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Marigolds are very loved and appreciated by many gardeners and gardeners, and quite deservedly – after all, these flowers are not only famous for their beauty and unpretentiousness in growing, but are also able to protect other flowers and even garden plants from various troubles, diseases and pests. The two main species, the most common in culture, deviated and erect marigolds, have been known in Europe since the XNUMXth century, and although they came to Our Country 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 household plots, you can increasingly meet a completely unusual type of marigold – thin-leaved. At first glance, it’s not immediately possible to recognize acquaintances from the “velvet family” in them – both the leaves and the flowers differ very significantly.
But if you look closely, something subtly familiar begins to emerge, and you immediately want to try to grow this miracle in your area. This article is devoted to thin-leaved marigolds, it will help you decide on their varieties, look at their photos and find out the features of growing them from seeds.
History of names
Thin-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 Carl 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 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 many probably 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 also called Mexican. And here, just everything is very simple and with the popular name of the flower, unlike other marigolds, they finally hit the mark. After all, all known types of marigolds come from the American continent.
Thin-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, openwork, 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, they have dotted glands that are responsible for the light aroma coming from the plant. This fragrance 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 differ in a simple form, there are practically no terry flowers. But their number can surprise even an experienced grower. Usually the whole bush is so densely covered with pretty, often two-tone inflorescences that the foliage serves only as an additional background. 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 various shades of yellow, orange or red. Often you can see the petals with a double color. Bushes in the same period of time are strewn with buds that are just preparing for flowering, and fully opened 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 other common types of marigolds. 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 thin-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 thin-leaved marigolds, known today in Our Country with a photo.
- Golden Jewel (Golden Gem)
- Golden Gem
- Golden Ring
- Red Gem
- Lulu lemon
- Tangerine Jewel (Tengerin Gem)
- Mimimix, mix
- paprika
- Starfire mix
- Starshine color mix
- Ursula
Cultivation from seeds
Thin-leaved marigolds can be quite easily grown both by seedlings and by sowing seeds directly into open ground.
Seedling method of growing
In terms of the growing season, they are closer to the rejected marigolds, that is, about two months pass from germination to flowering. Thus, if you want the plants to bloom from the very beginning of summer, then you can sow the seeds of thin-leaved marigolds for seedlings as early as early April.
When sowing seedlings, one should take into account the fact that it is thin-leaved marigolds that are more susceptible to blackleg 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 the black leg, so one of the preventive measures is to sow pre-germinated seeds. To do this, the seeds of thin-leaved marigolds are first soaked for 12 hours in water with stimulants, 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. From above, it is desirable to sprinkle them with a layer of light earth 0,5 cm and moisten abundantly with a spray bottle.
To protect yourself from the appearance of a black leg, you can use the method of sowing thin-leaved marigold seeds in rolls or “snails”. According to this technique, the seeds are sown on a paper napkin or on toilet paper without the use of land at all, therefore, the possibility of infection with any fungal disease, including the 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 germination, it is desirable to reduce the temperature of the seedlings to +18°+20°C in order to improve the development of the root system and prevent seedlings from stretching. From the very first hours after germination, it is desirable to provide the plants with the brightest possible lighting.
Seedlings of fine-leaved marigolds tolerate picking and transplanting very well, like all other species. After the appearance of two true feathery leaves, the sprouts can be seated in separate containers.
Seedlings can be planted in flower beds after the weather has established without frost. When planting, it is worth observing a distance of at least 40-50 cm between the bushes. Since each bush of thin-leaved marigolds grows up to 40 cm wide. Seedlings can and should be deepened into the ground a few centimeters so that it takes root better.
For the first time after planting, thin-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 into the ground
If you decide not to mess with seedlings and sow seeds directly to a permanent place of growth, to 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 cover with non-woven material, 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 flowering clearing.
When planting seeds in flower beds, sprinkle them with a layer of light earth, about 1 cm thick. If the seeds are sprinkled too much, the sprouts may not break through the soil, and if the layer is thin, then 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.
Peculiarities of growing
Fine-leaved marigolds, for all their general unpretentiousness, are somewhat more demanding on illumination, the amount of heat and soil composition than rejected marigolds.
At temperatures even a few degrees below zero, plants can die. If the average daily temperature falls below + 10 ° C 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 late and minimal. Flowers show special demands on lighting in the first weeks of their development.
Best of all, these flowers will feel on light, sandy, 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 desirable to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content.
After flowering in late autumn, marigold bushes are best crushed and planted in the soil. Thus, you will improve and improve its composition.
With these cute sunny flowers, you can create spectacular blooming flower beds in your garden with little effort. In addition, their stay will improve the soil on the site and drive away uninvited guests from it, in the form of various pests.
