Planting Marigold Seeds

Overview

The marigold (genus Tagetes) plant makes for a hardy, low-maintenance and drought-resistant addition to any landscape. Gardeners like the flower for its lush foliage and brightly colored blossoms, which come in a wide range of oranges and yellows. You can often buy marigold plants in a garden store, but sowing marigold seeds makes for a cheaper method of starting your backyard marigold collection.

Step 1

Choose a gardening site. Marigolds grow best and produce the most blossoms when reared in a sunny location.

Step 2

Prepare the garden soil. Remove any surface vegetation and debris. Break the soil into fine clumps to a depth of 6 inches. Amend the soil with 2 to 4 inches of compost, mixed thoroughly into the top of the dirt.

Step 3

Plant the marigold seeds. Bury the seeds 1/4 inch below the soil surface, say experts at West Virginia University. Spacing varies according to the specific marigold variety. For example, French marigolds are often dwarf in size while African marigolds can spread as far as a couple feet. North Carolina State University suggests spacing the seeds apart by 10 to 12 inches.

Step 4

Water the sown seeds. Apply moisture twice daily or as necessary to keep the area moist. The seeds will typically germinate within a week.