Erect and thin-leaved marigolds - varieties of favorite Chernobrivtsev

Growing seedlings

Growing marigold seedlings

Immediately after sowing the seeds, the seedling boxes are placed in a warm, dark place at a temperature of 18–20°C. As soon as the seedlings appear, remove the cover and place the plants on a light windowsill, initially shading them from too bright sunlight. The temperature is maintained within 17–18°C - colder air will lead to slower growth and tissue damage by fungal diseases. At high temperatures and lack of light, the seedlings will turn out pale, elongated, and weak.

In warm weather, boxes with young seedlings are taken outside, trying to protect them from the sharp spring wind. Such hardening will have a positive effect on the stability of planting material.

During the growing period, depending on the length of the period, one or two feedings are carried out with a complex water-soluble fertilizer. The modern universal drug Kristalon has proven itself well.

For the first feeding, which is carried out 10–14 days after germination, you can use Crystalon green, which contains the most important nutritional elements in equal parts.

For the second feeding, carried out 5-6 days before planting seedlings, it is rational to use Crystalon yellow, which will help strengthen the root system and improve the survival rate of plants during transplantation.

Water marigold seedlings infrequently, but abundantly, making sure that the water does not stagnate in the trays. The accumulated water is drained no later than an hour after watering.

Description of the velvet

These plants are famous for their low maintenance and ease of cultivation. Flowering begins with the onset of summer and lasts until late autumn.

marigold flowers photo

You can see how these flowers grow in their natural environment in the countries of South America. Chernobrivtsevs are also bred in Mexico, Chile, passionate Brazil, mysterious Morocco, Belgium and many other countries, where their flowers were used not only for medicinal purposes, but also in cooking.

• As a seasoning for meat dishes, marigolds help reduce stress on the body.
• Using the plant for decorative purposes allows you to decorate your garden plot with large, beautiful flowers.

You can find simple or double flowers of yellow, orange and brick-brown shades collected in baskets. The flower is medium in size, has a cylindrical cover, which includes leaves fused together. Along the edges there are reed female flowers. The linear achenes taper slightly towards the base and have a black or black-brown fruit. Marigold seeds can be planted no more than 4 years after their collection; subsequently, the seed loses its ability to grow. Owners of this plant can enjoy an unusual aroma somewhat reminiscent of the smell of a garden aster.

Benefits of the plant

Marigolds have great medicinal value. They contain carotene, lutein, vitamin B9, C, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron and selenium. All this helps fight cataracts, diabetes, pancreatic diseases, bronchitis and colds, etc.

In a culture of healthy eating, dried and ground marigold flowers are used in spices such as hops-suneli and are called Imeretian saffron (read about the differences between saffron and marigolds here). Their consumption helps normalize digestion and strengthen the immune system.

The entire plant exudes a characteristic spicy aroma, which is due to the content of essential oils in the inflorescences and other parts of marigolds. Appropriate products containing these oils calm the nervous system and have a beneficial effect on people with mental disorders.

Chernobrivtsi have become famous for their aroma not only in cooking and medicine, but also bring considerable benefits in the garden. Planted in close proximity to other plants, they protect them from nematodes, aphids and other insects that cannot tolerate the aroma of marigolds. By driving away pests, marigolds attract bees, which pollinate neighboring crops, thereby ensuring high yields.

You can read more about the medicinal properties of marigolds here, and here we talked about the use of marigolds.

Application

To prepare a healing infusion of tagetes, you need to take 1 tablespoon of dried crushed flowers, pour 1 liter of boiling water over them, let it brew for 3 hours, then strain. Take 1 glass 30 minutes before meals for a course of a month.

The beneficial properties of tagetes allow you to use its infusion or decoction for soothing baths that relieve anxiety, depression and stress. And fragrant flowers have occupied their rightful place in cooking for a long time. They are used in salads, baked goods, soups, pilaf, sauces, marinades and as a seasoning.

