Description
French Durango mix is a dwarf bushy marigold in a mix of warm and sunny colours, from hot oranges and reds to deep golden yellows. It is a low growing plant which will look great either in the front of a border, on the edge of a path or in a container.
This variety has a long flowering season and is an excellent companion plant for the vegetable garden, repelling harmful insects but highly attractive to bees and butterflies.
French Marigolds attract bees and butterflies and is included on the RHS Perfect for Pollinators list.
| When to sow | February to March indoors or under glass, April to May direct outside. |
| Where to sow | Sow indoors 0.5cm (1/4in) deep in moist compost filled pots or trays and cover the seeds with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a warm position (temperature of 21-25°C (70-77°F) is ideal). |
| Sow direct outdoors in flowering position, 0.5cm (1/4in) deep. | |
| What to do next | For seeds sown indoors , when seedlings are large enough to handle and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Then transplant into final growing position planting them 20cm (8in) apart. |
| Thin the seedlings sown direct outdoors out so they are 20cm (8in) apart. Carefully replant thinned plants to fill any gaps. | |
| Water well until plants are established. | |
| Deadhead to prolong flowering and encourage new flower buds. | |
| Handy tips | Pinch out the growing tip of each stem when transplanting to encourage stems to branch and produce more flowers. |
| Flowering period | June to October. |
| Companion planting | French Marigold is used in companion planting for many vegetable crops ( tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, gourds, potatoes, alliums and brassicas). It's root secretions are believed to kill nematodes in the soil and it is said to repel harmful insects, such as white flies on tomatoes. |
| Uses | Ideal for bedding, containers and as a companion plant. |
| Height | 25cm (10in) |
| Spread | 20cm (8in) |
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