance of a black leg on seedlings is highest. If you notice the first signs of the disease, immediately remove the lodging seedlings along with the lumps of earth, and sprinkle the holes with fresh soil mixture and re-treat the crops with a fungicide solution.

When friendly shoots appear, the shelter must be removed completely. Water after the soil in the container is completely dry, making sure that water does not accumulate in the pan. Once every two weeks, feed the seedlings with fertilizer for seedlings (Fertika Lux, Agricola, Mortar).

After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings are ready for picking.

Tagetes pick...

Tagetes dive at the stage of two true leaves. The seedling can be deepened almost to the cotyledons (lower oblong leaves), but so that they do not touch the soil.

You can pick marigold seedlings simply into a seedling box. Tagetes seedlings tolerate transplanting well even in blooming form- it is not necessary to save the root ball. But it is most convenient to grow marigold seedlings in cassettes. The soil can be used the same composition as for sowing, but without sieving. Add to it 1 tablespoon of mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and 0.5 cups wood ash for every 5 liters of mixture. In order for fertilizers to be evenly distributed in the soil, it must be thoroughly mixed.
Fill the cassettes with the mixture, compact it a little, make recesses of such a size that the roots fit freely in it. If the roots are too long, they can be shortened a little. When picking, seedlings need to be deepened by 1 cm.

Water carefully. If the soil has settled too much after watering, add potting mix on top. Water regularly after the soil dries out. The golden rule for Tagetes is: it’s better not to add a little than to overfill.

Planting tagetes in the ground ...

Two weeks before planting, begin to gradually accustom the seedlings to fresh air. Marigolds cannot stand even slight frosts, so seedlings can only be planted when their threat has passed. AT middle lane this is usually the end of the first decade of June. Choose a sunny location. Although tagetes can grow in partial shade, it will bloom much worse there.

Tagetes does not require fertile soil, the main thing is that it be loose and air and water permeable, without stagnant water. heavy clay soil help improve peat and sand.
Dig up the soil on a shovel bayonet, apply full mineral fertilizer (nitroamofoska, amofoska) at the rate of 30 g per 1 sq. m, close it into the soil by secondary digging.

Prepare the holes at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other, depending on the future size of the plants. Typically, the seed manufacturer will indicate on the bags the recommended spacing for each variety. Therefore, it is important to keep the seed bags, and supply the seedlings with labels indicating the names of the varieties. So you will know exactly at what distance to plant each marigold variety. Make the depth of the hole in such a way that when planting the stems can be deepened by 1-2 centimeters. Place the root system in the hole.

Carefully fill in the voids around the roots and compact a little.

Water the planted seedlings. Tagetes is not afraid of watering on leaves and rain. Further care consists in weeding and maintaining the soil in a loose state. If you've made the soil mineral fertilizers, then it is enough to feed the tagetes 1-2 times with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers during the season. These elements contribute to more lush flowering. With an excess of nitrogen, tagetes grows strongly to the detriment of the formation of new buds.

At high temperatures and in large numbers moisture plants grow strongly, which weakens their flowering. Compact and plentiful flowering plants obtained in warm weather with a moderate amount of moisture. Optimum temperature for the growth of young plants + 18 + 20 C.

The main methods of caring for marigolds are weeding, loosening, watering, for tall ones - setting up supports, timely removal of dried leaves and inflorescences, top dressing, pest and disease control.

Based on the experience of many flower growers, we can say that marigolds do not like:

Thick shade - strongly stretched, poorly developed, poorly blooming. Thin-leaved marigolds suffer the most from the shade.
Cold - the growth and flowering of marigolds stops at below + 10C, plants die at temperatures below -1C.
Prolonged heat - a temperature of about + 30C for several days can lead to damage to the plant by spider mites.
Long rains - inflorescences can rot.
Waterlogged soil - marigolds inevitably develop fungal diseases roots, especially in erect ones.

