Should You Soak Marigold Seeds Before Planting?

Soak seeds overnight before planting to speed germination. It’s not hard for marigold seeds to sprout, but I find that soaking them first makes the process go a little faster. If youre direct sowing during a rainy part of spring, you wont need to pre soak the seeds.

You can start your seeds indoors, but marigolds grow quickly and easily outside, so I usually just plant them right in the garden. Once the soil is warmed in spring, plant the seeds about 1/4″ down and cover with soil. Water lightly every day till germination, then switch to every few days till well established.

Once in the garden, mulch around the base of plants to keep the soil from drying out. When seeds are just starting to grow, even a few hours of dry soil can kill them. But too much water can also kill them. Mulch helps keep the balance.

If you want to start your seeds indoors, do so about six weeks before you plan to move them to the garden. Plant seedlings where they will stay in the garden when they are a few inches tall and there is no longer any risk of frost.

When starting seeds indoors, use a commercial potting mix instead of garden soil because garden soil can get packed down, making it hard for the tiny seed roots to grow. Water and place on a heat mat with a clear cover. You can use plastic wrap if your pots dont have a cover. It should only take a few days for germination. Remove clear cover when sprouts appear.

Thin when plants are about 2″ tall. In the garden, space marigolds about 8 to 10 inches from other plants. Marigolds only take a few weeks from starting seed to blooming.

Marigolds grow best in full sun. Choose a sunny location with at least 4-6 hours of direct sun. Marigold flowers best in full sun, but they can tolerate some shade. It would be a daily chore to pick off the dead flowers from marigolds, but they don’t need to be deadheaded. The flowers dry out and close, and the seeds are made at the base of the flower. So if you dont deadhead them, they will self seed. There is a fine line between giving marigold plants too much fertilizer and not giving them enough. This will cause the plants to grow taller, but not produce as many flowers. I add some compost at planting time and a weak fertilizer every 2 weeks or so during blooming.

If your plants aren’t flowering much, do not feed them for a few weeks and check again if they start flowering more. Once established, the marigold is mostly drought resistant. When there is a drought, I water them once a week. Other than that, they only get watered when it rains. They are heat resistant and grow in almost any kind of soil, though they prefer well drained soil.

This is one of the attributes that makes marigolds such a popular addition to flower beds and gardens. They adapt well to almost any growing condition. But they will need a little more water in pots and raised beds because they dry out faster. Most marigolds are an annual and will die off at the very first frost of the year. Youll want to pull out the plants once they start to die off. Marigolds have done well for me to grow inside over the winter, so if you see sprouts in the fall, move them to pots and bring them inside!

Marigolds are a beloved annual flower known for their brightly colored pom-pom blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red and white. These hardy flowers have a place in most gardens since they repel pests, attract pollinators, and add cheer wherever they grow.

Marigolds are also quite easy to grow from seed. But when starting seeds, many gardeners wonder if they should soak marigold seeds first for better germination. Let’s explore the pros and cons of soaking seeds to help you decide.

An Overview of Soaking Marigold Seeds

Pre-soaking seeds before planting is called “priming.” This process typically involves soaking seeds in water for a period of time before sowing them.

Some of the proposed benefits of seed soaking include:

Speeding up germination time
Increasing total germination rate

Encouraging stronger, healthier seedlings

However soaking can also have downsides if not done properly

Seeds may rot if soaked too long

Seeds can crack or sustain other damage
Overhydrated seeds may not store well after soaking

So whether priming marigold seeds is helpful or not depends on several factors. Let’s analyze these in more detail.

Reasons to Soak Marigold Seeds Before Planting

Here are some of the main advantages of priming marigold seeds by pre-soaking:

Accelerates Germination

Many sources report marigold seeds germinate 1-2 weeks sooner when soaked before planting This is useful for getting a head start on the growing season.

Improves Germination Rates

If seeds are soaked properly, total percent germination is often higher than dry seeded marigolds. So you may get more seedlings from soaked seeds.

Produces Stronger Seedlings

Soaked seeds often sprout more vigorously, with more robust root growth and hardier shoots. This gives them an advantage, especially when started indoors.

Reduces Irrigation Needs

The extra moisture in pre-soaked seeds reduces watering needs for the first 1-2 weeks after sowing.

If you want marigolds to germinate faster and more efficiently, pre-soaking seeds can help make that happen.

