French marigold, always an impact!

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Big round blooms in stark, powerful colours, set off against green leaves, carry French marigold (Tagetes patula) from late spring right through to early autumn. Grown as an annual beside tomatoes or roses, its strong smell repels aphids, nematodes and whiteflies; give it full sun and deadhead regularly, and the flowers keep coming.

This plant is also often planted in the vegetable patch to fight aphids or nematodes. Planting and care are important to enhance blooming.

Planting French marigold

The planting is an important step, because it determines how the plant will grow and the expected blooming of the French marigold.

• Planting of French marigolds purchased in containers (pots sold in the horticulture stores) usually starts during the month of mid-spring to late spring.
  Mix the earth from your garden with special flower plant soil mix and keep a distance of around 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) between plants.
• If sowing from seed, start with sowing in a sheltered place during late winter to early spring and transfer to a larger pot once in mid-spring before setting it in place during late spring.
• Settle your French marigolds in the middle of your vegetable patch to fight against nematodes, near tomato or near roses to fight against aphids.

Pruning and caring for French marigold

Easy to care for, French marigolds are plants that require very little care, especially when already well settled in.

• To stimulate budding of new flowers, eliminate wilted flowers regularly (deadheading).
• Water in case of strong heat or, for potted French marigolds, as soon as the surface soil is dry.

• Skip nitrogen-rich feeds on French marigolds: they build leaves at the expense of blooms.
• Slugs and snails readily attack freshly transplanted French marigolds, so check the young plants for chewed leaves and stems, keeping in mind that other pests and conditions can also damage them.
• Pinch out the growing tips of marigolds while the plants are still young to encourage bushier, more self-supporting growth — a technique that especially suits taller sorts such as ‘Jolly Jester’.

Which pests French marigold helps with, and where to plant it

French marigold earns its place in the vegetable patch as much as in the flower bed. Here is what it is planted against, and where it does the job.

One plant, then, that pays for itself twice over: flowers above ground and fewer parasites around it.

Popular French marigold varieties compared

Most French marigolds sold in garden centres and seed catalogues belong to a handful of well-known varieties and series. The table below sets out what separates them, so you can match flower form, colour and habit to the spot you have in mind.

All there is to know about French marigold

French marigold, which is actually native to Latin America, comes in multiple varieties and as many shapes and colors.

This is a plant with affirmed, striking flowers thanks to their size of course, but also thanks to the stark powerful colors that mark a contrast with their green leaves or those of other plants in your garden.

Also use French marigold to fight against a good number of insects like ants, aphids or whiteflies. In effect, their strong smell is a natural repellent against these garden parasites.

A confusion in names

French marigold normally refers specifically to Tagetes patula.

The name “marigold” has been used for centuries for a great number of flowers – somehow, any low-growing flower that was bunched and bright yellow had a chance of being called marigold. To date, this has led to the name being used for many different flowers:

• pot marigold (Calendula officinalis, which is a medicinal marigold)

• Cut French marigold stems in the cool of early morning, while they are well hydrated, and stand them in water immediately — the standard practice that helps cut flowers stay fresh longer.
• Strip the lower leaves before arranging; the vase water stays clear far longer.