Marigold Seed Prices and Planting Methods Explained
Marigold, also known as stink hibiscus, marigold lamp, stink chrysanthemum, etc., is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Tagetes in the Asteraceae family, native to Mexico and Central America, distributed throughout China, mostly growing in roadside meadows, usually sown in spring, and because of its large flowers and long flowering period it is often used for flowerbed landscaping. Let's take a look at marigold seed prices and planting methods below!
How much is a jin of marigold seeds?
The price of marigold seeds is about 600 to 800 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on seed quality, purchasing market, purchase quantity, etc. Marigold is native to Mexico and Central America and is cultivated throughout China. The suitable growth temperature is 15 to 25°C, the suitable temperature during the flowering period is 18 to 20°C, the relative air humidity is 60 to 70%, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 5°C. It likes light, and sufficient sunlight is very beneficial to the growth of marigold, making the plants short and sturdy with brilliant flower colors. It has no strict requirements for soil, and fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best.
What value does marigold have?
1. Ornamental: Marigold has large flowers and a long flowering period, and is often used to decorate flowerbeds, squares, flower borders, and to cultivate flower hedges. Medium and dwarf varieties are suitable as materials for flowerbeds, flower paths, and flower clusters, and can also be grown in pots.
2. Edible: Marigold flowers are a famous dish in floral cuisine. Fresh marigold petals are washed, dried, then coated in flour and deep-fried, and their fragrance is mouth-watering.
3. Environmental protection: Marigold plants have strong resistance to and absorption of gases such as hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide, and can also attract nematodes in the soil.
4. Medicinal: The flowers of marigold have effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, and can also be used as an aromatic. The roots can detoxify and reduce swelling, and are used for carbuncles, sores, and swelling. The leaves are used for carbuncles, sores, boils, and other conditions.
Marigold sowing methods
1. Seedling raising time: The seedling raising time of marigold can be determined according to the transplanting time. Generally, spring marigold is raised about 40 days before transplanting. Each mu of spring marigold planted requires 20 to 25 sq m of seedbed and about 30 grams of seed.
2. Bed preparation and fertilization: Marigold has no strict requirements for soil. Apply 200 kg of farmyard manure and 2 kg of special chrysanthemum fertilizer to the seedbed. Turn the farmyard manure into the ground, spread the chemical fertilizer evenly on the bed surface, then mix it into the ground with a hoe, and then rake it fine and level it.
3. Seed selection: Before sowing marigold, first select the seeds carefully, remove impurities and shriveled seeds, and ensure the seeds are plump. Then sun the selected seeds to kill pathogens, enhance seed vigor, and increase the germination rate.
4. Seed soaking and dressing: Before sowing marigold seeds, soak the seeds in warm water at 35 to 40°C for 3 to 4 hours, then remove them and rinse once with clean water, drain the water, and sow. To prevent seedling-stage diseases, seed dressing can be done with thiophanate-methyl or chlorothalonil.
5. Sowing method: Marigold sowing should be carried out on a windless, sunny day. On the day of sowing, water the seedbed thoroughly, and sow after the water seeps down. Mix the treated seeds with fine sandy soil and scatter them on the seedbed in 2 to 3 passes. After sowing, cover with sieved soil 0.7 to 1 cm.
6. Seedbed management: After sowing, marigold seedlings emerge completely in 6 to 7 days. After the seedlings are complete, note that the temperature in the seedbed must not exceed 30°C, so as to avoid burning the seedlings and root rot. When the seedlings grow to about 3 cm and the first pair of true leaves unfolds, attention should be paid to ventilation to prevent excessive growth.
Marigold planting methods
1. Land preparation and fertilization: For marigold, choose plots without waterlogging, with convenient drainage and irrigation, facing the sun, and with relatively high organic matter content. In conjunction with land preparation, apply 30 cubic meters of organic fertilizer, 300 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 100 kg of potassium fertilizer per hectare. Generally, transplanting starts on May 20 and ends before May 28.
2. Transplanting technique: One day before transplanting marigold, water thoroughly to facilitate lifting the seedlings. Use 65 to 70 cm ridges, dig holes and transplant with water. To prevent underground pests, an appropriate amount of phoxim can be added to the water. The plant spacing is 35 to 40 cm, and 2,600 to 3,000 plants are kept per mu.
3. Fertilizer and water management: If marigold is planted in sunny, loose, and fertile soil, there is no need to apply much fertilizer after planting. If the soil is poor, spray 0.3% urea solution on the leaves 2 to 3 times during vigorous growth periods such as the bud stage and flowering stage. Apart from watering during especially dry summer periods, watering is generally not necessary.
4. Shaping and pruning: Removing side buds at the seedling stage of marigold is beneficial to the growth of the terminal bud. In summer, plants are prone to excessive growth, so prune in time to control height. At the same time, because the flowering period is long, plants are prone to lodging in the later growth stage, and branches and leaves are prone to withering and aging, so overly dense stems and leaves and residual flowers should be removed in time.
5. Pest control: Marigold pests include mole crickets, white grubs, red spiders, and aphids. For mole crickets and white grubs, apply 0.75 to 1 kg per mu of 3% carbofuran or 5% phorate granules into the soil in conjunction with transplanting. For red spiders and aphids, use 1.8% abamectin and cypermethrin for control.
6. Disease control: The main diseases of marigold are damping-off, leaf spot, and root rot. Adhere to the principle of giving priority to prevention and emphasizing treatment, and control diseases in a timely manner. In particular, apply a fungicide once during the bud stage (before flowering).
7. Timely harvesting: The harvesting standard for marigold is when the petals are fully unfolded and the stamens are partially open or not open. Yield is relatively high when they reach eight or nine tenths ripe. At harvest, the flowers should have no water droplets and no rot, and the flower stalk length should not exceed 1 cm. After harvesting, send them to the flower factory immediately.