Marigold planting technology and management methods

Marigolds prefer warm climates, but extreme heat or cold can negatively affect their growth. In terms of soil, marigold is highly adaptable and is not very demanding on soil type. Let’s learn about marigold planting techniques and management methods.

1. Seedling stage

1. Seed selection

Choose marigold varieties with good adaptability, medium plant height, multiple branches, early flowering, large flowers, long flowering period and strong resistance to stress.

2. Seedling raising time

Seedling raising usually starts 40 to 45 days before transplanting. For example, the seedling raising time in Cheng County is from April 10 to 15, ensuring that the seedlings are 40 days old before transplanting.

3. Seed quantity for seedling raising

Each hectare of marigold transplanting requires 300 to 375 square meters of seedbed area and the seed dosage is about 0.45 kilograms.

4. Seedling cultivation method

Small arch sheds are commonly used seedling facilities. Cheng County mostly uses bamboo and other lightweight materials to build the frame and covers it with plastic film. The seedbed should be located in a sunny and wind-sheltered area, preferably in an east-west direction, and a drip-free film should be used. Before sowing, the seeds need to be dried, carefully selected, impurities removed, disinfected with carbendazim, and soaked in warm water at 20 to 25°C for 7 hours before mixing with fine sand for sowing.

5. Management during the seedling period

The temperature in the greenhouse is maintained at 20 to 25°C to promote germination, and seedlings emerge after 7 days. When the seedlings grow to 3 cm, ventilate and weed. When they are 4 to 5 cm, spray them with methyl tolbutrin or white fungicide to prevent diseases. Transplant them when they are 5 to 7 cm. Plant out when they have 7 to 8 true leaves.

2. Planting stage

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Choose land that is sheltered from the wind, facing the sun and has fertile soil, and avoid low-lying waterlogged land and land with continuous cropping. Deeply plow the soil, apply organic fertilizer , diammonium phosphate, potash fertilizer and urea as base fertilizer, and spread phoxim granules to control underground pests.

2. Planting method

The crops are planted in double rows with large and small ridges and mulch films, with a plant spacing of about 50 cm and a row spacing of about 40 cm. The planting density is 36,000 to 42,000 plants per hectare.

3. Transplanting and planting

When transplanting, choose seedlings with 4 to 5 pairs of leaves, transplant to a depth of 3 to 5 cm, start transplanting from May 15 to 20, cover with soil and water after transplanting.

3. Field Management

1. Check and replenish seedlings

Check the growth of seedlings regularly, replant seedlings in time, and analyze and deal with the causes of seedling death.

2. Loosen the soil

Loosen the soil and weed in time to increase ground temperature and prevent soil compaction.

3. Watering

Water the seedlings in time during drought.

4. Soil cultivation

It is carried out in two stages, the first time when the side branches are 10 to 15 cm long, and the second time 8 to 12 days before ridge closing.

5. Spray foliar fertilizer

Spray urea solution and potassium dihydrogen phosphate during the growing season.

6. Picking

Pinch off the top when the plant is about 20 cm tall to promote branching and flowering.

4. Pest and disease control

Select disease- and insect-resistant varieties, promptly remove diseased plants, and carry out chemical control based on the characteristics of disease and insect pest occurrences.

1. Disease prevention and control

Methods for prevention and control of leaf spot, damping-off, viral disease and powdery mildew include ventilation, water and fertilizer management and spraying of corresponding pesticides.

2. Pest control

The prevention and control of aphids, red spiders and leaf miners includes observing the growth of plants and spraying appropriate pesticides .

5. Picking at the right time

Pick during the period when lutein content is highest, from July 1 to September 20, harvest every 5 to 7 days to ensure the quality of the flowers.

The above are the marigold planting techniques and management methods, with the goal of achieving high yield, high efficiency and high quality. You can refer to and learn based on local actual conditions.