If you want your Marigolds to show off those gorgeous yellow and orange blooms as soon as the frost clears, you’ll want to start your seeds indoors as early as late February. It takes a little extra effort—specifically a step called “prickling out” (or thinning)—but it’s totally worth it for that early splash of color.
Why Prickling Out is a Must-Have Step
Marigolds (also known as *Tagetes*) are not frost-hardy. If you wait to sow your seeds directly outside in late April, you’ll be waiting until June to see any flowers. That’s why so many of us like to start them indoors early. Usually, we sow a bunch of seeds close together in a single tray to get them germinating.
About two weeks after sowing, you’ll see that first pop of green, and boy, do they grow fast! Pretty soon, those little seedlings start fighting for elbow room, light, and nutrients. Since it’s still too cold to move them to their permanent garden home, you need to separate them into their own pots so they can grow into strong, healthy plants.
When is it Time to Thin Them Out?
You’ll want to move your seedlings as soon as they’ve had their first real growth spurt. If you’re a fan of specific milestones, look for these signs:
- The plants have developed two to three pairs of true leaves.
- They are about 4 inches (10 cm) tall.
Pro Tip:
If you want to skip the tedious “prickling out” process, try sowing about half a dozen seeds directly into larger individual pots. Since Marigold seeds need light to germinate, don’t bury them too deep. Once they hit about 4 inches tall, just keep the strongest-looking seedling and pull the others out. Start fertilizing right away!
Rich Soil and Small Pots
While seeds do best in a “lean” seed-starting mix, young plants are hungry for nutrients. Switch them over to a good potting soil lightened up with a bit of sand. Pots about 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter are perfect for this stage, but don’t be afraid to go a little larger—Marigolds are fast growers!
How to Prick Out Your Marigolds
The process is a lot like regular planting, but you have to be extra gentle to make sure those delicate babies don’t get damaged:
- Use a “prickling tool” or a simple wooden chopstick.
- Insert the tool into the soil a couple of inches deep next to the seedling.
- Gently lever the plant up and out of the soil.
If the roots look super long, you can actually trim them back just a tiny bit with scissors. This actually encourages the plant to grow a bushier root system! When you put them in their new pots, plant them significantly deeper than they were in the starter tray.
Pro Tip:
After you’ve moved them, press the soil down firmly around the stem. This gives your young Marigolds the stability they need to stand tall.
Indoor Care Until the Big Move
Move your newly potted plants to a bright, warm spot and gradually get them used to the sun. On warm, sunny spring days, you can even set the pots outside for a few hours. Keep the soil moist using a spray bottle with a gentle setting so you don’t wash them away. Once mid-May hits and the threat of frost is gone, you can finally transplant them to their permanent summer home in the garden.
