French Marigold ‘Tangerine’ is easy to grow and quick to flower.
Dye colour: yellow
Position: Sun or shade
Flowers: late spring – autumn
Height: 30cm
Sowing indoors – February to May
Sow in pots or trays of moist compost and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost.
Cover the tray with plastic wrap and aim to keep 21 degrees C. Remove the plastic wrap when the seeds have germinated – about 7 to 14 days.
Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged. When large enough to handle transplant the seedlings into 7cm pots to grow on.
Move to a sheltered place outside for a week after last frost, protecting from hot sun and wind. Fertilise until planted into final positions. Over-fertilizing will produce foliage over flowers.
Sowing direct
Weed and rake the soil.
Sow thinly 6mm (1/4 inch) deep in rows. Water regularly – especially during dry periods. When large enough to handle, thin out to about 15 to 22cm apart.
Pinch out first set of flower buds to encourage bushier plants.
Harvest the flowers regularly, let some go to seed towards the end so they will self -seed. When new seedlings emerge the following spring and you can transplant them when they are a few inches tall.
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