Naughty Marietta is a delightful and fragrant dwarf Marigold, featuring charming edible flowers, easy to grow in small spaces. As an added bonus this heirloom flower attracts many pollinators to the garden by enchanting butterflies and bees with its bright yellow blossoms adorned by distinctive scarlet center markings.
Unveiled in 1947, Naughty Marietta stands as a compact and bushy annual, showcasing an abundance of singular flowers. The radiant golden-yellow petals, each bearing a distinctive central garnet blotch, create a captivating spectacle from late spring to late summer. Blossoms enshroud finely divided aromatic foliage, releasing a delightful spicy fragrance. Both the flowers and foliage serve a practical purpose by naturally repelling insects in the garden. With its hassle-free cultivation and minimal upkeep, French marigolds, exemplified by Naughty Marietta, prove to be superb choices for beds, patio containers, or as charming edging plants. Deer resistant.
Native to Mexico and Central America, these blossoms found their way to Europe through explorers and gained popularity as decorative plants. Their captivating beauty led to their frequent use in adorning statues of Mary, earning them the common name "Mary's gold." Gardeners frequently employ this species as a companion plant for vegetables, as it effectively wards off diseases and harmful pests. The genus name "Tagetes" has its origins in Tages, an ancient deity emerging from the ground. Meanwhile, the species name "patula" is derived from the Latin word for "spreading wide," describing the expansive opening of its blossoms.
• 1947 AAS Bedding Plant Winner
• Grows up to 8-10 in. tall and wide (20-25 cm).
• Performs best in full sun, moderately fertile dry to moist well drained soil. Some light afternoon shade is tolerated in hot summer areas. Drought tolerant once established.
• French Marigolds are excellent additions to the landscape as edging or bedding plants at the front of the border or in containers on the deck or patio.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew as with all marigolds. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
• Pinching off dead blossoms will promote continuous blooming. Blooming might decrease in the heat of summer but will resume once temperatures cool down.
• Propagate by seed sown at 70°F (21°C) in spring. Sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed or indoors 6-8 weeks prior to the last spring frost date.
• Tagetes patula is native to Mexico and Guatemala.
~ planting ~
• Direct sow in spring, planting just below the surface of the soil. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination.
• This plant can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost of spring; these naughty Marietta French marigold seeds germinate best in high humidity and temperatures around 70 degrees F. Germination usually occurs within 5-10 days.
~ growing ~
• Water seedlings occasionally until they become established; mature plants tolerate some drought, though watering them in especially dry weather will increase their bloom. Pinch back the growing stems to encourage bushiness. Deadheading will cause continued blooming.
• This plant attracts bees and butterflies, and will self-seed in good growing conditions. It makes an excellent choice for a border plant or for growing in containers.
~ harvesting ~
For cut flowers, choose stems with flowers that have just opened. Strip the foliage that will fall below the water level, and place in water immediately.
~ seed saving ~
• Allow the flowers to drop their petals and develop into spiky seed heads. When ripe, the heads will be brown or dark brown and easily broken apart to reveal the narrow, sharp seeds. Remove the ripe seed heads and spread them out to dry away from direct sunlight.
• When they have completely dried, break apart the heads to separate the naughty Marietta French marigold seeds from the husk. Store the cleaned seed in a cool, dry place.
ABOUT NIMBLE NITECAP
• Heirloom Seeds
• Organic Seeds
• Non-GMO Seeds
• Open Pollinated Seeds
• Untreated Seeds
• US Grown Seeds
• growing instructions included
•Regular testing is conducted to uphold the highest germination standards, all the while employing appropriate seed storage techniques.
• Seeds are packed in eco-friendly, recycled-content packets with soy ink printing. (Small plastic bags are infrequently used to prevent the loss of very small seeds.)
SHIPPING
• FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $35 or more.
• Flat Rate shipping no matter how many seed packets you order.
• Orders are shipped in ECOENCLOSE recycled and reusable mailers.
• I aim to dispatch orders within 24 hours, although during peak growing seasons, the processing time may extend slightly. Please refer to the listing for the most up-to-date information on processing times.