Although marigolds are resistant outdoor crops, they can still get sick, especially if care conditions are not followed. They are mainly affected by fusarium and powdery mildew. Of the pests, marigolds can suffer from omnivorous aphids. Make sure that there are no tall grasses and plants that tightly cover the ground near marigolds, otherwise slugs can destroy them in wet summers.

Flower growers appreciate marigolds for their abundant and long flowering, bright color of inflorescences. In flower beds, they can be used to create colorful spots. Yellow, gold, orange, red - all these warm shades sunny colors make our gardens bright, cheerful, attractive.

Spectacular varieties are used in a single planting (tapeworm). To decorate a lawn, lawn or clearing, they are planted in groups. In groups, there can only be marigolds (simple, mixed), or they are combined with other flyers (complex). The combination can be harmonious (one tone) or contrasting. I really like the combination of marigolds with zinnias, especially the contrast. Marigolds look great in borders. In this case, plants are planted no more than 1-3 rows and all bushes should be the same height. Borders will add completeness to any composition. For flower beds, varieties of medium height and low are used. Marigolds can fill an empty place, for example, when the spring flowers fade bulbous plants.

Undersized marigolds will decorate any balcony, loggia and terrace. Tall varieties of marigolds are grown for cutting to make bouquets. Cut flowers in water retain their decorative effect for a long time.

In addition to decorative and medicinal qualities, marigolds also have other advantages that make them welcome guests in every garden and home.

Marigolds are permanent residents of most garden plots Ukraine and Russia, although their homeland is America. In some places they are better known as "Chernobrivtsy", unpretentious, charmingly decorative, very easy to grow. Even a beginner can handle them.

Planting marigolds

Seeds in open ground sown in wide deepened holes 1.5 cm apart so that it is not thick and the seedlings do not stretch and rot. Sprinkle soil on top thin layer 0.5-1 cm and pour gently. Let the watering regimen be moderate until sprouts appear, and they will appear very quickly. When 2-3 pairs of leaves appear, transplant the seedlings to permanent place at a sufficient distance (not thick) and deepen it 2 cm more.

Seeds can only be purchased for the first planting, and then harvested at the end of flowering. Leave a few flowers on the drying bush, let them finally wither. The main thing is that at this time it does not rain. Then you can easily extract ripe seeds from the calyx, which you dry and store until spring.

The rule “the sooner you plant, the sooner they bloom” is quite suitable for marigolds. If desired, you can sow seeds for seedlings in early spring. Keep seedlings in a warm and bright room until May. Then you can take the containers out into the open air for a week, so that the seedlings get used to the new conditions, and then plant them in a permanent place.

The earth should be loose: turf - humus - peat - sand (1: 1: 1: 0.5). To prevent the "black leg" provide flowers good drainage from 3 cm of crushed stone, expanded clay and sand. Prepared fertilizers can be applied to the soil before planting, but not fresh manure. If there is a threat of frost, cover the seedlings with a film - your seedlings will become strong.

Marigold Care

Marigolds can grow in shade and partial shade, but will bloom more luxuriantly in the sunniest spots. The main thing is that they should not be too wet and dark. Before germination, a temperature of 22-25 °C is desirable. In cold winds, flowers need protection. The soil should be well moistened during the growth period. Take care of the flowers evenly, without much busting. Of all the marigolds, the most unpretentious - rejected, will take root in any soil and will bloom profusely even without fertilizers. If you want to feed, then do it no more than once a month, otherwise the bush will grow intensively and will not bloom for a long time.

During growth, watering should be moderate, and later it will need to be reduced so that there is no stagnation of moisture, from which the plants get sick, rot and do not bloom. In the summer heat, it is better to water in the evenings. Marigolds may well live without top dressing, but they will respond very gratefully to them. Fertilizers are applied three times: when the seedlings grow up to 10 cm, when the first buds appear and at the beginning of flowering. You can use complex fertilizers.

Weed and loosen the soil regularly, as marigolds love loose soil and need to breathe. In the summer, prune - it will help form lush beautiful bushes. They will bloom more strongly if you remove faded inflorescences.
In autumn, after withering and drying, they are removed from the garden.

