With their cheerful flowers and long-lasting hues, marigolds are a wonderful choice for adding brightness to borders and pots throughout summer. But as the flowers begin to fade, a few simple jobs can help keep them looking their best and encourage more blooms.
From deadheading spent flowers to collecting seeds, here's what to do with marigolds as the flowering season comes to an end.
1. Deadhead spent flowers
One of the simplest ways to keep marigolds flowering is to remove fading flower heads regularly.
'Marigolds can continue blooming until the first frosts, so this keeps them looking tidy and encourages the development of more flowers,' says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.
Simply deadhead the faded flower head, taking care not to damage any developing buds nearby. Continue doing this throughout the flowering season to enjoy as many blooms as possible.
2. Collect seeds for next year
Once your marigolds have finished flowering completely, you can collect the seeds to grow new blooms next year.
'Allow the flower heads to dry completely on the stem, and they will be ready once they turn brown and feel crispy,’ explains Richard.
Snap dried heads off the plant, and break them apart to release the seeds. Remove any remaining material and make sure the seeds are thoroughly dry before storing them.
3. Store seeds somewhere cool and dry
Marigold seeds are super easy to store, meaning you can keep them ready for sowing when the conditions are right the following year.
‘Once thoroughly dry, they can be stored somewhere cool and dry in a paper envelope ready for sowing next spring,’ explains Martin Chaplin, head of horticulture at Hedges Direct.
Label the envelope with the plant variety and date if you grow different types of marigold. Then, be sure to avoid storing seeds in plastic containers unless they are completely dry, as trapped moisture can encourage mould.
4. Clear away plants after the first frosts
Marigolds are not hardy enough to survive a hard frost, so the end of the flowering season will usually come when temperatures drop.
'The first hard frosts should kill the entirety of marigold plants, and the whole plant can be pulled up by the root after this,' says Richard.
Once the plant has died back, pull it up carefully from the base and remove the roots and remaining foliage from the soil.
5. Add healthy plants to your compost
If your marigolds have been healthy throughout the growing season, you don't necessarily need to throw them away once they have finished flowering.
‘Healthy plants can be cut up and mixed into garden soil or added to your compost pile, but plants showing signs of disease or pests should be disposed of,’ says Richard.
Before adding anything to your compost, check the foliage and stems carefully for signs of disease or infestation. These are best disposed of rather than added to compost, where problems could potentially be spread.
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