Just about every flowering plant manages to produce seeds eventually, but let’s be real—quantity and quality can vary wildly. And don’t even get me started on how many of those seeds actually turn into healthy plants! If you’re looking for a winner in the garden, I have nothing but good things to say about Marigolds (Tagetes).
Harvesting Your Own Marigold Seeds
Starting in June, the blooming season for Marigolds kicks into high gear. Each flower stays fresh for about three weeks before it starts to fade. The great thing is that new buds keep popping up until the first frost. Most gardeners deadhead the spent blooms to keep the plant looking tidy and encourage more flowers, but if you want to harvest seeds, you’ll need to leave a few wilted flowers on the stem until they are completely dried out. This is the easiest way to propagate these prolific bloomers.
- Harvest seeds in the fall
- Gently pop open the seed pod (the tube-like base of the flower) with your fingers
- Carefully slide out the bunch of seeds
- They look like tiny little sticks
- Thin and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long
- One end is black, and the other is a light wood color
- To be safe, let them air dry indoors for a few more days
Pro Tip:
Remove any leftover bits of the dried flower petals and store your seeds in a paper envelope. Keep them in a cool, dark, and dry spot until you’re ready to plant.
Buying Seeds
Every grocery store and hardware shop carries Marigold seeds in the spring for just a couple of bucks. Usually, you’ll find the 2 or 3 most common varieties. If you’re looking for something a bit more unique—like edible varieties or rare heirlooms—your best bet is to browse online seed catalogs.
Marigold Seeds Love to Grow
Under the right conditions, Marigold seeds have a fantastic germination rate. This holds true whether you’re direct-sowing them in the garden in late April or starting them indoors as early as late February. This makes growing Marigolds from seed a super rewarding project for beginner gardeners. Simply put: these seeds come with a (near) guarantee to sprout!
Marigolds are Light Germinators
Marigolds are considered “light germinators,” which means the seeds need a bit of light to wake up and sprout. When you’re sowing them, just scatter them on the surface and press them down lightly so they make good contact with the soil. You can sprinkle a tiny bit of fine soil over them, but make sure the layer isn’t thicker than the seed itself.
Tips for Seed-Starting Success
To make sure sowing your light-germinating seeds goes off without a hitch, keep these pointers in mind:
- Use a nutrient-poor seed-starting mix
- Keep the temperature around 65-70°F (18-20°C)
- Place the pots in a bright spot, but avoid harsh, direct sunlight
- Keep the soil consistently moist
- Transplant (prick out) once they have two pairs of true leaves
- Move them outside after the last frost in mid-May
Pro Tip:
Use a spray bottle to mist the soil in your starter trays. The gentle mist keeps the soil damp without washing the tiny seeds away!
