How to grow Marigold in Australia
Marigolds (Tagetes) are easy, bright annuals in gold, orange and red that flower for months in the warm season and bring hoverflies and bees into the vegetable patch. French marigolds are the small, bushy kind most often grown among vegetables; African marigolds are tall with big pompom flowers.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Marigold in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to October | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to October | Coast follows SEQ. In hinterland frost pockets skip the June and July sowings or keep seedlings under cover; marigolds are killed by frost. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | A summer annual in Sydney. Sow Sep to Mar; plant out after frost risk in the west. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | September to December | Frost-tender annual. Sow Sep indoors or Oct to Dec direct after frost; autumn-winter sowings put seedlings into frost. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to December | Frost tender. Sow Sep undercover or Oct to Dec direct after frost. Thrives in summer heat with water; autumn sowings meet winter cold. |
| Perth & WA | September to December | Sow Sep to Dec. Thrives in summer heat with water; winter sowings sit cold and wet. |
| Tasmania | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec after frost. Summer annual here. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Frost tender. Sow Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November; killed by the first autumn frost. |
| North Queensland | May to October | Dry season May to Oct. Annual flowers; marigolds tolerate tropical dry heat. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to October | Dry season May to Oct. Annual flowers; marigolds tolerate tropical dry heat. |
Not to be confused with: Calendula, often called pot marigold or English marigold. It is a different plant that prefers the cool season.
Where to plant
Marigolds like a warm, sunny position and light, well-drained soil. Average soil suits them; very rich soil or heavy feeding gives lush leaves and fewer flowers. They are ideal for edging vegetable beds, filling gaps between crops and growing in pots.
All garden marigolds are killed by frost, so in cold areas sow or plant out only after the last frost.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers coast: sow from autumn through to spring. In frosty hinterland pockets, skip midwinter sowings.
- Sydney: a summer annual, sown from September to March.
- Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth: sow from September under cover, or direct from October to December after frost.
- Canberra and Hobart: sow in late spring after the last frost; plants die with the first autumn frost.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, May to October. The wet season's heat and humidity bring rot and mildew.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| French marigold (Tagetes patula) | Small and bushy, in orange, yellow, red and bicolours. The type most used among vegetables, and the one studied for reducing root-knot nematodes |
| African or American marigold (Tagetes erecta) | Tall, 60 to 90 cm, with large pompom flowers. Good for cut flowers and bold displays |
| Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) | Fine, ferny leaves and small single flowers with a citrus scent; the petals are used in salads |
How to plant
- Sow seed in punnets or direct where it is to flower, about 0.5 cm deep, once the soil is warm.
- Keep the soil just moist. Seedlings come up in about a week.
- Plant out or thin to 20 to 30 cm apart for French types and wider for tall African types.
- Pinch out the tips of young plants for bushier growth.
- Protect seedlings from slugs and snails.
Watering and feeding
Water seedlings regularly until established, then water deeply about once or twice a week in hot weather. Marigolds handle some dryness once growing. Water at the base and keep the leaves dry to reduce powdery mildew and grey mould.
Feed lightly, if at all. A little balanced fertiliser at planting is plenty; too much nitrogen gives leaves instead of flowers.
Pruning and care through the year
- Deadhead often by snipping off spent flowers. This keeps new flowers coming for months.
- Tall African types may need a stake in windy spots.
- Space plants so air moves between them, and pull out plants that collapse with grey mould in wet weather.
Harvesting
Cut flowers once they are fully open, for vases or petals. Cutting and deadheading both encourage more flowers.
To dry petals, pull them from fully open flowers, dry them at room temperature out of the sun, and store them in a sealed jar.
Growing in pots
French and signet marigolds grow well in pots at least 20 cm wide, in a sunny spot, with potting mix that drains freely. Pots dry out quickly in summer, so check them often.
Using it
Marigold flowers are edible. French marigold petals are quite bitter, so they go best with sweet dishes such as stewed or poached fruit. Signet marigolds have a citrus scent and their small petals add colour to salads. The flowers also yield a yellow dye that has been used as a saffron substitute. Only eat flowers that have not been sprayed.
Saving seed
Leave a few flowers to dry on the plant until the heads are brown and papery. Pull out the long, thin seeds, dry them for a few more days and store them in a paper envelope. Seed from hybrid varieties may not come true.
Companion planting
Marigolds are grown among vegetables mainly because their flowers draw in hoverflies and bees. French marigolds can also reduce root-knot nematodes, but research shows this works when a bed is planted densely with marigolds for a whole season, not from a few plants dotted among crops.
Good companions
- Tomato Marigolds edging a tomato bed bring hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids. A season of French marigolds before tomatoes can lower nematode numbers.
- Beans A low border that brings in pollinators and other helpful insects.
- Capsicum Shares the same warm, sunny conditions; flowers bring helpful insects to a crop prone to aphids.
- Eggplant Likes the same warm, sunny bed, and the flowers draw in helpful insects.
- Cucumber Flowers bring bees, which cucumbers need to set fruit.
- Zucchini Bees drawn to the marigolds also pollinate zucchini flowers.
- Pumpkin Extra flowers nearby help bring in the bees that pumpkins need for fruit set.
Pests and diseases
Marigolds are tough, but hot, dry weather brings mites and damp, crowded plantings bring fungal problems.
Pests to watch for
- Spider mite Fine pale speckling on leaves and fine webbing, in hot, dry weather.
- Slugs and snails (slugs and snails) Seedlings chewed off overnight, especially after rain.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on leaves, worst in crowded plants late in the season.
- Grey mould Grey fuzzy rot on flowers and stems in cool, damp weather. Remove affected flowers and improve spacing.
Common questions
Do marigolds keep pests away?
Marigolds are reputed to deter pests, but the best supported benefits are that their flowers bring in hoverflies and bees, and that French marigold roots can reduce root-knot nematodes in soil. For nematodes, the bed needs to be planted densely with French marigolds for a full season.
Are marigolds edible?
Yes, the flowers are edible. French marigold petals are quite bitter and suit sweet dishes such as poached fruit; signet marigold petals add colour to salads. Only eat flowers that have not been sprayed.
Is calendula the same as marigold?
No. Calendula is often called pot marigold, but it is a different plant that grows in the cool season. Tagetes marigolds are warm-season plants killed by frost.
How do I keep marigolds flowering?
Deadhead spent flowers often, grow them in full sun and do not overfeed them. Rich soil and lots of nitrogen give leafy plants with fewer flowers.
When should I plant marigolds?
After the last frost in southern and inland areas, from September to December. In south east Queensland they can be sown for most of the year, and in the tropics sow in the dry season.
Do marigolds come back every year?
Garden marigolds are grown as annuals and die with frost or at the end of the season. They often self-seed, and saved seed is easy to sow again next spring.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia plant finder: Tagetes; University of Florida IFAS Extension: Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) for nematode management (NG045); Journal of Nematology (PMC3593261): suppression of root-knot nematode by actively growing French marigold; Gardening Australia: Edible Flowers.