Germination of the Marigold Flower
William Shakespeare knew the beauty of the bright marigold flower when he wrote in "A Winter's Tale," "The Marigold that goes to bed wi' th' sun, And with him rises weeping. ..." Marigolds are common garden flowers that have been known and used for thousands of years as a decoration, food and herbal remedy. They grow easily and germinate quickly once spring has begun. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Before William Shakespeare wrote of the marigold blossoms, the Romans gave them the name Calendula officinalis, which translates from Latin to "Calendar Official," so named because of the belief that the marigold blossoms opened on the first day of each month. The flowers have been used for countless centuries to guard against garden pests. There is little hard evidence to support this claim, however. The edible flowers and leaves have a bitter taste when raw but offer a nice spinach-like flavor when cooked. The variety of ailments treated by the marigold in various forms ranges from the simple headache to jaundice, and the yellow color was extracted and used in food and as a dye.
Types
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The main families of marigolds are the Pot Marigolds or English Marigolds, which have a single flower; and the African and French Marigolds, which are more bushy and have multiple blossoms. Pot Marigold is the Calendula officinalis known from ancient times. African and French varieties are known collectively as Tagetes, with the African variety being much larger and the French being more hearty and drought resistant. There also are hybrids of the African and French Tagete marigolds, which are genetically sterile and called mule marigolds.
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Planting
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Both families of marigolds need protection from the last frost of spring. When sowing the seed outdoors, it should be in the ground no earlier than two weeks before the last frost. If the marigolds are germinated indoors, the flowers shouldn't be moved outside until the last frost has passed. Plant in slightly acidic to neutral soil and cover the seeds with a layer of dirt. Keep the seed moist but not wet for ideal germination conditions.
Germination
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The germination of the marigold plant takes between three and 14 days depending on the temperature and moisture of the soil. If the soil is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the germination will take less than a week. If the temperature is in the 60- to 75-degree range, the germination will take closer to two weeks. Add nitrogen-rich fertilizer or manure just after the seeds begin to germinate to encourage growth.
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References
- Photo Credit marigold image by i_am_macro from Fotolia.com
