South America gave birth to many magnificent plants due to its climate. Many of them subsequently spread throughout the world. One of these plants is tagetes. A mysterious and unusual name remained in the bowels of selection science, and amateur flower growers christened it in their own way. Affectionately and with great love they call these flowers marigolds for the pleasant velvety petals. He is known to a wide circle of flower lovers for more than four hundred years. In those distant times, the Aztecs and Mayans used it as a spice, adding to food; as a medicinal plant for the treatment of ailments; in religious rituals, endowing tagetes with magical properties. They knew that plant marigold planting and care were quite simple.
They became popular in our country due to their unpretentiousness, minimal care, ease of cultivation, splendor and duration of flowering. These gorgeous flowers can be found everywhere. They decorate squares, parks and squares, plant streets, plant them in front gardens and flower gardens of houses. To date, about 50 different species of marigold have already been bred. They can be grown even in pots on balconies, decorating the
interior of the loggias.
Favorite gardeners marigolds. Planting and care are not difficult, as they are well propagated by seeds. Good germination is guaranteed for three to four years. Seeds are sown in open ground to a depth of 1.5-2.5 centimeters in late April or early May. For propagation of flowers "marigolds" seedlings are also well suited. Sowing in this case is carried out at the end of March. Well-moistened loamy soils are best suited for these plants. When digging the beds, you can make fertilizer: organic, mineral or mixed. Only nitrogen in its composition should be avoided.
Marigolds, depending on the species, can be stunted, medium or high. Variation of growth - from 20 centimeters to one and a half meters. Planting "marigolds" is simple planting, and care is also quite simple. Abundant watering should be carried out twice a week. It is especially necessary to strengthen hydration before flowering, since the plant needs additional strength during this period.
Marigolds are very useful. The healing properties of these plants have long been known. They are used in medicine for the prevention and treatment of fever and thinness, eliminate constipation, as a diuretic. Do not underestimate the culinary properties of tagetes. The leaves of this plant are added to salads, used for marinade, and dried and grated, added to flour products and soups. Dried flower baskets give food a pleasant golden hue. Marigold essential oils are often used as a natural flavor. Another important advantage of this plant is its ability to disinfect the soil due to substances secreted by its roots. The same substance repels pests both from the flower itself and from neighboring plants.
Ornamental floriculture boasts such varieties of these plants as anise, French, thin-leaved. In these instances of plants, "marigolds" planting and care are also not complicated.