Frances's Choice Marigold

Smaller more compact marigold, both plant and flowers. Fantastic option for container or Greenstalk gardening. They are red petals with orange edging and profuse in their blooms. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) tend to favor cooler weather better than African marigolds so I like to plant this with my fall and winter garden plants. While the flowers are beautiful and technically medicinal or edible most gardeners plant this as a known companion plant. "Plant it next to your tomatoes for improved yields". But that's not the whole story. Marigolds need to be planted PRIOR to the tomato to receive the benefits because most of the chemical compound that helps repel Root Knot Nematodes is concentrated in the leaves. Use marigolds as a chop and drop to layer in and on the soil prior to planting RNK sensitive plants.

Packet: ~145 seeds

Good to start from seed in these months:

North Florida: April-July 

Central Florida: March-August

South Florida: January-December