Tagetes is widely used in medicine and cooking.

Tagetes powder, called Imeretian saffron, is added to the popular Caucasian dish satsivi. And in France, flower seasoning is produced industrially. If you preserve vegetables with saffron leaves, cucumbers and tomatoes will be extremely aromatic and crispy.

Dried inflorescences collected from bushes can be saved and subsequently eaten 2-3 pieces before mental work or added to salads. And if you pour a bucket of dried flowers into the compost pit, this will help get rid of the midges around it.

As you can see, Tagetes is an ideal plant for beginners in floriculture, unpretentious and hardy. However, even experienced lovers of beautiful flower beds will rejoice at the extraordinary variety of varieties, bright caps of inflorescences, openwork foliage, wonderful aroma and beneficial properties of Tagetes.

Beautiful examples in landscape design

The use of tagetes is widespread in landscape design. In almost any locality you can find flower beds or flowerpots with bright sunny flowers. Many owners use Chernobrivtsy to decorate their land plots and surrounding areas.

• Bright orange pom-poms of low-growing varieties surrounded by silvery cineraria create a beautiful color combination against a bright green lawn.
• Dwarf species of the same variety with double caps of flowers, planted in a wide semicircular flowerpot, will add a unique charm to the surrounding space.
• A carpet pattern of plants of the same height, but different in color and flower shape, will decorate a square or local area.
• A gorgeous peacock spread its tail across the green lawn, decorated with even spots of bright shades of dwarf marigolds.
• Planted in pots or other containers, low-growing marigolds will serve as a striking decoration for balconies or porch areas.

To learn how to grow marigold seedlings from seeds, watch the video below.

Where are marigolds used in garden design?

Tagetes is used in the garden for various purposes - to decorate borders and paths, as part of flower arrangements in flower beds, even in mass carpet plantings.

When planting marigolds, you should take into account their growth height and flowering time so that tall-growing varieties do not cover lower plants.

To decorate borders, it is best to use thin-leaved varieties of Chernobryvtsev, characterized by low growth and abundant flowering. Upright ones will be an excellent decoration for any flower bed.

Flowers grow well in pots and other containers. This makes it possible to place a beautiful and wildly flowering bush not only along paths or in the center of a flower arrangement, but also at the entrance to the gazebo. Marigolds will enliven the summer veranda, recreation area and other open areas of the garden, giving them cheerful colors and a good mood.

The bright, warm and rich colors of Chernobryvtsy go well with other plants of dark purple, lilac, and blue shades, for example, asters. Their combination with red, burgundy and orange colors should be avoided.

[edit] Breeding

In decorative floriculture, hybrid varieties of marigolds are widely used, of which there are a huge number, so flower growers have plenty to choose from. Anise, French, upright, thin-leaved varieties of this plant are especially distinguished.

Marigolds rightfully have the reputation of being very unpretentious and not demanding on growing conditions. This is especially true for rejected marigolds, which grow well even along busy highways, on poor soils and under constant exposure to exhaust gases.

However, marigolds are not indifferent to caring attitude and care, in gratitude for which they give their owners intensive growth and lush, long-lasting flowering. All types of marigolds grow best in open areas, although they will still bloom in a shaded area of ​​the garden.

Plants bloom intensively from early June until the first frost. Despite their attractive appearance, marigolds have an unpleasant specific smell, so the plants should be planted together with other flowers.

The optimal temperature for the growth of young plants is 18-20°C. At temperatures below 10°C, the leaves acquire an anthocyanin coating and growth stops. At sub-zero temperatures, plants die. Marigolds do not need intense sunlight, although they achieve maximum decorative value in sunny places.

Soil and watering

Marigolds require nutritious, well-moistened soils in the first half of summer.

