Marigold is one of the most popular, annual, free flowering, and short-duration flowering crops. These flowers are known for their vibrant orange and yellow blooms, which add a cheerful touch to gardens and landscapes. Marigolds are native to Mexico and Central America but are now grown worldwide. In India, major marigold-growing states are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. They are widely grown for their use in various religious and cultural ceremonies. In addition to their ornamental value, marigolds are also known for their medicinal and culinary uses. Commonly cultivated marigold species are African marigold (Tall) and French marigold (Dwarf). Marigold cultivation is an important source of income for many farmers in India.   Vernacular names of Marigold in India  Genda flower (Hindi), Banti puvvu (Telugu), Samanthi flower (Tamil), Chendu Hoovu (Kannada), Jamandhi (Malayalam), Gainda (Bengali), Jhendu (Marathi).   Climate and Soil Requirements of Marigold Marigold requires a mild climate for profuse growth and flowering. The optimum temperature range for its growth is 18 – 20˚C. Higher temperatures (> 35 ˚C) can restrict plant growth leading to a reduction in flower size and number. Plants and flowers may get damaged due to severe frost during winter.   Marigold can be grown in a wide range of soil, as it is adaptable to different soil conditions. However, a well-drained loamy soil with a soil pH of 7 – 7.5 is considered ideal. Avoid marigold cultivation in acidic and alkaline soil.  Varieties/Types Of Marigold Varieties  Seeds in BigHaat store  African Marigold  African marigold double orange seeds, NS African marigold seeds, NS African marigold F1 vanilla white, NS African marigold majestic yellow seeds, African double yellow marigold seeds, NS African marigold F1 Inca mix  French Marigold  French marigold, Sarpan hybrid French marigold (SFR), IRIS hybrid flower French marigold scarlet seeds    To find more marigold seeds click here  Sowing Time of Marigold Seeds Marigolds can be grown throughout the year.   Planting season  Sowing time  Transplanting time  Flowering time  Remarks  Summer   Jan – Feb  Feb – Mar  Mid-May – Jul  Due to high temperature, the size of flowers will be smaller. Good returns were obtained due to higher market demand.  Rainy  Mid-Jun  Mid-Jul  Mid-Sept – Nov  Due to higher market demand, crops fetch good prices.  Winter  Mid – Sept  Mid-Oct  Mid-Jan  Profuse blooming, best quality flowers, and high yield per unit area but low market rates.    Seed rate of Marigold 500 – 800 gm/acre   Nursery Preparation  Marigolds are usually propagated through seeds. Before sowing, treat the seeds by mixing 10 ml of Azospirillum in a cold jaggery solution and evenly coat it on the seed surface. Prepare nursery beds of convenient length, 75 cm width, and 10 – 20 cm height. Apply a sufficient quantity of well-rotten FYM and mix them properly with the soil. Sow the seeds in rows 5 cm apart. The depth of the sowing should be 2 – 3 cm. Cover the seeds with FYM or fine sand and then give light irrigation with a rose can. The seeds will germinate within 4 – 5 days after sowing. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting after one month of sowing.   Main field Preparation and Transplanting  Plough the field to a fine tilth and then incorporate 10 tonnes of FYM for a one-acre field. The field should be irrigated before sowing. Seedlings can be used for transplanting after 1 month of sowing or when they have 4 – 5 leaves. Transplant the seedlings in the main field on one side of the ridge at 45 cm between the row and 45 cm within the row for the African Marigold type and 30 cm between the row and 30 cm within the row in the case of French Marigold.  (NOTE: Transplanting can be done in the evening when the temperature is relatively low)  Fertilizer Requirement for Marigold The general dose of fertilizer recommendation for marigold is 36:36:30 kg/acre of NPK.  Nutrient  Fertilizer  Dosage (per acre)  Time of application  Organic  FYM  10 ton  During the last ploughing  Katyayani Activated Humic acid (Improves uptake of nutrients and trace elements)  Foliar: 1 gm/lit water  1st spray: 15 days after sowing   Continue spraying at 10 – 12 days intervals till flowering  N  Urea  39 kg  Basal  39 kg  Top dressing (45 days after planting)  P  Single Super Phosphate (SSP)  225 kg  Basal  K  Muriate of Potash (MOP)  50 kg  Basal  Essential nutrients (Major, Secondary & micronutrients)  Multiplex Flower Booster (Increases size and number of flowers)  Foliar: 4 gm/lit water  1st spray: 25 – 30 days after transplanting.  