Stunted Marigolds

[w33blegurl]

I've never had a great deal of success with marigolds and always end up buying trays from the garden centre, but got much better germination rate this year so thought I might have cracked it. They seem to have been stuck at the first pair of true leaves now for months however!!! Even having kept them indoors in the warm for a good long time they were getting nowhere other than a bit leggy so they are now in the blow-away greenhouse during the day to get some extra light but nothing..... they are in paper pots and definitely dont need potting on yet. I use loads of these for companion planting and find they really help to deter aphids from my salads so would love to be able to get them growing properly. Am going to try a second sowing, as I appreciate it has been much colder this year, but any sugegstions as to what i had done wrong??

Thanks!

[rustylady]

A picture might help. How big are the pots? It has been awfully cold this spring so maybe they're just not ready to grow yet. A feed might help.

[Shadylane]

Whatever it is that you've done wrong I must have done it too cause mine are also on strike. I'd put it down to the weather but it will warm up soon. Hopefully.

[dincur]

Hi w33, would agree with above. Run out and buy another packet of seed and try again. Weather is due to heat up this week. Use fresh compost and prick them out when you've got the 2 true leaves. Keep them going. They really want to grow without being checked. I think you'll be wearing garlands of them this year. Good Luck. Dincur

[Two_Sheds]

It's just too cold for them yet. I have them self-seeding on my lotty, but none have even bothered to germinate yet: the hardy calendula has only just got started