GROWING MARIGOLDS
O Plant in full sun, in soil that drains well.
Marigolds grow in any type of garden soil.
Enrich with compost before planting.
O Water deeply once or twice a week in
summer, depending on the soil. Shallow
watering encourages the roots to stay
near the surface which makes plants less
drought tolerant.
O Space plants 15 – 20cm apart so that the
leaves can dry out after watering or rain.
Leaves that stay wet become susceptible to
fungal disease.
O During hot and dry conditions, watch out
for pests and water more regularly because
marigolds are susceptible to pests and
diseases when suffering from extreme heat
stress.
O Deadhead African marigolds to encourage
quicker repeat flowering. Fertilise with a
high-potassium fertiliser like 3:1: 5 or 5:1:5
after cutting back to give plants a boost.Tagetes erecta
‘Durango Mix’
Tagetes erecta
‘Durango Mix’
in a potMARIGOLDS AND FESTIVALS
About 60 quintals, which is the equivalent of 6000kg (1 quintal
is equal to 100kg) of marigold flowers are used every day
during the Maha Kumbh festival alongside the Ganges River in
India.
Most of the flowers
end up at the
bottom of the river
as pilgrims wearing
marigold garlands
bathe in the river,
and also make
offerings of marigold
flowers to the river.
Approximately 20 –
25 marigold flowers
make up 1kg, and
prices vary from R15- R50/kg, depending
on the quality and
demand.
‘Genda’ is the
common name
used for marigolds
in India, and they
always have a
prominent place at marriages, festivals and other religious
gatherings.
MARIGOLD FACTS
The name ‘marigold’ is said to come from ‘Mary’s Gold’, after
the Mother Mary. Marigold used to be the common name of
calendulas, before the tagetes plant made its way from the
Americas to Europe and made the ‘marigold’ name its own.
Marigolds originated in Mexico and have been in India for over
350 years. The Aztecs used marigolds for centuries as a source
of healing and in sacred festivals. They used them for everything
from healing people who survived being struck by lightning to
curing otherwise overwhelming hiccups.
Their dried flowers have been used as a saffron substitute
and fed to chickens to make their flesh and eggs’ yolks a more
appealing yellow.
The dried petals also make a gorgeous golden-coloured tea.Tagetes patula ‘Strawberry Blonde’Tagetes (^) erecta ‘Durango Red Lamp’
ANNUALS