Marigolds are considered drought-resistant, but at the beginning of growth they need watering, otherwise the plants will be puny and the inflorescences will be small. Marigolds, especially erect ones, have a negative attitude towards excess moisture in the soil. In rainy weather, their large inflorescences begin to rot. And if the soil is oversaturated with water, the plants begin to die from fungal diseases of the roots. Spring fertilization results in strong growth and delayed flowering.

The soil in the place where these plants are planned to be placed must be fertile, neutral, and loamy. If marigolds are grown on poor soils, then regular fertilizing is necessary, which should be carried out during the growing season (2-3 times).

Planting and propagation

Marigolds are propagated by seeds. The seeds of the plant remain viable for 3-5 years.

Marigold seeds can be sown in open ground only after the danger of frost has passed and the temperature of the top layer of soil (about 5 cm) reaches 15-20°C. The first shoots appear 5-10 days after sowing. It is advisable to cover the soil with non-woven material (acrylic, lutrasil). In this case, you can sow a week or a week and a half earlier than usual and thereby speed up flowering.

When growing seedlings, erect marigolds are sown earlier than others, in mid-March. Rejected and thin-leaved marigolds are sown in early April. If these deadlines are met, flowering of all three species will begin in June.

It is not difficult to grow marigold seedlings indoors in a bright window, or even better in film greenhouses, where the plants will be the strongest. To ensure healthy seedlings, you need loose, nutritious soil (1 part humus + 1 part peat + 1 part turf soil + 0.5 parts sand), an even temperature of 18-22 ° C and moderate watering.

Rejected marigolds are less demanding on soil and temperature. Although marigold seedlings are considered unpretentious, it is better to use fresh soil for sowing, especially for angustifolia marigolds, which are more susceptible to blackleg than other species.

How to breed marigolds

Marigolds reproduce by seeds.

They can be sown in open soil, starting from the second half of May until mid-June. Young shoots appear within a week and a half. If you cover the soil with artificial acrylic material, you can sow marigolds a week or two earlier. This is done to speed up the flowering of the crop.

When propagating flowers by seedlings, the erect variety of marigolds is sown first, starting in mid-March. So, flowering starts in June. It is best to grow seedlings in greenhouses with film. A less preferable option is indoor breeding.

The substrate must contain the following parts:

• Sand.
• Layer of turf.
• Humus.
• Peat.

The main thing is that the soil is nutritious and loose.

The temperature is maintained at a stable level and is equal to 20 degrees Celsius. Moderate watering is required.

It is necessary to create drainage at the bottom of the box or flowerpot for future seedlings. This can be done using materials such as crushed stone, broken brick, expanded clay. There must be through holes at the bottom of the container.

Propagation by seeds:

• Flower seeds are large in size, so they can be arranged in grooves.
• It is important to prevent the sowing from becoming crowded, otherwise the seedlings will suffer from shade.
• The easiest way to maintain the correct distance between plants is to sow sprouted planting material.

The germination technique is as follows:

• The seeds are placed on a saucer, having previously been wrapped in wet gauze.
• Then the container should be wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in a warm place.
• The seeds will swell in two to three days.
• Now they need to be sprinkled with earth, making sure that there is enough layer to prevent drying out, but not too much, since then they will not sprout at all.
• The next step is to water the top layer of soil and cover it with paper.
• The boxes are transferred to a warm place with an air temperature of at least 25 degrees Celsius.
• It is important to ensure that the substrate is constantly moistened.
• After a week, the air temperature is lowered by 5 degrees, and the hatching shoots begin to be intensively illuminated.
• Dense seedlings should be pruned. Marigolds can be replanted at any time.

Features of caring for marigolds

Most flower growers choose marigolds, since this plant is completely unpretentious in care - it grows quickly, germinates well, is rarely susceptible to diseases, and does not require the creation of a special microclimate. But growing these flowers has certain specifics, which we will discuss further.