Marigolds can grow well in a pot. For this purpose, plant them in the fall, and then the bush will definitely bloom until spring.

Diseases and pests

The specific fragrant smell of marigolds and the same aroma of secretions from the roots into the soil is a kind of protection against Fusarium and other fungal diseases, not only for the flowers themselves, but for everything that grows nearby. No wonder professionals advise framing with marigolds almost the entire garden plot! For the same purpose, thyme is also planted.

The healthy appearance of marigolds depends on care. If it is too dry, spider mites may appear. With dampness - fungus and rot. In the first case, we correct the situation by watering and spraying, in the second - by drying and heat. When snails and slugs appear, it is better not to use poisonous sprays, as the flowers do not like this. From low temperature, dampness, humidity and thickening of plantings, dark brown wet spots may appear on the stems and leaves - gray rot. Destroy affected plants immediately before they infect healthy ones. It is noteworthy that if you bury in compost heap frozen marigolds, then no midges and other harmful creatures will start in it.

Marigolds and landscape design

You can plant marigolds almost anywhere, except near water bodies and in dense shade. Depending on the shape of the bush (spherical, compact, inverted pyramid) and the height of the stems (20-120 cm), try to plant the shortest ones along the edges of the borders, and the taller ones closer to the center of the flower bed so that all flowers are clearly visible in the flower garden. By color palette a flower bed can be almost monochromatic (for example, all shades of yellow-golden) or contrasting (red-white, brown-yellow). From summer to autumn, the flowers will not lose their decorative effect, because the dried inflorescences will hide under the blooming ones.

A common problem for all lovers is to plant the plot to the maximum with their favorite vegetables and fruits, and so that there is enough space for flowers. So, even beds with potatoes or any other vegetables can be planted around the perimeter with marigolds. It will be cute and fun!

Types of marigolds

Almost 60 types of marigolds are known to professional gardeners. Of these, only three are considered the most popular in our area: erect, rejected and thin-leaved. In America, they not only decorate garden beds but are also used in medicine. In some countries, they are used to make a popular seasoning - Imeretian saffron (leaves have a specific spicy fragrant aroma).

Flowers, by analogy with chamomile, can be simple, semi-double and double, similar to carnations. Dark green leaves are no less beautiful than flowers, which can stand in water for a long time when cut.

African marigolds erect(Tagetes erecta)

The plant is an annual. The bush has a clearly defined main shoot, it can be compact or spreading. The stems are strongly branched, up to 1.2 m high, branched, finely ribbed with large inflorescences-baskets up to 13 cm in diameter on long peduncles. Monochromatic inflorescences yellow shades or two colors. Blooms in late June - early July.

French marigolds rejected, small-colored (Taget es patula)

An annual with a straight branched stem, linear-lanceolate spiky-serrated leaves. inflorescence heads medium size sit on thickened legs. The leaves grow together. Blooms in the second half of July.

Thin-leaved (Tagetes tenuifolia)

Annual, low compact shrub 20-40 cm high, densely branched with small leaves. Small baskets of inflorescences are simple, sitting on short peduncles, collected in corymbose inflorescences of yellow or yellow-orange hues.

Anise marigolds(Tagetes anisala)

The stem, leaves and flowers have the smell and taste of tarragon, while being much nicer and stronger. The aroma can be heard even at a considerable distance. Blooms profusely all summer. Good for any type of flower garden, even with a limited amount of soil. Unpretentious, drought-resistant, but loves heat. Even in flowering form, it can easily transfer a transplant.

There are many more varieties of marigolds with different colors, terry and sizes of plants and flowers. For example, Variety "Harlequin":

Content

Fertilizers play an important role for the full development of horticultural and horticultural crops. All kinds of special additives improve the quality of the soil and allow you to collect good harvest. Green manure crops are very popular with farmers - herbaceous crops, with the help of which the composition of the soil is enriched. One of these plants are marigolds - beautiful and unpretentious garden flowers.

