Harvesting Marigold Seeds?

[Oleander]

Is it worth harvesting the seeds from the dead flower heads of marigolds to sow next year? It seems to make sense, unless there is something I don't know?

[Shortie]

Hi Oleander

Though Marigold seeds are pretty cheap to buy, I always save mine and it's free and I've found they tend to germinate better and are more vigourous (saying that, I've no complaints about the vigour or germination rate of shop ones...)

[lynda66]

if i want anything to come up next year i always save the seeds, then i also leave some heads on to self seed, it just ensures that if they don't grow next year, you have seeds to plant, what's the point buying the same seeds that you already have in the garden?

[nick the grief]

A friend of mine has been saving his own seeds of Marigolds, Salvia's, Primrose & Primula's and Zinnia's for about 50 years and he has a stunning show - he does the same with his veg as well (Peas, broad & runner beans, Onions and sweetcorn). The biggest advantage is the seed is sooo fresh he always gets a good germination

[Flummery]

Last year I collected the seeds from the marigolds at the end of the veg plot, but left the old plants in too. They looked really ratty at first but gave me a fantastic show early on before the newly sown seed had a chance to bloom. Belt & braces!

[Two_Sheds]

I let mine self-seed everywhere ... then pull up the plants as I need to, to make room for veg. They are a kind of green manure to me; they shade out many of the weeds, and are easy to pull out when they're ready to go on the compost heap.

Personally I hate yellow & orange, but they are so good for hoverflies, I let them be.

[marigold007]

I hate yellow and orange, too. I am growing contrasting purples and blues because they look so lovely together. Anybody have cornflower seeds, btw. I could do swapsies with Nigella "love in the mist".