Marigolds

The marigold seeds are shaped like an arrow with a black or gray “tip” and white fussy “feathers” at the back.

The seed itself is the solid (black/gray) part. The white feather like fussy stuff is the “tail” which can be removed, if desired. (commercial growers will buy de-tailed seeds for their automatic sowing machines).

You can lay the seed flat and cover with mixture, or you can stick the seed vertically into the mixture with the solid part first so that the top of the tail is at the soil level. This is probably the easiest.

Start by moistening the growing media in a small bucket. It has to be damp, but not soaking wet. This is very important. Do not place the media into the trays dry. If you squeeze a handfull hard, no water should drip, maybe except for a drop or two.

Fill the trays with damp media without pressing it in. Just fill it and then tap the containers on the side of the potting bench to settle the mixture in the container. Then top off with more media if needed. This potting technique is very important. It insures maximum air in the growing media. Roots need air as well as water continously to grow.

A common beginners mistake is potting in a manner which excludes air which limits root growth and can lead to problems. Putting dry media into the pot will exclude air, as the media will expand when wetted and this drives air pores out of the growing media. Pressing the moist media down heavily into your container with your thumb/hand can also drive out air. Therefore, I recommend the filling and tapping procedure explained above.

Once the pots are full with potting mixture, stick the seeds into the mixture with the tail up, or lift out a 1/4″ of material, put the seed down and gently replace and pat the mixture back. Do not compress too heavily. you want to retain air in the mixture. Light firming of the mixture on top with your fingers is perfectly ok.

Next put the containers in a pan of water to wick up moisture from below. When the top surface of the growing media starts to turn black (from brown) and glistens, you can remove the containers and put them aside to drain. Then finally return to their place in a window or under fluorescent lights. Make sure the container has been given time to drain for a few minuttes.

It helps to cover the tray with plastic wrap or the plastic dome. This keeps humidity inside the container. most seeds germinate best - and the seedling is able to escape the seed coat - in high humidity. Check daily. When germination occurs (e.g. the seed sprouts) remove the plastic wrap promptly.

Warning: when covered with plastic, the temperatures inside the dome/wrap can sky rocket to unhealthy temperature levels if placed directly below fluorescent lights or in a sunny window. Keep at least 1 foot away from fluorescent light bulbs or in a northern facing window, or behind sher curtains during germination face. once germination (sprouting) is underway, remove the plastic and then put the seedlings in bright direct sunlight (or directly below fluorescent light bulbs).

Marigolds usually germinate fast at temperatures around 70-75 deg F. A warm place in the house gives best result.