marrigold seeds

[serenity]

bought some cheep marrigold seeds recently, opened them yesterday and they are very strange, black, thin and about 1 cm long with straw coloured tufts at the top. My question is, is there a right or wrong way up when planting?

sorry about all the questions this morning, I hope one day to be "giving out" the advice instead of nagging you guys all the time

[Don Vincenzo]

bought some cheep marrigold seeds recently, opened them yesterday and they are very strange, black, thin and about 1 cm long with straw coloured tufts at the top. My question is, is there a right or wrong way up when planting?

sorry about all the questions this morning, I hope one day to be "giving out" the advice instead of nagging you guys all the time

Hi Serenity
Last year I did sow my vertically in modules with with the straw coloured bit just showing off, all of them germinated. The plants and flower do look great planted near runner or french beans. This year I am going to try mexican marigold.
Regards
Don Vincenzo

[serenity]

Thank you DV. I am growing them to plant with my tomatoes as have herd they are good companions. I did buy some plants last year and planted some in pots in the greenhouse near the tomatoes and some in the garden. The ones in the garden were decimated by slugs but at least they ate the marrigolds and not my other veggies

[Earthbabe]

I'll try that DV because I planted mine flat last year and none of them germinated

[nick the grief]

I just scatter them on the surface & give them a light covering to just hold them down & away they went ( did the same with cosmos this year too)

[Crazy Chickie]

I've always sown mine flat too and never had much luck with them either, will try the vertical method this year me thinks

[Alice]

What kind of Marigolds were they Serenity. I've always just done like Nick and never had a problem. In fact Mariglods are the kind of sure fire thing to give to children as they can't fail - or so I thought. It was the first seeds I ever planted as a child. Is it some fancy new variety or duff seed.

[serenity]

My marrigolds aren't named alice, cheep seed from home bargains and doesn't mention the variety but haven't planted them yet, just wanted info on "how to"

[rustylady]

Never had any problem germinating marigolds, just make the compost isn't too wet, the seed is fresh, and the temperature is warm enough.

[Benacre]

just lay them on the surface and cover with a thin layer of compost they germinate very quickly

[Alice]

Sorry Serenity, I should have noticed you hadn't actually planted your marigolds. Give the seeds to kids to plant. They're surefire. But I love them.

[Benacre]

I hate those faffy little French Marigolds, favouring instead the large African double flowered variety. apparantly if planted in between rows of beans they attract whitefly to them rather than the beans

[mrskp]

I'm growing Naughty Marietta again this year. Last year I sowed them from mum's saved seeds and this year they're from mine. Take ages to get started but once they've figured out how to grow, boy do they, and lasted for ever !

I'm also trying out this year Jolly Jester, which is NM in reverse, and some more of mum's "Mum's large brown marigolds". Once I see them in bloom, I hope to be able to give a proper name to them.

I think last year I fussed about with having the seeds vertical, this year I didn't bother and sowed 3 (or so) to a cell and covered with vermiculite. Germination has been good.

I've got stacks leftover if anyone wants a pinch or three.

[serenity]

I have jolly jester too nick. Are all marigolds good to plant with tomatoes or is it just specific varieties?

[Dobby]

I was going to start mine of today cos we have tomato plant 5cm tall already