Red Metamorph Marigold

Tagetes patula. Open Pollinated. Annual. 36".

Each Red Metamorph Marigold plant produces hundreds of differently colored and patterned blooms. Early flowers are all a dark red. As weather warms, individual plants begin sporting blooms with gold stripes or splashes against the dark red petals. Flowers in June from a sowing in late April or early May. Forms a stout bush up to four feet across, suitable for a short garden hedge. A fine new variety bred by Dr. Alan Kapuler.

The flower petals of marigolds are edible but the flavor can be quite pungent. Marigolds are easy to grow with little care or water. Marigolds are toxic to Root Knot Nematodes. When the flowers go down in late fall, work into your garden distributing the roots through as much as the garden as possible to discourage the nematodes. 

Planting Directions:  Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or outdoors start sowing 2 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed in sterile seed starting mix or vermiculite and  just barely cover the seed with fine starting medium. Maintain 70? to 80? in the starting medium, germination takes 4 to 14 days at optimum temperatures. Marigolds are somewhat susceptible to damping-off: sow in vermiculite and water only from below as a precaution.  Transplant or thin to 15-18” apart in full sun. Soil should be of moderate fertility. Water regularly. Can be direct planted, but wait until the soil warms ups and stays warm. I recommend direct sowing when you plant beans in the garden. Marigolds  bloom continuously all summer until arrival of frost if flowers are picked frequently.