The genus Tagetes of the Asteraceae family is represented by more than 30 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. It comes from South America, where it grows in large quantities in natural conditions.
Marigold They have erect, sturdy stems that form compact or sprawling bushes reaching a height of 20-20 cm, cirrus-dissected or cirrus-separated leaves and inflorescences-baskets with very bright, yellow, orange, reddish-brown, brown or motley flowers. These plants are characterized by a sharp, peculiar aroma, and their leaves smell stronger than flowers.
Marigolds are attractive to amateur gardeners primarily for their abundant flowering, which begins in June and continues until frost.
There are 3 main types of marigolds:
- erect (Tagetes erecta) - reach a height of 40-100 cm and have terry inflorescences with a diameter of 7 to 15 cm;
- rejected (Tagetes patula) - reach a height of 20-40 cm, inflorescences are terry and non-double, with a diameter of 4 to 7 cm;
- thin-leaved (Tagetes tenuifolia) - reach a height of 20-30 cm, inflorescences are non-double, with a diameter of up to 2 cm.
All of the above species are characterized by heat and light lovingness and high drought tolerance. In decorative floriculture, as a rule, numerous hybrid varieties of these species are used.
The use of these colors is very extensive. Marigold erect are often grown for cutting, as they are able to maintain their decorative properties in a vase for up to three weeks. Also, all types of marigolds are used in flower beds. Perhaps they can not be used only in ponds and in shady areas of the garden. These plants are able to develop well even with a small amount of soil, so they are used in interior decoration as potted flowers.
Marigolds - growing and care
Marigolds rightfully have the glory of very unpretentious and not demanding on the conditions for growing plants. This is especially true of marigolds rejected, growing well even along busy motorways, on poor soils and under the constant influence of exhaust gases.
Nevertheless, marigolds are not indifferent to a caring attitude and care, in gratitude for which they bestow their owners with intensive growth and lush long flowering. All species of marigolds grow best in open areas, although they will still bloom in the shaded area of the garden (this does not apply to upright marigolds, for which a large amount of sunlight is the main condition for abundant flowering).
The soil in the place where these plants are planned to be should be fertile, neutral, loamy. If marigolds are grown on poor soils, then regular feeding is necessary, which should be carried out during the growing season (2-3 times).
Despite the fact that marigolds are considered drought-resistant plants, during the period of the beginning of growth they need abundant watering, otherwise they themselves will be weak, and their inflorescences will be crushed. However, excess moisture is also harmful to them, especially for erect marigolds, the inflorescences of which in this case begin to rot.
Marigolds - transplantation and reproduction
Marigolds propagated by sowing seeds in the soil or seedlings, which are grown in greenhouses under a plastic film. Plants need to be planted in areas where marigolds had also grown before, in soils richly fertilized with manure. During the plowing of land in this area, superphosphate should be added to the soil, and before sowing, fertilize the earth with ammonium nitrate.
Marigold seeds can be sown in open ground only after the danger of frost has passed and the temperature of the topsoil (about 5 cm) reaches 15-20 ° С. The depth of seed placement during planting is from 1.5 cm to 3 cm. If sowing is late and is done in soil unsaturated with moisture, then it should be increased to 7 cm.
When marigold propagates, seedlings of it, sometimes already blooming, are planted in the flower garden after the threat of frost, which they are very afraid of, passes. As a rule, plants easily take root and bloom until the first serious colds. When the air temperature drops below 10 ° C, the growth of plants stops, and their leaves lose their decorative appearance; at temperatures below -1 ° C, plants die.
Marigolds - Diseases and Pests
In addition to all the advantages listed above, marigolds are appreciated by flower growers for their ability to withstand numerous pests and diseases, thanks to volatile products contained in their leaves and are an excellent means to repel harmful insects. The substances contained in the roots of marigolds prevent damage to neighboring plants by fungal diseases, such as fusariosis, and also protect them from certain types of nematodes.
And yet, sometimes the plant can be affected by a black leg, gray rot, rot of the roots, other bacterial and fungal diseases. This usually occurs during prolonged rains. In this case, it is necessary to spray marigolds with fungicides.
They can also be affected by various pests. So, in a drought, a spider mite can settle on them. In order to get rid of it, it is necessary to take measures to increase air humidity, for example, spray seedlings several times a day with water. To completely defeat these pests, you need to spray plants 2-3 times with infusions of onions, hot red pepper, and yarrow.
