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Marigolds are very much loved and appreciated by many gardeners and gardeners and deservedly so - after all, these flowers are not only famous for their beauty and unpretentiousness in growing, but also are able to protect other flowers and even garden plants from various troubles, diseases and pests. The two main species, the most common in culture, rejected and erect marigolds, have been known in Europe since the 16th century, and although they came to Russia a little later, they are the first overseas flowers that our domestic flower growers met.
But in addition to these two species in the genus of marigolds, botanists know about 50 representatives. In recent decades, in gardens and in personal plots, one can more and more often find a very unusual type of marigolds - thin-leaved. At first glance, you do not immediately recognize them as acquaintances from the "velvet family" - both leaves and flowers differ quite significantly.
But if you look closely, something imperceptibly familiar begins to emerge, and you immediately want to try to grow this miracle on your site. This article is devoted to fine-leaved marigolds, will help you determine their varieties, look at their photos and find out the features of growing them from seeds.
History of names
Fine-leaved marigolds, like other species, belong to the Astrov family. In Latin, the flower is called Tagetes tenuifolia.
The first word in the name owes its origin to Karl Linnaeus. He named it after the grandson of Jupiter, who amazed everyone with his romantic beauty and had the gift of foresight. His name was Tages. In the modern world, Tagetes, regardless of their species, also continue to amaze everyone who sees them with their beauty.
The second word in the name of the flower is translated as thin-leaved.
Well, marigolds, as, probably, many people guess, they were nicknamed because the petals of their inflorescences look very velvety both in appearance and to the touch.
And this type of marigold is called Mexican. And here everything is very simple and with the folk name of the flower, unlike the rest of the marigolds, they finally hit the mark. After all, all known types of marigolds are from the American continent.
Fine-leaved marigolds have been known in culture only since 1795.
Description of plants
These unusual annual herbaceous plants do not grow tall, any of the known modern varieties of fine-leaved marigolds does not exceed 30-40 cm in height.
But they are distinguished by very branched fragile shoots, which, together with small, delicate, light green leaves almost floating in the air, create the feeling of a whole small spherical flower bed created from only one flowering plant.
The leaves live up to their name and look thin and narrow, with pinpoint glands that are responsible for the light aroma emanating from the plant. This scent is not at all like the usual smell of ordinary marigolds, it is lighter, soothing, with a slight citrus note.
Inflorescences are very small, their size varies from 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter. They are distinguished by a simple form, there are practically no double flowers. But their number can surprise even an experienced grower. Usually, the entire bush is so densely covered with pretty, often two-colored inflorescences that the foliage serves only as an additional background.The inflorescences are attached to such short peduncles that sometimes it seems that they are just hanging in the air.
The color of the inflorescences can be of various shades of yellow, orange or red. Double-colored petals can often be seen. Bushes in the same period of time are strewn with buds just getting ready for flowering, and fully open flowers, and already faded, in which seeds have formed. Moreover, faded inflorescences somehow imperceptibly fade into the background, without spoiling the overall picture of flowering.
The seeds are smaller than those of other common marigold species. One gram contains about 2000 seeds.
To date, about 70 varieties and hybrids of this variety of marigolds are known.
Varieties and hybrids
Varieties and hybrids of fine-leaved marigolds practically do not differ from each other, except for the color of the inflorescences. That is, the features of a particular variety of marigolds are much easier to see in the photo than to describe them in words. Therefore, below are the most popular varieties and hybrids of fine-leaved marigolds known today in Russia with a photo.
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Golden Gem
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Gold gem
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Golden Ring
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Red gem
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Lulu lemon
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Tengerin Gem
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Mimimix, mix
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Paprika
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Starfire mix
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Starshine, mix of colors
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Ursula
Growing from seeds
Fine-leaved marigolds can be grown quite easily both by seedlings and by sowing seeds directly into open ground.
Seedling method of growing
According to the growing season, they are closer to the rejected marigolds, that is, it takes about two months from the emergence of seedlings to flowering. Thus, if you want the plants to bloom from the very beginning of summer, then you can sow marigold seeds for seedlings already in early April.
