planting out english and french marigold

[hawthorns]

i have french and english marigold in my greenhouse they are now 2"/3" tall. when can they be planted out.

[Two_Sheds]

when you've hardened them off for 7 - 10 days

[hawthorns]

will i have to wait for frosts to go

[Herbie]

Hawthorns

What part of Wiltshire are you in. I'm in Swindon.

I wouldn't plant them out yet, marigolds are annual bedding plants, one frost and you may lose the lot. Slugs particularly like marigolds, so be warned

[Flummery]

French are tender - they can't go out safely until after the last frost. English are tough as old boots - you can sow them in autumn and have early flowers. I've got some in the garden that went in this time last year. As long as they're hardened off they'll be fine.

[Two_Sheds]

My English marigolds (calendula) sow themselves every year. They are annuals, but they are hardy annuals.
I've had one in flower since February. The new seedlings will be popping up any time now ... the slugs don't eat them, they are fairly tough. They prefer the softie old French ones

[Waffler]

Whereas I prefer the English ones!

[Flummery]

Whereas I prefer the English ones!

So do I, I can't stand the whiff of the others.

[hawthorns]

are the english marigolds the pot marigold

[zazen999]

The whiffier the better; for keeping the pesties away. I only use mine for companion planting.

Can't go near them myself; but have clean toms and cleanish brassicas; so can't complain.

Sorry Hawthorns - I only grow tagetes [French]; I'm sure someone with more expertise will be along in a bit to advise.

[hawthorns]

im growing for the same reasons zazen

[Flummery]

are the english marigolds the pot marigold

Yep, you can eat the petals in a salad and use them to colour rice - a sort of poor man's safron. In Latin they are Calendula. Very soothing in a hand cream too. I think Pigletwille made some last year - it was on his blog.

[sarahspatch]

I was confused about the many types of Marigolds - now I'm I'm even more confused!!(Not difficult mind you).
Are Tagetes best for attracting pollinating insects and keeping nasties away, or one of the other types?

[hawthorns]

they are both good. i think french are smellier