Sowing marigolds: when and how do you do it?

Marigold ( Calendula officinalis ) is certainly a garden classic. This cheerful orange flower is a great addition to the bee buffet in your cutting garden or vegetable patch, or makes a beautiful addition to your balcony or patio. But when and how is the best time to sow marigold?

You can sow marigolds in both spring and autumn. If you sow in March or April, your Calendula officinalis will bloom between June and September. Want to sow marigolds in the autumn? Then sow in September or October. This way, your hardy flowers will bloom from May onwards. If you sow at both times, you'll enjoy an extended flowering season the following year.

Tip! Also read how to easily (and for free) collect flower seeds for next year in our article on harvesting marigold seeds .

Your marigolds will thrive in full sun. A location with occasional shade is also fine, as long as there's generally enough sun. Choose well-draining soil and, if sowing directly in the ground, prepare the soil by mixing in compost, for example. Marigolds don't tolerate standing water well.

Marigolds look beautiful at the front of a border or in a pot. You can also sow your marigolds between crops in your vegetable garden. This way, you attract more pollinating insects, which in turn benefits your vegetable and fruit plants.

Do you already know where you want to sow marigolds? Then you can sow directly in the ground. Simply follow these steps:

Then sprinkle the seeds on the ground.
Cover them with a light layer of soil and water them.

After that, you won't need to worry about these plants much. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. If the seedlings are too close together, thin them out to about 25 cm between plants.

Are you having a lot of trouble with snails in your garden? You can, of course, combat them, but you can also avoid them by creating a cold frame for your marigolds. When the seedlings are large and strong enough, transplant them to their final location. Use a seed tray or seed tray with good seed compost for pre-sowing. Follow the same steps as for sowing in the open ground. Prick out your plants as soon as they get their first true leaves (after the cotyledons).

Plant the marigolds out once they're about 10 to 15 cm tall. Space them about 25 cm apart so they have plenty of room to grow. Then wait for those first beautiful buds to appear and burst open in (among other colors) a warm orange.