Growing guide

How to Grow Marigolds

Cheerful, tough, pest-deterring companions for the vegetable garden.

The basics

What marigolds need

• Sun — Full sun (6+ hours)
• Water — Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• Harvest in 50–60 days
• Difficulty — Very easy

When to plant

Time it from your frost date

• Start indoors: 4–6 weeks before last frost
• Transplant: After last frost
• Direct sow: After last frost
• Best in Zones 2–11 (warm-season annual)

How to plant

Three steps to a strong start

• 1. Start indoors 4–6 weeks early or direct-sow after frost — both work well.
• 2. Plant among vegetables, especially tomatoes, as a companion.
• 3. Water at the base and avoid overly rich soil, which gives leaves over flowers.

Common problem

Few flowers, lots of leaves

Soil too rich or too much shade — give full sun and lean soil.

Common problem

Powdery mildew or spider mites in heat

Improve airflow and water at the base.

Harvest

Picking marigolds right

Deadhead regularly — pinch off faded blooms just below the flower head to channel energy into new buds and keep the plant flowering nonstop.

Gardeners ask

Do marigolds really repel pests?

French marigolds can suppress soil nematodes, and many gardeners use them to deter some insects. They’re a classic vegetable-garden companion.

Keep growing

Get the full Marigolds guide

Planting dates for your USDA zone, spacing, companions, every common problem — free on Plants by Zone.

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