Planting seeds

Most often, seed producers are advised to plant marigolds in mid-spring, deepening them by about a few centimeters.
The planting materials do not need to be soaked beforehand, but it is still advisable to do this by wrapping the seeds in a damp bag or cloth. The sprouts will sprout in about one week. Plant marigold seeds in fertile and light soil. If you make the soil yourself, you can prepare the following mixture:

• 1 part peat;
• 1 part humus;
• 0.5 parts sand;
• 1 part turf.

The soil must be treated with a solution of manganese or fungicide for disinfection. Ready-made store-bought flower soil is also suitable for sowing.

The water in the boxes for marigold seedlings should not stagnate, that is, you need to make a drainage drain at the bottom of the container (if there is none) and place a small stone on the bottom.

The seeds are planted at a distance of 1.6-2.1 cm from each other, making small grooves for this. Cover with a small layer of soil on top. A week after sowing, the first shoots will appear. In addition to the method described above, seeds can also be sown directly into the ground. This should be done in early June, when the earth has warmed up well. It must be taken into account that plants sown in the ground will bloom much later, unlike marigolds, which are planted in seedlings.

Requirements for light and soil

Marigolds are planted in open ground after all spring frosts have passed.
These flowers are quite sensitive to low temperatures, so it is advisable not to rush into planting and wait until the soil warms up thoroughly. This plant requires good nutritious soil, neutral and loamy soil is suitable. If the soil is sandy, then you need to make it more dense by adding humus or black soil.

These plants bloom most magnificently under bright sunlight, so it is advisable to choose a place for planting that is light and open, or in slight partial shade. When planting, it is necessary to take into account the variety of marigolds: tall ones are planted at a distance of approximately 45 cm, medium ones - approximately 35 cm, low-growing ones - at a distance of 10-18 cm.

During growth, seedlings need good watering. But when flowering occurs, watering must be limited to prevent rotting of the root system of the flowers. If the soil is sufficiently nutritious, then the flowers do not need to be fed. If the soil in the flower garden is not fertile enough, then you need to add bait several times during the growing season.

Caring for marigolds consists of loosening the soil, weeding and timely watering. If you want to get good flowering of your planted plants, be sure to remove faded buds.

Pests and diseases

These plants are very resistant to various types of pests and diseases.
Sometimes gray rot appears on marigolds. In this case, the infected bush must be removed so that this disease does not spread to healthy plants. In hot weather, spider mites can form on marigolds. These pests can be neutralized using chemicals, or using traditional methods - infusions of hot pepper or onions. As you already understood from the article, marigolds are universal flowers that can be suitable both for the interior design of a room and for the decoration of home and garden areas. Growing them will not require a lot of effort and time from you.

Marigold flowers

Care

Subsequent flower care consists of weeding, moderate watering, and a one-time application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (according to the annotation). In dry weather conditions (if desired), the soil in the holes with erect marigolds is mulched with sawdust, pine needles, and chopped straw. This will allow moisture to remain in the soil longer. Drought can cause aphids and spider mites to appear. Pests are washed off with a concentrated soap solution, and the flowers are treated with any pesticides. Light-loving plants will not disappear in the shade, but will “repay” with sparse flowering. High humidity coupled with a lack of sun can lead to disease in the erect marigold and its death.

On a note! Timely removal of faded buds is the secret to long and prolific flowering!

Secrets of success

Marigolds are not pretentious. But in order for them to show themselves in all their glory, they need to be provided with a nutritious, loose substrate that is well permeable to air and moisture. Acidic soil that retains water will destroy the plant.

In the spring, when the bush is gaining strength and preparing to bloom, it should be supported.

Buy universal fertilizer after carefully studying the composition. The high nitrogen content in the fertilizer interferes with the formation of buds. Before applying fertilizer, it should be diluted with warm water.

When replanting Marigolds, the new pot should be literally 1-2 cm more spacious than the old one. The root system of the shrub is not powerful, so you should not buy a deep container. It would be better if it were a little wider.

