Planting and care
How to grow marigold
Warm season · Annual
Direct seed after frost or transplant
6–18 in tall and 6–12 in wide, cultivar-dependent
Typically flowers 45–60 days from seed; established transplants may already be in bloom.
Light feeder
Pollinator Compact
How to prune
Pinch young tips for bushier plants. Snip spent flowers back to the next leaf or branch junction; remove yellow or diseased foliage promptly.
How to harvest
Clip stems for ornamental arrangements as blooms open, leaving lower leaves. No food harvest is intended unless the exact species/cultivar and edible-safe growing history are verified.
Harvest and kitchen use
Primarily grown as a companion flower; edible use requires a specifically identified edible cultivar
Nutrition and garden value
Not counted as a food crop in Grow Pros package yields
Adds a compact flowering layer and floral resources for visiting pollinators and beneficial insects
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Spider mites, aphids, botrytis and root rot in persistently wet soil; deadhead to extend bloom
Safety note
Do not eat unidentified nursery marigolds; people sensitive to the aster family may react when handling plants