Reasons to Avoid Soaking Marigold Seeds

However, there are also some good reasons you may NOT want to soak marigold seeds before planting:

Seeds May Rot if Soaked Too Long

Marigold seeds soaked more than a few hours can imbibe too much water and begin to rot before they ever have a chance to sprout.

Causes Seed Damage

Excess water can cause seeds to crack and sustain structural damage. Handling swollen seeds may also cause unintended harm.

Reduces Seed Longevity

Soaked seeds don’t store as well. Their water content makes them more prone to mold and rotting in storage.

Not Needed for Marigolds

Since marigolds germinate quickly and easily anyway, soaking provides limited benefits for this flower.

Extra Time and Effort

Having to remember to pre-soak seeds takes more planning and work compared to simply direct sowing them.

For many seeds, soaking may cause more harm than good if not done with care.

Best Practices for Soaking Marigold Seeds

If you do wish to pre-soak marigold seeds, follow these tips:

Only soak seeds 2-4 hours before planting. Longer increases rotting risk.
Use room temperature water rather than cold water to avoid shocking seeds.

Gently pour off any excess water before planting soaked seeds.
Handle swollen seeds delicately to avoid damaging the seed coat.
Sow soaked seeds immediately – do not store them after soaking.

Provide optimal moisture and warmth after sowing soaked seeds.

Following best practices reduces risks and helps ensure you see the benefits of seed soaking.

When to Direct Sow Marigold Seeds

In many cases, simply direct sowing marigold seeds is the easiest approach:

Outdoors After Frosts

Sow seeds directly in the ground after the last spring frost once soil has warmed.

In Warm Microclimates

In frost-free regions, sow outdoors anytime temperatures are warm.

Indoors 6-8 Weeks Before Transplanting

Sow indoors loosely in trays, then transplant seedlings outside after hardening off.

In Moist Soil

Ensure seeds have consistent moisture to sprout since they are prone to drying out.

With proper care, marigolds germinate quickly from direct sown dry seeds making soaking optional.

So Should You Soak Marigold Seeds or Not?

Based on the pros and cons, soaking marigold seeds is generally not needed. But it may provide some benefits in certain situations:

Soak When Starting Indoors

The confined indoor environment makes strong, quick germination more critical.

Soak to Get a Head Start Outdoors

If you need marigolds to mature as fast as possible, soaking gives a 1-2 week jump start.

Soak When Growing Less Common Varieties

Boosting germination rates helps when seeds are rare or expensive.

Don’t Soak When Direct Sowing Outdoors

Seeds sown into garden beds don’t need a germination boost.

Don’t Soak for Long Term Storage

Only soak seeds about to be immediately planted.

While marigold seed soaking isn’t mandatory, strategic priming in certain conditions can provide advantages. Just use caution not to overdo it!

Encouraging Rapid Marigold Germination

If your goal is to speed up marigold seed germination, here are some other tips beyond pre-soaking:

Start seeds indoors at 70-80°F for fastest sprouting.
Warm outdoor soil to at least 60°F before direct sowing.

Cover newly sown seeds lightly with fine vermiculite instead of soil.
Use bottom heat below seeds, like a heat mat or cable.
Water freshly planted seeds daily to keep soil consistently moist.

Use an empty clear plastic bottle or cloche over seeds to increase humidity and warmth.

With the right conditions, marigold seeds should sprout within 4-6 days, soaked or not.

Bring On the Marigolds!

Marigolds are a versatile annual and one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. Their germination can be sped up slightly by pre-soaking seeds. But direct sowing dry seeds also produces great results.

Use seed soaking judiciously when an extra boost is needed. Avoid over-soaking that can damage seeds. Follow best practices to see the best outcome from your soaked marigold seeds.

But whenever possible, choose the simplest path of direct sowing unsoaked seeds into a carefully prepared seedbed. This avoids fussy extra steps while still producing vigorous seedlings.

With their colorful pom-pom blossoms and pest repelling properties, marigolds have earned their reputation as a garden staple. Aim for success by providing warm soil, consistent moisture, and sunny conditions. Then let the marigold magic happen!

How to grow marigolds from seed

Marigolds are a garden staple, known for their bright flowers and pest repelling qualities. They make excellent companion plants for tomatoes and are available in every garden nursery. Marigolds are easy to grow from seeds, and they usually come back every year because they’re good at spreading their own seeds.