2 to 3 sprays at 20 days interval  Seaweed extract  Bioprime’s prime 7525 (Enhances foliage growth and induces more flowering)  Foliar: 2 ml/lit water  1st spray: At the onset of flowering  2 to 3 sprays at 15 – 20 days intervals  Irrigation Irrigation should be done immediately after transplanting. Avoid water shortage during vegetative growth as it may hamper plant growth and consequently flowering. The frequency of irrigation mainly depends on soil type and season. In the winter season, irrigation can be given at 8 – 10 days intervals while in the summer season, irrigation can be given at 4-5 days intervals. Water logging conditions should be avoided. A constant supply of moisture should be maintained from bud formation to the harvesting stage to avoid water stress.   Intercultural Practices  Earthing up Earthing up is usually done 3 – 4 weeks after transplanting to improve plant stability, promote better drainage, and prevent weed growth.   Weed Management The field should be maintained in free weed condition for the profuse growth of the plants. Weeding should be done as and when required. Generally, 4 – 6 manual weeding is necessary during the growth period.   Pinching It involves the removal of apical buds which stimulates lateral branching and results in a more bushy and compact plant with more flowers. It delays flowering but results in the production of more flowers. Pinching is recommended to be done after 40 days of transplanting. The apical bud can be removed by pinching it off with the thumb and forefinger or using a sharp knife or scissors.   Staking It involves providing support to tall plants to prevent them from lodging due to the weight of the flowers or strong winds. Tall plants of African-type marigolds need to be stacked with bamboo sticks for support.   Plant Protection Practices Pests of Marigold  Major Pests  Damage Symptoms  Control Measures  Mealy bug  White, cotton-like masses on young shoots, stems, and leaves.  The presence of a sticky substance called honeydew causes sooty mold development.  Crinkled leaves.  This leads to retarded growth of apical parts of shoots.  Prune the infected plant parts.  Spray Fish oil rosin soap at 25 gm/lit water.  Spray Kaybee Mealy Raze Biopesticide at 1 – 2 ml/lit water.  Chemical control:  Spray Actara Insecticide at 0.5 gm/lit water.  Spray Sivanto Bayer Insecticide at 2 ml/lit water.  Aphids  They suck the sap and cause curled and deformed leaves.  Affected leaves turn yellow and wilt.  Development of black sooty mold growth due to honeydew secretion.  Presence of small, clustered insects (aphids) on the underside of the leaves or on stems.  Crop rotation can be practiced.  Maintain field sanitation.  Intercropping with corn, beans, or garlic.  Place 4 – 6 Tapas yellow sticky traps per acre.   Spray Neem 0.3% at 2.5 – 3 ml/lit water.  Ash and turmeric powder can be mixed in equal proportions and sprinkled on the plant.  Chemical control:  Spray Marshal Insecticide at 2.5 ml/lit water  Spray Starthane Insecticide at 1.7 – 2.5 gm/lit water.  Red spider mite  They suck the sap from the leaves and cause tiny, red, or brown specks on the leaf surface.  Presence of fine webs on the plant covering the leaves and flowers.  Affected leaves in the later stages turn brittle reddish and brown (bronzy).  Premature drop of leaves and stunted growth.  Use high-pressure water spray to knock off mites from the plant.  Spray neem oil extracts at 1 – 2 ml/lit water.  Spray Royal Clear Mite at 2 ml/lit water  Spray cow urine diluted with water (1:20)  Chemical control:  Spray Oberon Insecticide at 0.3 ml/lit water or   Spray Maiden Insecticide at 1 ml/lit water.  Beetles and Weevils  They feed on young leaves and tender shoots.  They can chew holes in the leaves, leaving behind a ragged, uneven appearance.  Stunted growth of the plant.  Spray Neem oil extracts at 1 – 1.5 ml/lit water.  Spray Metarhizium anisopliae at 10 ml/lit water.  Chemical control:  Spray Karate Insecticide at 1.5 – 1.7 ml/lit water.  Spray Danitol Insecticide at 1.5 – 2 ml/lit water.  Leaf hoppers  They cause damage to the foliage of plants, particularly during the rainy season.  Affected leaves turn yellow or brown.  Causes rolling and curling of leaves along with wilting of affected shoots.  French-type marigold is more susceptible.  Use 10 sheets of Barrix Magic Sticker Chromatic trap yellow sheet per acre.  Spray Nimbecidine at 6 ml/lit water.  Chemical control:  Spray Tatamida SL Insecticide at 1 –  2 ml/lit water.   Spray Police Insecticide at 0.2 – 0.3 gm/lit water.  Spray Keefun Insecticide at 2 ml/lit water.  Thrips  Distortion of affected leaves.  The presence of silvery specks scars on the leaves.  Flower petals may exhibit scars, reducing their aesthetic appeal.  They also feed on the developing buds resulting in deformed flowers.  Set up 6 – 8 yellow sticky traps for a 1-acre field.  Spray Kay bee Thrips Raze Insecticide at 1 – 2 ml/lit water.  Spray Neem 0.15% at 2 – 2.5 ml/lit water.   Mix and grind neem cake with Aloe vera. Soak them in water for 10 days. Then, use the filtrate for spraying.   