Marigold (Tagetes patula) of the Asteraceae family: which month to sow? Detailed guide to planting methods and medicinal benefits

Tagetes patula, also known as dwarf marigold, red-yellow herb, French marigold, and stinking chrysanthemum, originated in Mexico. It is now widely cultivated in gardens and courtyards. So which month should you sow Tagetes patula of the Asteraceae family? How do you plant it? What benefits does it have? Let's take a look!

Which month should you sow Tagetes patula?

Tagetes patula seeds can be sown anytime from November to March each year. If sown in winter, the plants will bloom from March to May of the following year. You can sow them in flower pots or direct-sow them in the courtyard. One month after potting, the seedlings can be dug out and transplanted into their final position. If you take cuttings in summer, they will bloom from August to December, and whether inserted into pots or directly into the ground, they will take root. They can be sown all year round. However, due to the constraints of flower-use requirements, the largest demand for flowers is for the two holidays of "May Day" and National Day. Also, because sowing Tagetes patula requires a temperature above 15°C (or heating and insulation conditions), the sowing period in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is generally from August to November. In the warmer south, it can be sown all year round, while in the north spring sowing is popular. If raising seedlings in early spring, care should be taken to ensure a certain growing temperature and try to avoid growth stagnation. For sowing, a loose artificial medium should be used, with bed sowing or box sowing for seedling raising, and plug-tray seedling raising where conditions permit. After disinfection treatment, cover lightly after sowing. The optimum germination temperature for Tagetes patula is 22-24°C.

How do you plant it?

1. Light: Tagetes patula is a sun-loving plant, and both growth and flowering require ample sunlight; sufficient light also helps prevent the plant from becoming leggy. However, from July to September, direct sunlight should be avoided, and shading and cooling are needed around noon.

2. Temperature: After potting, the temperature can be lowered from 22°C to 18°C, and after a few weeks it can be lowered to 15°C; before and after flowering it can go as low as 12-14°C. Generally speaking, as long as it is above 5°C it will not suffer cold damage, and it can grow well between 10°C and 30°C.

3. Watering: The key to water management is to use a well-drained medium. While keeping the medium moist is important, appropriate drying before each watering is necessary; of course, the medium must not be allowed to dry out so much that the plant wilts.

4. Fertilizing: For soil-grown Tagetes patula, a compound fertilizer can be mixed in适量 as a base fertilizer before potting the medium; when fertility is insufficient, 20-10-20 and 14-0-14 fertilizers can be used.

What benefits does it have?

1. In traditional Chinese medicine, Tagetes patula can be considered a herb with good medicinal value. The effects and functions of different parts of Tagetes patula differ; it has good therapeutic effects on respiratory tract infections such as cough, dysentery-type diseases, and wind-fire eye pain.

2. Tagetes patula also has a good therapeutic effect on mastitis in women. In "Yi medicine" it is also widely used; Tagetes patula can treat snake bites, treat dizziness and colds, and also treat fever.

3. The effects and functions of Tagetes patula are recorded in many of our ancient medical books. Tagetes patula can also treat whooping cough in infants; it can treat dysentery; treat parotitis; breast abscess; boils and swelling, etc. Tagetes patula also has good curative effects on toothache, stomatitis, and red swollen and painful eyes.

4. Besides its good medicinal value, Tagetes patula also has a very good effect on people's health care. Both the flowers and leaves of Tagetes patula can be used as medicine; they have the effect of clearing heat and resolving phlegm, and also the effect of nourishing blood and promoting menstruation. They have a very good effect on bronchitis. Some residents in Russia believe that regularly eating Tagetes patula also has the effect of prolonging life.