What are marigolds

These herbaceous plants have another name - tagetis, which they received in honor of the grandson of Jupiter named Tages. Mexico is considered the birthplace of marigolds, where the locals used this flower in various areas of life. Today it is distributed throughout the world and not only lands on garden plots but also found in the wild.

The plant has a straight ribbed stem, the height of which varies from 10 centimeters to 2 meters. Cirrus dissected leaves have a rich green coloring. Inflorescences differ in size, shape and come in a variety of colors. But even without flowers, marigolds look very beautiful, so they are often used in landscape design.

The plant is unpretentious, resistant to drought and easily tolerates transplantation. Marigolds can be planted both in shaded areas and in places well lit by the sun. Flowering continues from July until frost.

Green manure

Currently application herbaceous plants as a fertilizer is becoming more and more relevant. They enrich the earth with organic matter and nitrogen, have a positive effect on heavy, dense soils, improving their structure. Such natural fertilizers suppress the growth of weeds and protect plantings from diseases and pests. Effectively use them in new, only developed areas.

Marigolds (tagetis) are an excellent fertilizer due to the high content of trace elements. It contains a substance that prevents the development of a pathogenic group of microorganisms and endows the soil with antiseptic properties.

These flowers serve as a good bait for earthworms, whose excrement acts as fertilizer for cultivated plants.

Marigolds as a fertilizer

Gardeners have long known about the benefits that these flowers can provide for growing crops, and they are widely used in the most different options. It is known that even just planted near the beds, marigolds already enrich the soil with nutrients and protect plants from diseases and pests. This effect is enhanced many times if fertilizer is prepared from them by any of the methods proposed below.

1. The easiest way is to dig up the beds in the fall, evenly distribute the stems of marigolds on their surface and mix them with the ground. This will help clear the soil of pathogens of fungal diseases during the winter, enrich it with nutrients, and also has a positive effect on the water and air regime, improving the structure. Crops planted in the spring on this site grow much more actively. It should be noted that the greatest effect from the use of such fertilizer occurs in the second year and persists for 5 years.
2. Marigold infusion is an excellent fertilizer for rose bushes. To prepare it, take 2 kg of crushed dry parts of the plant, pour a bucket of water. Infuse for 2 weeks, then filter and use as a fertilizer, diluting with water (1 liter of infusion per bucket of water).
3. Composting is another popular way to use marigolds as fertilizer. Flowers, along with roots and leaves, are placed in a small hole prepared in advance, compacted and filled with water. A year later, marigolds rot and the resulting mixture is ready for use. This is best done in the fall.

Preparation of complex fertilizer

Very popular with gardeners liquid fertilizer prepared from marigolds with the addition of other plants (it can be tansy, nettle, chamomile, alfalfa, etc.). Its composition is especially rich in biologically active substances, horticultural crops they absorb this form of feeding faster, which increases its effectiveness. In addition, liquid fertilizer is prepared much faster than compost.

To prepare it, you will need a ceramic or plastic container (most importantly, not metal). It is filled with crushed plants, filled with water and pressed down with a load. The mass is stirred daily. After 14-15 days (it will happen faster in the sun), it darkens, bubbles and foam disappear. This indicates that the fertilizer is ready. By adding a little more bone meal and wood ash, you can greatly increase its effectiveness.

Apply this fertilizer for irrigation and foliar feeding. In the first case, the infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:9, and in the second - 1:20. Do this immediately before use.

In addition, tagetis growing on the site will repel insects with its smell.

In late autumn, preparing the beds for the next season, they are shed with liquid fertilizer prepared with the addition of marigolds. Such top dressing is also useful for young plants, especially in need of nitrogen.

gardening assistants

Experienced gardeners prepare from marigolds and a means to combat insect pests. It is absolutely harmless and can be used in any period of growth of cultivated plants. Two kilograms of marigolds must be carefully crushed and poured with water (5 liters). Let the resulting mass brew, placing in a warm place, then strain and add tar soap to the solution.

