How to grow Marigold in Australia
Grow in full sun in average, well-drained soil, spacing plants according to their size. Water at the base to keep foliage dry and reduce disease, and avoid overly rich soil, which gives leaves at the expense of flowers.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 3 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 25 cm
- Time to harvest: 50 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
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. |
Varieties
- French Marigold (Tagetes patula)
- African / Mexican (Tagetes erecta)
- Signet Marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)
- Sparky Mix
- Crackerjack
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick flowers once fully open for fresh use or petals. Snip blooms with a short stem, and deadheading like this keeps new flowers coming all season.
Storage
Dry petals at room temperature and store in a sealed jar for months.