Marigolds will not tire you of taking care of themselves, but they will require basic care

Therefore, by surrounding the plant with even minimal attention, you can achieve regular, long-lasting flowering and lush, lush greenery.

Landing

First you need to decide what kind of plant you need. Agree, it’s not very pleasant when a bush 60 centimeters high grows on a balcony or windowsill and blocks all the sunlight.

Once you have decided on the variety, you can decide how exactly you want to grow your flowers. If it is already the middle of summer (since marigolds are usually sown in May), then you can purchase a small bush that has already sprouted and transplant it to your flowerbed - with a high probability the plant will take root in a new place.

You can also purchase seeds at a flower shop and sow the soil with them. It happens like this: a small ditch is dug, about 5 centimeters deep, and filled with water. The water should be slightly absorbed into the soil, after which the seeds are sown. We fill the furrow with the seeds with soil and wait for the first shoots. This usually happens a few weeks after planting (two or three weeks). It happens that seeds germinate too close to each other

In this case, you need to wait until the plant’s root system has strengthened (about a week or two) and carefully plant the flowers in a way that is convenient

If you are afraid that the seeds will not sprout (although this almost never happens), then you can prepare them for sowing in advance. To do this, you need to place the seeds in a separate shallow container (any flat saucer will work very well for this purpose), cover the top with a cloth soaked in warm water, wrap it in a small transparent bag to create a greenhouse effect and place it in a warm or very sunny place.

In the spring, you can plant seeds for seedlings yourself. You can do this even from the beginning of March, because for how long (before the onset of May for sure) the seedlings will be at your home. In order for all the flowers to bloom at the same time, you need to know the approximate time during which the plant will give its first shoots, begin to stretch upward and take root and continue to grow after transplantation. So, in mid-March it is worth sowing upright marigolds. But thin-leaved and low-growing ones should be planted after about a month, that is, from the beginning of April. If everything was done correctly, then all three varieties will begin to bloom at approximately the same time - in June.

One of the main conditions for properly growing seedlings is the presence of soil suitable for the plant. It is necessary to prepare a mixture of peat, humus and turf in a 1: 1 ratio. Then add sand to half of any of the components (that is, 0.5). As a result, we get the following composition: turf (1), peat (1), humus (1), sand (0.5).

At the bottom of the improvised pot, it is necessary to lay a drainage system of sand, crushed stone and expanded clay, at least three centimeters high. This must be done so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil and does not provoke rotting of the roots from dampness.

After preparing the soil, you can plant the seeds. To do this, make small grooves with your finger (the distance between them should be at least two centimeters) and pour the seeds inside, then dig with a small layer of soil. Watering during this period must be done very carefully and always from a close distance, so that the water pressure does not erode the soil and wash the seeds to the surface. Then we transfer the container to a warm place where the temperature is maintained at least 20 degrees.

The soil should always be moist, so constant watering must be ensured. When the first shoots appear (this usually happens after a week or two), the container must be moved to a place where there is enough sunlight, and the temperature should be maintained no higher than 18, but not less than 15 degrees.

Bedding

May is a good calendar time for decorating flower beds, alleys, and flower beds, provided that the weather has stabilized and there is no threat of frost (temperature drop below 0⁰C). 5-7 days before “relocating” the seedlings to open areas, it is advisable to take the pots outside. This will allow the plant to partially adapt to new conditions and harden them. It is better to plant when the roots of erect marigolds tightly entwine the container and show that they are already cramped inside the pot. The bushes are planted together with a lump of earth; there is no need to free the roots from the soil. Erect marigolds love loose, soft soil, but take root well in any terrain. It is advisable to soften too heavy clay soil with a mixture of peat and sand. The seedlings are distributed among the holes. The distance between the bushes is determined by the characteristics of the variety. Thus, the optimal gap between short, erect marigolds is 15 cm, medium-sized ones – up to 25 cm, tall and giant ones – about 40 cm.

