MAJESTIC MARIGOLDS

Orange Marigolds flower fields, selective focus

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are real heroes in the garden. Not only do their annual blooms smell fantastic, they can be used in salads, as cut flowers and they attract bees to the garden, making them great companions for many vegetables. They are also very hardy, making them great for kids and low-care garden beds . . .

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

Choose a position in full sun with well-drained soil.

Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.

When planting into a prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are well spaced — at least 20 to 30cm apart.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container. Position in the hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most.

Water in gently and keep soil moderately moist at all times.

Mulch with an organic mulch such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw to a depth of 5-8cm, keeping it away from the base of the plant.

Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food.

TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Starting from seed:

Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with a 6mm layer of mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5cm tall, then plant into the garden.

Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in rows or in scattered clumps around the garden. Cover with a 6mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist. Just be sure to enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed prior to sowing.

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide with adequate drainage holes.

Position pot in full sun.

Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down.

Water in gently and keep mix moderately moist at all times.

Feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+Plant Food Concentrate.

Starting from seed:

Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with a 6mm layer of mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5cm tall, then plant into the pot.

Alternatively, sow directly into the pot where they are to grow. Cover with a 6mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist.

• Remove spent flowers to encourage further blooms — a term known as “pinch pruning”.

• French Marigolds (T. patula) are known to be more effective than African Marigolds (T. erecta) in attracting root knot nematodes. These may help in control in the garden and vegetable patch.

• Plant Marigolds around the vegetable patch to encourage beneficial insects and bees to the garden and assist with repelling other insects such as the whitefly, cabbage butterfly and other pests.

• Flowers can be used in salads to create colour and texture.

• Kids love the bright yellow and orange colour of these flowers.

French Marigolds — Tagetes patula are shapely but flatter than their African counterparts and are relatively smaller in height, reaching to about 40cm. Available in a variety of shades of yellow and orange.

African Marigold — T. erecta have large pom-pom like flowers in different shades of orange and yellow. A taller variety of marigold which can reach up to 90cm in height. There are compact cultivars available for those who prefer a smaller plant in their garden.

— Courtesy of Yates