French Marigold Seeds
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FL FS P
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FL FS P
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FL FS P
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FL FS P
French Marigold Seeds
French marigolds bring bright flowers to garden beds, borders, and pots. A few plants can add plenty of color.
Packet: 25 seeds
Planting at a glance
- Season: Flower crop — see planting window
- Start: Direct sow after frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before planting out
- Seed depth: ¼ inch
- Germination: Usually 4–7 days around 75–80°F
- Final spacing: Allow 8–12 inches for French marigolds
- Light: Full sun
- Harvest planning: Flowers in the same growing season; timing depends on warmth and plant establishment
When to plant
Plant outdoors after frost danger passes and the soil has warmed. In short-season areas, count back from your intended outdoor planting date for indoor starts.
How to plant
- Prepare loose, well-drained soil or a clean seed-starting mix. Direct sow after frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before planting out.
- Sow ¼ inch deep. Keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge. Then water when the soil needs it, allowing excess water to drain.
- Thin or transplant to the listed final spacing. Give seedlings sufficient light and check moisture as roots establish.
How to harvest
Cut blooms at the stage you want for a vase, or leave them in the garden. Remove spent flowers where repeat bloom is desired.
Aunt E’s tip: Pinch or deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant tidy.
Growing notes and sources
Timing is a planning range, not a guaranteed harvest date. Temperature, moisture, variety and season affect the result. Count from the sowing or transplanting point stated above.
Seed badges at a glance
- H
- Heirloom
- ★
- Hybrid
- OG
- Organic seed
- CT
- Cool season
- WS
- Warm season
- FS
- Full sun
- P
- Container friendly
- SS
- Small space
- CC
- Cut and come again
- FH
- Frequent harvest
- LG
- Needs light to germinate
- SP
- Spicy / hot
More seed codes
- IN
- Start indoors
- SH
- Partial or afternoon shade
- ST
- Support or trellis helpful
- D
- Dwarf
- B
- Bush habit
- V
- Vining or climbing
- SV
- Shorter vines
- SF
- Small fruit
- LC
- Large container
- F
- Fast harvest
- FL
- Flowers
- PW
- Pollinator interest
- PL
- Check pollination needs
- MX
- Seed mix
- DR
- Deep root space
- WD
- Well-drained soil
- DL
- Daylength sensitive
- LS
- Long growing season
- TR
- Tree crop
CC means cut and come again; FH means frequent harvest. Follow the crop instructions for what to harvest and when. OG appears only for documented organic seed. Codes are shortcuts; product details explain growing needs.
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