Description

Marigolds have the international name Tagetes (Latin: Tagétes). These plants are able to quickly adapt to climate change. The flower owes this ability to its root system, which is very well developed. Also, the stem, which has a high level of strength, helps flowers quickly adapt to changes in climatic conditions.

• The height of the bush plantings of the plant can reach a maximum of 2 meters.
• The leaf shape of marigolds is pinnately divided. They are painted in a rich green shade. Sometimes there are representatives of this species that have whole leaves.
• The flowers are golden, yellow and brown in color. The petals of the plant feel very similar to velvet.
• The plant is distinguished by its ability to flower for a long time. Usually this process occurs at the beginning of summer and lasts until the end of the autumn season.
• An easy way to reproduce. One plant can produce a large number of seeds.
• Life expectancy can reach 4 years.

If we talk about the Antigua marigold variety, it is worth emphasizing that the plant is considered dwarf, its maximum height is 30 centimeters. The leaves of the flowers have an elongated shape, and their edging consists of small teeth. They are painted green. The leaves are attached to the stem by a petiole. The basket of flowers is terry, and it is painted in yellow or golden shades.

Flowers can usually be 10 centimeters in diameter. Tagetes flowering can last up to 2 weeks. If you promptly clear the plant of buds that have faded, you can prolong the flowering process.

Types of erect marigolds

The original form has a rather large stem, capable of growing up to 1.5 m in height. Breeders have developed a hybrid version of dwarf size, the height of the stems barely reaches 20 cm. This variety is called African marigold Lunacy (Tagetes Lunacy).

Antigua marigolds (Tagetes Antigua) are also dwarf erect marigolds. The variety is distinguished by a variety of shades of yellow - there are petals of lemon, golden, bright yellow and even red tones. The diameter of the inflorescences can reach 15cm.

Marigolds Gelber Stein (Tagetes Gelberstein) - the flowers are very similar to the inflorescences of chrysanthemums, but differ in their small diameter - no more than 7-8 cm. The length of the stem is 70-80cm.

Marigold Vanilla (Tagetes Vanilla) is a tall variety – a hybrid. It stands out for its unusual and uncharacteristic flower color - creamy or creamy. Terry inflorescences.

Planting Chernobrivtsev in open ground

For seedlings purchased or grown with your own hands, you need to choose a sunny area. The more light the tagetes receive, the brighter they will bloom. Although if there is shadow everywhere in your area, it’s also not scary - marigolds are not picky about light.

This, by the way, can be not only a flowerbed, but also a vegetable garden. Many pests are afraid of the bright smell of flowers. But don’t forget: some varieties of marigolds do not smell at all, so if you buy seeds for eco-protection of your garden, look not only at the picture on the package, but also read all the information printed there.

Distance between bushes:

• Plant tall varieties 45 cm apart;
• medium-sized (which should grow to 35-60 cm) - 15 or 20 cm from the neighboring bush;
• short ones - 15 cm from each other.

Tagetes is not picky about the soil. Although the most favorite soil of this crop is fertile loam.

An experienced gardener will tell you more about transferring seedlings to a flowerbed:

Caring for a flowering plant

• Watering. Yesterday's seedlings need a lot of water, so water freshly planted marigolds often, pouring a large amount of water onto the flowerbed. And when the plants begin to grow buds, watering should be reduced.
• Feeding. Marigolds are not too demanding and can bloom safely without it. But if the soil on the site is very poor, you can give the flowers fertilizer three times. The first time - when the plants reach a height of 10 cm, the second - when the buds begin to form, and the third - when the bushes are in full bloom. You can use organic matter (mulching with cut green manure, rotted compost) or complex mineral fertilizer for street/garden flowers. You can use something available like Nitroammofoski.
• Weeding. An important point in care. If you pull out weeds, fluffing up the soil around the flowers with a hoe, you will rid the plant of parasites stealing nutrients from the soil, and saturate the soil with oxygen, helping the roots of the tagetes to breathe.
• Pests. During rainy periods, the flowerbed may be attacked by slugs, and during dry periods, by aphids.
• Diseases. This crop is considered not painful, but if the flowerbed is overwatered or it rains for a long time, rot may begin in the flower rows.
• Trimming. If the flowerbed is small, and the bushes grow strongly and (say) crowd out other ornamental crops, they can be carefully trimmed, giving the bush a more compact shape. However, you should not trim the buds. They are cut off only in one case - when they fade (unless, of course, you are going to save them for the seeds). If you remove spent buds from the bushes in a timely manner, you will help the bush save the energy spent on forming seeds. Thanks to this, it will bloom more generously.