I have been growing marigolds for many years. They are one of the flowers I wrote about in 8 flowers the you need in your garden. Many gardeners grow them for their color. Their bright orange and yellow blooms attract lots of pollinators like butterflies. Since your vegetables need pollinators, its a good idea to welcome them to the garden!.

Many gardeners plant marigolds near tomatoes to repel nematodes and other pests on the nearby plants. Marigolds themselves get very few pests except for the occasional mite or aphid. Its believed that the pungent scent of the marigolds discourages many pests from visiting the garden.

Theyre said to deter both rabbits and deer, though unfortunately, they do nothing for chipmunks and other rodents. If you want to keep rabbits out of your garden, plant marigolds near any holes in your fence. They can grow thick enough to make a wall.

Marigold is the common name for over 50 species of flowering plants in the Tagetes family. They were native to the Americas, but have been naturalized throughout the world. Various species are grown for their medicinal properties, culinary use, decoration and even pest repellant in the garden.

Marigolds are grassy plants in the sunflower family that usually only bloom once a year in the US. However, perennial marigolds do exist and are becoming more popular. They can be as short as a few inches or as tall as a few feet. Their leaves are green and have wings that look like feathers.

The flowers of the marigold tend to look a bit like carnations. They vary in size though they generally all have ray florets and disc florets. They have fibrous roots and grow well in almost any type of soil. Marigolds prefer full sun.

The most common colors are yellow or orange with maroon colored accents, though there are several other colors.

Why grow marigolds from seed?

Since you can buy marigolds at any plant nursery, garden center, or big box store, why would you bother to grow them from seed? Because for some rare varieties, you can only grow them from seed.

As mentioned earlier, different marigold varieties have different uses. The different varieties are often harder to find locally. You can order seeds from anywhere in the world, so starting marigolds from seeds is the only way to grow some rare varieties.

If you want to save money, it’s better to grow plants from seeds instead of buying them already grown. Marigolds are common enough that you can find packets of seeds in almost any store. Its one of the seeds I mention in 15 garden supplies from the dollar store.

Personally, I prefer the marigolds with the huge flowers. Those that are so big they look like pompoms are my favorite color. It’s more of a pale, creamy yellow than white.

Through the years I have saved seeds from the plants that produce the largest, creamy white flowers. I never have to look for these plants because most stores don’t have them. Also, I can always grow exactly what I want because I start with saved seeds.

Thin when plants are about 2″ tall. In the garden, space marigolds about 8 to 10 inches from other plants. Marigolds only take a few weeks from starting seed to blooming.

★ How to Grow Marigolds from Seed (A Complete Step by Step Guide)

FAQ

How do you germinate marigold seeds quickly?

Marigold seeds require light to germinate, so cover the seeds with only a very thin layer of soil, not thicker than 1/16 inch. Gently water the seeded area with a watering can, spray bottle, or a hose with a sprayer head set to low. Keep the soil evenly moist and water if it doesn’t rain.

Can marigold seeds be planted directly in the ground?

Sow marigold seeds directly onto the surface of the soil and firmly compress.

Can you just scatter marigold seeds?

Scatter the seeds on top of the mix, then cover them with a very fine layer, less than ¼ inch (6 mm.), of more medium. Marigold seed germination usually takes five to seven days. Separate your seedlings when they’re 2 inches (5 cm.)

Can you plant marigold seeds without soaking?

However, marigolds are fast sprouters without (under a week usually). Given the ease of germination for marigolds and the risk of over-hydration, most gardeners skip soaking marigold seeds. Sowing them directly into moist soil and keeping it consistently damp is sufficient. How many marigold seeds can you plant together?

When should you plant marigold seeds?

It depends on your zone and whether you start them indoors or outdoors. Always plant your marigolds in the spring after the last frost. If you choose to start them from seed indoors, you can begin the process six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. How many marigold seeds should you plant together?

How do you plant marigold seeds?

If you’re planting marigold seeds outdoors, pick a location that receives full sun. Marigolds can grow in a variety of soils, but they prefer rich, well-draining soil if they can get it. Scatter your seeds on the ground and cover them with a thin layer of very fine soil.

Does soaking marigold seeds speed up germination?

Soaking marigold seeds does have the potential to speed up germination. However, marigolds are fast sprouters without (under a week usually). Given the ease of germination for marigolds and the risk of over-hydration, most gardeners skip soaking marigold seeds. Sowing them directly into moist soil and keeping it consistently damp is sufficient.