Marigolds belong to the family Asteraceae. Their homeland is the subtropics of America. They are thermophilic, do not tolerate frosts and they need to be planted in places protected from northern winds. Marigolds grow well in shaded places, easily tolerate drought, are undemanding to the soil. In addition to heavy clay soils, they grow on all the others, but best of all - on loams that are sufficiently provided with moisture.
Bright, different shades, from light yellow to terracotta, with lush green leaves that adorn any garden and blooming to frost - these are marigolds. Growing from seeds involves sowing in the soil in May-June, but often these flowers are grown in seedlings.
Marigolds, the cultivation of seedlings of which require certain skills and knowledge, are not only an ornamental plant, but also a healer. Firstly, marigolds are used in folk medicine, and secondly, when planting next to vegetable crops in the garden, they scare away the bear, aphid and nematode.
So, if you decide to grow marigolds in yourself, you need to start growing from seedlings with sowing seeds at the end of March. As soon as the second pair of true leaflets appears on the shoot, you need to dive the plants into the box, planting them less often, about 8x8 cm, since they form a large, fibrous root system. Marigold seedlings can be buried into the ground by ¾ of the stem length, since accessory roots are easily formed on them. Marigolds tolerate the transplant well, even during the flowering period they can be moved to another place without harming the plant.
If you have a greenhouse, you can also plant marigolds in it. Growing from seeds in a greenhouse under a film or in a greenhouse can be carried out without diving, it is enough to sow plants at a distance of 10 cm from each other. Marigolds land in open ground after all spring frosts have passed, at the same time as, for example, primrose. Growing from marigold seeds is convenient because, planning to improve vegetable crops with these flowers, you can simultaneously sow rows, for example, cucumbers and marigolds. In close proximity to marigolds, less aphids appear on cucumbers, since the essential oils contained in the plant repel insects.
In addition, the rows of marigolds can be alternated with rows of cabbage, tomatoes, pepper: in this case, the bear and nematode do not visit the plots with vegetables so often, and the crop can be better preserved.
If you want to improve the health of the soil as a whole, collect faded stems, leaves, and flowers in the fall and chop the marigolds finely. Growing from the seeds of these flowers makes it possible to sow a large area and, having gathered them in the autumn and chopped, dig them with the soil. The presence of essential oils in a plant will scare away pests from your garden, and there will be significantly fewer of them next spring.
In folk medicine, marigolds, the cultivation of seeds of which makes it possible to independently prepare raw materials for treatment, are used as a diuretic and proto-anthelmintic. Marigolds also have diaphoretic properties and are added to anti-inflammatory fees.
Marigold essential oil is used for cystitis and neurosis, urethritis and urinary retention. Inside, essential oil is used for "night blindness." In addition, marigold essential oil is used in aromatherapy, and is used to treat depression, neurosis, as well as in a state of uncertainty and confusion.
In addition, marigold oil is used in massage practice. To do this , add 10 drops of marigold essential oil to 20 ml of the base (baby cream, olive oil, massage cream). For therapeutic baths with marigold oil, just add 10 drops to the bath.
It is contraindicated to use marigold essential oil for eczema, as well as until the 32nd week of pregnancy.