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African marigolds are a beloved flower known for their cheerful yellow and orange hues. Their vibrant blooms can brighten up any garden. However getting those lively blossoms requires growing your marigolds in the right type of soil. So what is the ideal soil for robust African marigold growth? Let’s dig in and find out!
An Overview of African Marigolds
African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are native to Mexico and Central America But their resilience and adaptability have made them popular across the world,
These hardy annuals can withstand hot summers and cool winters. Their flowers bloom in various combinations of yellow, orange, and gold. Some varieties also produce maroon highlights.
The marigold’s bold colors and easy care make it ideal for beginner gardeners. These plants have few demands and provide long-lasting color from spring to fall.
Soil Requirements for Optimal Growth
While marigolds are unfussy, they do have some preferences when it comes to soil conditions. Here are the key factors to consider:
Drainage
Excellent drainage is crucial for marigold health. These plants hate wet, soggy soils. Stagnant moisture can lead to root rot and other harmful fungal diseases.
Make sure your soil drains freely and doesn’t stay waterlogged after irrigating. Adding organic materials like compost can improve drainage in dense, heavy soils.
pH Level
Marigolds grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soils with a pH between 6.0-7.5. Alkaline soils above 7.5 can prevent the plants from accessing key nutrients like iron.
Test your garden’s pH before planting. If needed, lower the pH by mixing in elemental sulfur.
Nutrient Levels
Marigolds are hungry plants. They need soil rich in organic matter to fuel lush foliage and abundant blooms.
Before sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings, mix in 2-4 inches of aged compost or well-rotted manure. This boosts essential nutrients for robust growth.
Soil Texture
Marigolds thrive in light, fluffy soils that strike a balance between water retention and drainage. The ideal texture is loamy, with a blend of sand, silt, and clay particles.
To improve heavy clay soils, add organic materials like compost along with gritty substances such as sand or perlite. This creates a loose, crumbly texture.
The Best Soil Types for Growing Marigolds
Now that we’ve covered the ideal soil properties, let’s examine some specific soil types that work well for marigolds:
Loamy Garden Soil
Rich loam is an excellent choice, as it contains a diverse blend of particle sizes along with organic matter. Loam feels soft, spongy, and fertile.
To create the perfect loam, combine equal parts sand, silt, and clay. Then mix in generous helpings of compost until the texture feels crumbly.
Potting Mix
For container gardening, use a commercial organic potting soil formulated for flowers and vegetables. Avoid cheap mixes with synthetic chemical additives.
Look for a blend of compost, peat moss, perlite or vermiculite. This will provide great drainage and moisture retention.
Raised Beds
Raised garden beds are ideal for marigolds, as you can fill them with premium soil mixes. Line your beds with landscape fabric to prevent weeds.
For the soil, blend compost with topsoil, coconut coir, vermiculite, and organic granular fertilizer. This custom mix will keep your marigolds thriving.
Lightweight Soilless Mixes
Soilless mediums like peat-perlite or peat-vermiculite provide a lightweight, nutrient-rich base for marigolds. The peat delivers moisture retention while the perlite/vermiculite improves drainage.
You’ll need to fertilize more frequently with soilless mixes. But they prevent many soil-borne disease issues.
Common Problems to Avoid
When selecting and preparing soil for marigolds, keep these potential issues in mind:
- Wet, compacted soils that resist drainage
- Extremely sandy soils that can’t retain moisture
- Alkaline soils with a pH above 7.5
- Nutrient deficiencies that produce small, stunted plants
- Heavy clay soils that crack and harden
- Soggy soil that leads to stem or root rot
By choosing a soil type that avoids these problems and meets marigolds’ needs, you’ll be rewarded with an abundance of bright, beautiful blooms.
Tips for Planting Marigolds in the Right Soil
Once you’ve chosen or prepared the ideal soil, follow these tips for planting your marigolds:
- Loosen the top 6-8 inches of soil and remove weeds or debris
- Mix in 2-4 inches of finished compost as needed
- Check the pH and adjust if necessary
- Create raised planting beds for improved drainage
- Space marigold transplants 12-15 inches apart in all directions
- Dig holes for each transplant, wider and deeper than the root ball
- Carefully place each marigold in its hole and fill with amended soil
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the roots
- Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture
Proper soil preparation gives your marigolds the best start. Combine this with attentive care and you’ll have vibrant flowers from spring through first frost.
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Marigolds
Marigolds are the ultimate companion flower. This cheery annual attracts all manner of pollinating insects into the garden. They’ll bloom for months, too. Learn all about sowing and growing marigolds.
An annual flower, marigolds (Tagetes) are the spendthrifts among annuals, bringing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our summer and autumn gardens.
Marigolds are a great companion flower to tomatoes, especially greenhouse-grown tomatoes, as their scent helps to deter whiteflies. Dwarf types make good edging plants that may deter rabbits, so include marigolds when you plan your garden.
Some varieties are known for their ability to starve out root-knot nematodes when planted the year before, macerated, and then plowed into the soil, where the chemicals that affect the nematodes are then released.
Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flowerheads produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most marigolds we see in the garden are one of the following:
- Tagetes erecta (aka African marigolds, American marigolds, or Mexican marigolds): This species is the tallest and most upright marigold, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height and producing large, full flowers. According to Nate Dalman of the Univerisity of Minnesota Extension, “Despite the names, African marigolds did not originate in Africa and instead are called that because they were first imported to Europe via a trade route that passed through northwest Africa.” They’re native to Mexico and Central America and will thrive even under drought-like conditions.
- Tagetes patula (aka French marigolds): French marigolds tend to be smaller, bushier, and more compact than T. erecta. They are often wider than they are tall. Elegant and eye-catching, they have relatively demure flowers and usually grow from 6 inches to 2 feet tall. They are better suited to rainier conditions than the other Tagetes species.
- Tagetes tenuifolia (aka signet marigolds): These petite marigolds do well in hot, dry sites and make for a beautiful edging plant. They rarely reach more than a foot in height.
Marigolds have been stereotyped, but they offer tremendous variety. Both the American and French marigolds are generally aromatic, too, although some folks find the scent to be a bit overwhelming. Keep that in mind when choosing a planting site.
How to Deadhead Marigolds
Deadheading is about removing faded flowers by pinching off the flower head. For some plants, including marigolds, pinching off the dead flower heads encourages them to produce more blooms rather than wasting their energy on forming seeds, extending the flowering season. Marigolds also look so much better after deadheading.
Deadheading marigolds is very simple. When a blossom starts to go bad, pinch (cut) its stem back to the nearest set of leaves.
Whether you’re deadheading your annuals, be sure to fertilize as well. Annuals are very heavy feeders and will respond well.
Marigolds come in a range of colors—from creamy white to golden orange—and sizes. French marigold varieties tend to be smaller than American/African varieties.
Why YOU Should Plant Marigolds. EVERYWHERE.
FAQ
What type of soil is best for marigolds?
Where is the best place to plant African marigolds?
What soil nutrients do marigolds need?
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Nutrient
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Fertilizer
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P
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Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
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K
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Muriate of Potash (MOP)
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Essential nutrients (Major, Secondary & micronutrients)
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Multiplex Flower Booster (Increases size and number of flowers)
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Seaweed extract
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Bioprime’s prime 7525 (Enhances foliage growth and induces more flowering)
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Do marigolds like pots or ground?