Marigolds are one of the most beautiful flowers in the plant kingdom. They are easy to grow and cultivate. Most important to the gardener, marigolds have an excellent reputation for blooming all summer long. That is why flowers are very popular. Marigolds are planted in summer cottages, in city parks, in flower beds near shopping centers. It is believed that marigolds are a simple and unpretentious plant, but despite the simplicity, it is very pleasant to consider this magnificent velvet tenderness.

There is nothing more fun or easier for a gardener than growing marigolds. Flowers are the real distributors of beauty among annual plants. In summer, the vibrant plant fills the gardens with a wealth of gold. The nobility of copper and the brilliance of brass illuminate summer cottages in autumn. The popularity of the flower is partly due to its ability to bloom all summer. But the main thing that marigolds love for is unpretentiousness and an amazing ability to transform a summer cottage. Inflorescences in an instant create a cheerful and cheerful mood for all the inhabitants of a country residence.

Flowers belong to the family Tagetes- subspecies are divided into annual and perennial varieties. Marigolds are aster plants, they are also called Compositae - one of the most numerous generic species on the planet with 32,913 varieties. Tagetes comes from the name of the Roman deity, the grandson of Jupiter. Exploring the plant in 1753, the famous naturalist and medical worker- Swede Carl Linnaeus, assigned a Latin name to the flower. Do not be surprised if you suddenly stumble upon a price tag in a store, where instead of marigolds, a price list for tagetes will be issued.

Marigolds - varieties and types

Marigold inflorescences can be chamomile or double, clove-shaped flower heads are often found, the inflorescence grows singly or in clusters. AT traditional medicine marigolds are respected for their useful and medicinal properties. AT wild nature there are about 50 types of flowers, but most marigolds cultivated by gardeners come from three main types:

Charming two-tone marigolds.

• Tagetes erecta- the highest and most vertical, grows in height from 90 to 150 centimeters. They are sometimes called African, or American Tagetes erect. Inflorescence up to 12 cm in diameter, terry with uniform colors. Plants love warm climates and thrive in hot, dry conditions.
• Tagetes patula - patula, or French marigolds, are somewhat smaller and more compact. They grow more in breadth than in height. Elegant and attractive, they have relatively modest flowers and usually do not grow whiter than 60 cm in height. Inflorescences resemble orange baskets or brownish tongues about 5 centimeters in diameter.
• An elegant variety of T. Tenuifolia - Mexican thin-leaved marigolds. Ring marigold, or golden marigold, is a species of wild marigold in the chamomile (Asteraceae) family. In the wild, the flower is common in the gardens of Mexico, also found in Central America, Colombia and Peru. This variety loves dry soil and makes a wonderful border for urban borders. Interesting fact- A variety of flowers are edible.

Marigolds offer a huge variety. Both African and French varieties are very aromatic, even too much. French varieties can be planted any time up to mid-summer. Tall American marigolds are best planted in early spring (after danger of frost has passed), they take longer to grow because the flowers mature much more slowly.

Marigold planting and cultivation

Growing marigolds is not a difficult task. They do not need a special cultivation approach, but some precautions must be taken when growing marigolds. Growing flowers is available in three ways: planting seeds, propagating by bushes, and more common - seedlings. Whatever planting method you choose, marigolds will delight you with a successful result.

In the spring, you can buy a variety of varieties, marigolds are presented in abundance in a specialized store. Seedlings should be planted in the ground from mid-May, when late frost is no longer expected.

The soil must be free of weeds and the seeds planted in an area with optimal sun exposure. African marigolds require an abundant supply of fertilizer. Marigolds grow best in moist soil, but tagetes require a lot of sunlight to fully develop their beauty.

• Light requirements: at least 6 hours of sun per day;
• hardy to the midday sun;
• must be protected from the wind.