It is also believed that fresh leaves or dried marigold inflorescences can be added to salads.

In autumn, annual bushes are removed from the flowerbed. Perennials in our conditions can overwinter and bloom the next year, so there is no need to touch them.

How does Tagetes reproduce?

Traditionally, we sow Chernobrivtsi with seeds. You can not only buy them, but also collect them from your own flowerbed, waiting until yesterday’s flower is completely dry (harvesting takes place in dry weather, because seeds that have become soggy from rain are difficult to dry completely, so they will not be stored well). The germination rate of such seed is excellent; the seeds remain alive even after 2-4 years of storage. One thing: if the variety is rare, it is better to buy seed, since homemade seeds may not convey the characteristics of its flowering.

You can see a demonstration of bags of seeds of different varieties, as well as sowing these same seeds for seedlings in this video:

If you need to grow seedlings in central Russia or Belarus, then in warmer regions (southern Russia, Ukraine, Moldova) tagetes can be sown directly into open ground. However, this can also be done in colder regions, just cover the flowerbed with non-woven material for 15 days, which will protect the seeds and sprouts from return frosts.

Seedling bushes will bloom earlier than marigolds that were sown directly into a flower bed.

Time to sow seeds in open ground: mid to late May. Sowing for seedlings: mid to late April (a month and a half before planting in the ground, which should be done somewhere in late May or early June).

By the way! Having sowed tagetes once, you can be sure that next year it will sprout again in this flowerbed, since these flowers reproduce well by self-sowing.

Marigolds to help the gardener

Few people know that marigolds are extremely useful plants for the garden. The voracious mole cricket does not appear in areas where these magnificent summer flies grow in abundance. The smell of marigolds also repels other soil pests, such as wireworms and nematodes. Read more about this in the article Marigolds (Tagetes) - will get rid of nematodes.

By sowing several rows of flowers around the perimeter of the site and between the beds of tomatoes, peppers or eggplants, you can protect them from pests and at the same time decorate the site.

Growing these flowers near onion beds will help protect vegetables from attack by the onion fly.

To combat caterpillars and weevils on fruit trees, strawberries and berry bushes, an infusion of marigolds is used. To do this, take fresh raw materials and prepare the drug according to the following recipe:

• half a bucket of chopped greens is poured into 5 liters of hot water;
• infuse the drug for 48 hours, stirring several times a day;
• filter the infusion, add 40 g of soap shavings.

To achieve the destruction of pests, plants are treated at least 2-4 times.

Video about planting and growing marigolds

Wonderful marigolds are the most popular flowers - rarely is a yard complete without these bright plants. Such universal recognition is not at all surprising - the colorful variety of resistant annuals will decorate the flower garden throughout the season, and their cultivation does not require much trouble.

Popular varieties of Mexican marigolds

Lemon jam is a low-growing, spreading bush with a spherical shape. Height 25-30 cm. Abundantly covered with small (2-3 cm) simple flowers. The color of the petals is bright yellow. The foliage is small, delicate, dark green. Used when decorating borders, ridges, flower beds.