When sowing on seedlings, one should take into account the fact that it is thin-leaved marigolds that are more susceptible to black leg disease than other species. Therefore, either the soil must be steamed and disinfected, or a fresh substrate from a reliable manufacturer should be used.
Thickened crops suffer more from black leg, therefore one of the preventive measures is sowing previously germinated seeds. For this, the seeds of marigolds are first soaked in water with stimulants for 12 hours, then placed in a damp cloth in a warm place. After 1-2 days, the first seedlings may appear, and the germinated seeds are laid out in grooves on the soil surface at a distance of 1 cm from each other. It is advisable to sprinkle them on top with a 0.5 cm layer of light earth and moisten abundantly from a spray bottle.
To protect yourself from the appearance of a black leg, you can use the method of sowing fine-leaved marigold seeds in rolls or "snails". According to this technique, the seeds are sown on a paper napkin or on toilet paper without using land at all, therefore, the possibility of infection with any fungal disease, including black leg, is excluded.
The video below shows in detail the process of sowing marigold seeds into snails.
The optimum temperature for seed germination is + 22 ° + 24 ° C. Under these conditions, seedlings may appear in 4-6 days. After the emergence of seedlings, it is advisable to reduce the temperature of the seedlings to + 18 ° + 20 ° C in order to improve the development of the root system and prevent the seedlings from pulling out. From the very first hours after the emergence of seedlings, it is desirable to provide the plants with the brightest possible lighting.
The picking and transplanting of fine-leaved marigold seedlings tolerates very well, like all other species. After the appearance of two true feathery leaves, the sprouts can be planted in separate containers.
Seedlings can be planted on flower beds after the weather has been established without frost. When planting, it is worth observing a distance of at least 40-50 cm between the bushes. Since each thin-leaved marigold bush grows up to 40 cm wide. Seedlings can and should be deepened into the ground a few centimeters so that it takes root better.
At the first time after planting, fine-leaved marigolds need regular watering until flowering begins. In the second half of summer, watering can be reduced. You can combine them with fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers for better flowering. On average, this type of marigold blooms 7-8 days later than rejected marigolds and 10 days earlier than erect marigolds.
Direct sowing in the ground
If you decide not to mess with seedlings and sow seeds directly to a permanent place of growth, on a flower bed, then keep in mind that marigolds will bloom only after 2 months. That is, if you sow seeds even in the second half of May under a cover with non-woven fabric, then you will see flowers only in mid-July.
When planting seeds at a fairly large distance from each other, the result will be spherical bushes. If you sow the seeds relatively densely, you can get a real blooming meadow.
When planting seeds in flower beds, sprinkle them with a layer of light earth, about 1 cm thick.If the seeds are sprinkled too hard, the sprouts may not break through the soil, and if the layer is thin, the seedlings may simply dry out. Therefore, in the first weeks after sowing, check the soil moisture every day. In outdoor conditions, seedlings usually appear on the 7-8th day. After a week, they can be thinned out, leaving the strongest and healthiest plants.
Growing features
Marigolds fine-leaved, with all their general unpretentiousness, are somewhat more demanding on illumination, the amount of heat and the composition of the soil than rejected marigolds.
At temperatures even a few degrees below zero, plants can die. If the average daily temperature drops below + 10 ° С for a long time, then the leaves of the plants will acquire a reddish tint, and growth and flowering will stop. True, high temperatures combined with high humidity are also not very desirable, since marigolds form a lot of foliage, and flowering becomes scarce.
In sunny areas, thin-leaved marigolds will show themselves in all their glory. In partial shade, they will also live and even bloom, but flowering will be belated and minimal. Flowers are especially demanding for lighting in the first weeks of their development.
These flowers will feel best on light, sandy loam, neutral or slightly acidic soils. Waterlogging of the soil can be detrimental to them, but they can withstand drought, especially during the flowering period.
For top dressing, it is advisable to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content.
After flowering in late autumn, the marigold bushes are best crushed and embedded in the soil. Thus, you will heal and improve its composition.
With these lovely sunny flowers, you can create spectacular blooming flower beds in your garden effortlessly. In addition, their stay will heal the soil on the site and drive away uninvited guests from it, in the form of various insect pests.