Planting marigolds

Sunlight is needed in abundance for vigorous growth. Marigolds have varieties with a musky, pungent or completely odorless flower, it all depends on the species being propagated. Some of them are known to repel insects and pests.

• Marigolds thrive when they are on open areas filled with sunlight. The plant feels great in the sun and calmly withstands dry and hot summers.
• Although they grow in almost any soil, marigolds thrive best in moderately fertile, slightly depleted soil. In order for the plants to bloom luxuriantly, the soil should be prepared. Dig planting holes about 10-15 centimeters deep and remove stones.
• Optional: Add a granular fertilizer to the planting holes to Agriculture general purpose. When using fertilizer, handle it with care. Do not place fertilizer directly on seeds or plants. It is necessary to cultivate fertilizer in the soil.

Two-tone marigolds are by no means uncommon.

Marigolds can be propagated by seeds. Plants take about 45 days to flower after sowing. Marigold seeds should be sown at a distance of 2 cm from each other. Cover the seeds with 1/4-inch potting soil. Water is sufficient. Plants will appear within a few days. When true leaves are formed, they are transplanted into separate containers or outside.

Planting seeds

Seeds can be sown directly outdoors in the garden when the soil is warm. The seed sowing depth is no more than 5 cm. You can pre-sow the seeds indoors in special pots, but they germinate so easily outside that there really is no advantage. Marigolds germinate within three to four days in warm weather, and mature plants start flowering in about 8 weeks.

• Plant your seeds in sunny or sunny locations.
• Place the seed at a distance of 3 centimeters from each other. As shoots appear, small seedlings are thinned out, increasing the distance to 15 cm between seedlings.
• The wells are well watered before planting.
• Water each plant thoroughly after planting;
• The depth of planting seedlings is 7-8 cm;
• it is desirable to add horn shavings to poor soil;
• The soil should be well drained, moist and fertile.
• Add potash fertilizers to prolong the flowering period.
• Pin the first flowers before they open. This will increase the number of colors.

Yellow field, marigolds resemble a field of dandelions.

With proper soil preparation, you can create Better conditions for a long flowering season marigolds. That is why you must carefully plunder the soil and free the desired planting site from old roots, stones and weeds. Before planting seeds in the ground, you can first wrap them in a wet cloth for 24 hours, for better germination.

Hard ground can be made more permeable to water and air. For this purpose, they are drained with sand. If the soil, on the contrary, is too sandy, then ripe compost or humus should be added to it. These activities will help ensure best performance soil. Increase the concentration of nutrients and better retain water in the ground.

Sometimes, marigolds are so similar to spring daffodils!

Planting seedlings

If the task is to get more lush flowering and there is a desire to achieve results as soon as possible, then you should think about planting marigolds with germinated seedlings. The process completely repeats the actions of landing in open ground, with a time difference.

After waiting for the first half of March, you should start planting seeds of upright varieties of marigolds, in April they plant undersized varieties. It is better to plant marigolds in pre-prepared soil, in boxes. Pour expanded clay on the bottom of the box to provide drainage. Before planting germinated seeds, the soil is disinfected with a weak solution of pink potassium permanganate.

The composition of the soil should include peat briquettes mixed with sand, it’s good if you can add turf and a little humus to it. The soil mixture is prepared in equal proportions. Seeds are planted in the ground at room temperature of about 22-24 ° C.

We water the plantings with a spray gun, and wait for the first shoots, which must certainly appear in 4 days. Don't be alarmed if this doesn't happen. Perhaps the seeds were not fresh or dry and stale, in which case the marigolds will sprout on the seventh day. After waiting for the shoots, we rearrange the boxes in a dry, cool, but well-lit place. For reference:

• the plant does not tolerate a drop in temperature, avoid dropping it below 10 ° C, otherwise the marigolds stop blooming, or even grow;
• it happens that the seedlings are too long in a pot, then when planting, try to deepen it a little more than it should be;
• you should not pinch marigolds after planting seedlings, this will noticeably slow down their growth and they will be late with flowering.