Orange jam is a low-growing spherical bush with thin foliage. During the flowering period from June to October, the plant is densely covered with simple inflorescences with orange petals. The diameter of the flowers is 1.5-2 cm. The culture serves as a wonderful backdrop for a flower bed.

Lilu lemon is a densely branched variety up to 30 cm high. The plant is a spreading bush with pinnately dissected leaves. The abundant flowering of Tagetes will be a pleasant surprise for gardeners. Small inflorescences of the basket with a diameter of 2-3 cm densely cover the bush. Color: various shades of yellow. The plant is suitable for growing in flowerpots on the balcony.

Orange gnome is an annual with dense small foliage, the height of the bush is 20-30 cm. Miniature inflorescences reach only 2-3 cm in diameter, but due to their large number they create the impression of a bright and variegated carpet. The inflorescences consist of 5 orange reed petals with a darker base. This unpretentious crop is suitable for borders, borders, rockeries, and growing in containers. It blooms early, in early June, and delights with colors until October.

The Mimimix variety is a compact, light bush with a pleasant aroma. The low culture is characterized by branching and an abundance of small flowers. Their color is various shades of yellow and orange. Flowers love plenty of sun and regular watering. Marigolds are the orderlies of the garden; they repel a large number of insects - pests - from vegetables. The photo shows that thin-leaved marigolds are planted not only in flower beds, but also in beds in the garden.

Classification of marigolds

Marigold bushes are often classified by height.

There are:

• Low-growing, up to 45 cm in height;
• Medium, from 45 to 60 cm;
• Tall, from 60 to 90 cm;
• Giants growing above 90 cm in height.

In terms of height, erect marigolds are also often distinguished:

• casing (low and medium);
• cutting (most often tall varieties that can last up to 3 weeks in cutting).

Also, all marigolds are usually classified according to the shape of the inflorescences:

• Carnation flowers consist mainly of several rows of wide reed flowers, which are sometimes fused and resemble tubular flowers.
• Chrysanthemum-like flowers consist of highly overgrown tubular flowers, which can be very dense or, conversely, loose, sticking out in different directions.

There are also densely double, spherical and semi-double inflorescences.

Disease and pest control

As experience in growing marigolds shows, their main advantage is immunity to most diseases and resistance to attacks by insect pests. This is due to the presence of phytoncides in plants, which repel many insects. However, particular weather conditions or other nuances can provoke the development of putrefactive processes not only at the roots, but also at the inflorescences of the crop. To normalize the condition of the plants, you should adjust the soil moisture level in the flowerbed and, if necessary, replant the crops.

As for prolonged drought, spider mites may appear on flowers. To combat the pest, it is first necessary to increase the humidity; for this it is recommended to spray the flowers several times a day, especially in summer. As another effective method of pest control, gardeners use spraying with onion infusion, as well as a decoction of yarrow or hot red pepper. Slugs and snails can also attack crops. Their presence can be detected by shiny marks on the leaves.

Marigolds can be affected by blackleg, especially young crops. A sign of the disease is the appearance of a whitish coating on the stem, which subsequently darkens, and the affected part begins to rot. Such a disease cannot be treated, so infected crops will need to be dug up and burned. The soil after plants must be disinfected. As a preventive measure to reduce the risk of plants being affected by such a disease, seed material is treated with fungicides before planting along with the soil in which it is planned to grow flowering crops.

Mature marigolds can suffer from root rot. Manifestations of the disease will be yellow leaves, as well as slow growth of annuals. Such cultures cannot be treated; they are also removed. In this situation, proper care of the flowerbed will be a preventative measure. It comes down to rooting flowers in loose soil, regular moistening, eliminating excess moisture in the soil, as well as adding organic matter as fertilizing.

Watering and humidity

drought tolerant plants Moreover, too frequent and abundant watering can destroy the flowers. Therefore, it is recommended to water marigolds after the top layer of soil in the pot has dried.

high humidity . Spraying can be carried out occasionally and only when the air is dry and at high temperatures.

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