Chemical control:  Spray Benevia Insecticide at 1.7 – 2 ml/lit water.   Spray Anant Insecticide at 0.3 – 0.5 gm/lit water.  Leaf miners  Presence of white or silvery trails on the leaves.  The appearance of small brown blotches on the leaf.  Affected leaves become shriveled or distorted.  Premature drop of leaves.  Place 4 – 6 Tapas yellow sticky traps per acre.  Spray Terra might bio insecticide at 3 – 7 ml/lit water.  Spray 5 ml of Beauveria bassiana/brongniartii per liter of water.  Chemical control:  Spray Ekalux insecticide at 2 ml/lit water.  Spray Sivanto Bayer Insecticide at 2 ml/lit water.      Diseases affecting Marigold plant  Major Diseases  Damage Symptoms  Control Measures  Damping off  Most prevalent during the seedling stage.  Necrotic rings or spots appear on the young seedlings.   In severe cases, the affected seedlings may collapse and die before they even emerge from the soil.  Treat 1 kg seeds with 10 gm of Pseudomonas fluorescens mixed in 10 ml of water   Drench the nursery beds with Ecoderma Bio fungicide at 10 gm/lit water.  Chemical control:  Soil drench of Matco Fungicide at 4 gm/lit water.  Spray Hifield Ridomet 35 Fungicide at 1.5 gm/lit water  Powdery mildew  The appearance of white or gray powdery growth on leaves stems and flowers.   Infected leaves may turn yellow and fall prematurely.  Reduced flowering  Spray Kay bee Fungo Raze at 1 – 2 ml/lit water.   A mixture of 2 kg turmeric powder and 8 kg wood ash can be dusted over the leaves.  Chemical control:  Spray Amistar Top Fungicide at 1ml/lit water.  Spray Roko Fungicide at 0.5 – 1 gm/lit water.  Spray Sultaf Fungicide at 2 gm/lit water.  Wilt and Stem rot  Affected plants’ leaves may appear limp, droopy and wilted even if the soil is moist.  Affected stems may become soft, slim, show brown discoloration and later decay.  Stunted growth of the plant.  Soil Application of Pseudomonas fluorescence at 10 ml/lit water.  Mix 2 kg of Anshul Tricomax in 100 kg of FYM. And broadcast in 1 acre field.  Chemical control:  Ridomil Gold can be used for soil treatment at 1 – 1.5 gm/lit water.   Collar rot  Dark brown or black lesions appear on the base of the stem.  Collar region of the plant becomes soft and mushy due to rotting.  Later, causes death of the plant.  Avoid overwatering the plants.  Practice Crop rotation.  Drench the nursery beds with Ecoderma Bio fungicide at 10 gm/lit water.  Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride at 6 ml/kg of seed   Chemical control:  Seed treatment can also be done with Sixer Fungicide at 2.5 gm/kg seed.  Spray Dhanustin Fungicide at 0.5 – 0.7 gm/lit water.  Drench the soil with Blitox Fungicide at 3 gm/lit water.    Leaf spot and Blight  Small, brown necrotic spots develop on the affected leaves.  In later stages, these spots may merge and cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely.  Results in poor vegetative growth.  Spray Pseudomonas fluorescence & Bacillus subtilis at 5 gm/lit water.  Chemical control:  Spray Contaf plus Fungicide at 2 ml/lit water.  Spray Indofil M45 fungicide at 0.8 – 1 gm/lit water.     Flower Bud rot  Disease infection occurs in young flower buds.  Infected flower buds may shrivel and turn dark brown in colour which later dry up.  The pathogen may also cause blight by infecting the leaves resulting in brown necrotic spots on margins of older leaves.  Chemical control:  Spray Dithane M 45 Fungicide at 2 – 2.5 gm/lit water.  Spray Blue copper fungicide at 2.5 gm/lit water.  Botrytis blight / Gray mold Flowers may appear water soaked and turn brown or grey as the disease progresses.  Gray fuzzy mold growth appears on flowers and foliage.   Stems may rot leading to the collapse of plants.  Maintain field sanitation.  Spray Ampelomyces quisqualis at 5 – 10 ml/lit water.  Chemical control:  Spray Anand Agro Nano Shield at 2 ml/lit water.  Spray Latifa Fungicide at 0.5 ml/lit water.    Harvesting  Marigold flowers are ready for harvest when they have attained their full size, which is typically about 2.5 months after the day of transplanting. After the first harvest, the plant continues to bear flowers for another 2 – 2.5 months. Flowers are to be plucked once in 3 days to improve the yield. Harvesting should be done in the cooler part of the day, viz., either morning or late evening hours. Flowers should be picked along with the portion of stalk. In order to prolong the vase life of marigold flowers after harvest, it is recommended to irrigate the field before harvesting the flowers. But overwatering should be prevented as it can make the flowers become heavy and soft, making them susceptible to damage.    For local market transportation, fresh marigold flowers are to be packed in bamboo baskets or gunny bags.   Yield  The yield of the flowers depends upon the season, soil fertility and variety.  African marigold: 3 – 4 t/acre  French marigold: 4.5 – 7 t/acre.