Fertilizer and marigolds

Moderate top dressing can be carried out during the entire growth period, it is good to use a complex general garden fertilizer. Perhaps only by avoiding humus, since the root system can die when interacting with it. Marigolds are fed no more than 3 times per season. The most important thing is not to overdo it, otherwise, the marigolds will refuse to bloom.

Surprisingly, growing in barren land, in which there is a lack of nutrients, gives more inflorescences and splendor. Whereas, on nutrient rich substrates, the plant will only increase the amount of leaf mass and produce sparse and small blooms.

That is why fertilizer is recommended to be added only at the stage of cultivation and very sparingly. As for the plants on the balcony growing in a small amount soil, a liquid fertilizer with a low nitrogen content is recommended (feeding is carried out once every four weeks).

Marigolds - pruning

Garden marigolds are grown in our regions, so they cannot be cut. Only a wilted or diseased leaf should be removed in a timely manner. If the withered parts are regularly removed, the plant not only looks more beautiful, but also gives more colors until late autumn. Anyone who intends to propagate next year's marigold flower from seeds himself must allow the flowers to fully mature and bear fruit.

Marigolds - watering

During the rooting of the plant after planting seedlings, watering is carried out in moderate portions. On a hot summer day, watering is done in the late afternoon, however, as for others horticultural crops. Actively growing flowers are watered more abundantly, but strictly monitored and do not allow the formation of stagnation of water masses. The root system of marigolds is too tender, and excessive watering leads to its decay.

Marigolds, pests and diseases

As we have noticed, abundant watering and stagnation of water in the soil leads to seedling disease. Unfortunately, marigold diseases contribute heavy rains and attack in the form of snails and slugs. A weak solution of chlorine liquid will help drive away “uninvited guests”. To do this, it is necessary to pour it into shallow containers (for example, along the bottoms cut off from plastic bottles) and place it in a flower bed with marigolds.

The second misfortune - the complete opposite, awaits us during a dry summer. In warm, dry weather, marigolds attack spider mites. Luckily, insects are easily dealt with with a liquid tincture combining yarrow and onion. In order for the infusion to more effectively penetrate into all corners of the flower bed, we will need the same spray gun. Pre-spraying the entire flower bed will help to completely avoid the tick.

The third trouble is gray rot and fungus. The reason for the occurrence is the shading of the area, high humidity, rainy summer. First, plan your flower bed in a lighter clearing, or transplant the flowers from shade to light if you can't immediately place it in the sun. Secondly, diseased plants found should be removed. Even if gray rot is only on the leaves, eliminate the flower completely.

Marigold medicinal properties and contraindications

For medicinal purposes, their marigold flowers produce oil. The drug is used in the treatment of skin diseases, the oil heals wounds after burns well. It is easy to get oil at home. It will take vegetable oil, in a ratio of 1:10, add marigold flowers to it and insist for a couple of weeks.

Fresh flowers plucked from the garden can be eaten by adding them to salads. Rumor has it that eating marigolds helps prevent eye diseases and even restore vision. Especially eating flowers is recommended for people whose work is associated with eye strain. Behind the monitor, for example.

Marigold decoctions are popular. They are taken for pain in the joints, in the treatment of arthrosis. Flowers are brewed in a glass at the rate of 25 grams per 250 grams of boiling water. Flowers can be prepared for the whole winter, after drying the marigolds in the sun. The broth is drunk for two weeks, up to two liters per day.

If you take 15 grams almond oil and mix with it 25 grams of dry inflorescence blanks, you can get a wonderful lip cream. You will have to insist on the balm for a couple of weeks, but it's worth it. In cosmetology it excellent tool to quickly heal chapped lips.

Cooking recipes abound with tips to use marigolds as a seasoning in salads and soups. also welcomes a similar seasoning to give spice and individual taste sensations.

Contraindication to the use of marigolds - any individual intolerance or allergic reaction. In general, there are no medical contraindications in patients. Good video where the medicinal properties of marigolds are revealed, we look at the YouTube channel: