Thursday, October 9, 2014

Marigold, African Marigold, French Marigold, Genda

Marigold (Hindi Name - Genda गेंदा)

Species: Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula


Marigold are among the very popular flowers commonly found in India and other countries. They can be easily cultivated, are widely adaptable to varying soils and climatic conditions and have a good flowering duration. This bushy plant with around 20 to 30 species, have a long flowering period and the colours range from orange, yellow, gold, cream to apricot. They are very much used in making garlands. Make excellent beds and pot decorations.

African Marigold

There's nothing subtle about an African marigold, and thank goodness for that! It's a big, flamboyant, colorful punch of color for the sunny bed, border, or large container. Most are yellow, orange, or cream. Plants get up to 3 feet tall and produce huge 3-inch puffball blooms while dwarf varieties get just 1 foot tall. The mounded dark green foliage is always clean, fresh, and tidy. Grow them in a warm, sunny spot with moist, well-drained soil all summer long.
Growing Marigold
Light:                           Sun
Type:                           Annual
Height:                         1 to 3 feet
Width:                          1 - 2 feet wide
Flower Color:              Orange, Yellow, Cream
Seasonal Features:     Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom
Problem Solvers:        Drought Tolerant, Groundcover
Propagation:                Seed
Special Features:        Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance  

French Marigold

Just as you'd expect from something called French, these marigolds are the fancy ones. French marigolds tend to be frilly and some boast a distinctive "crested eye." They grow roughly 8-12 inches high with a chic, neat, little growth habit and elegant dark green foliage.

They do best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and will flower all summer long. They may reseed, coming back year after year, in spots where they're happy. 

Marigolds Care

Planting
Sow them directly into the garden once the soil is warm, or start seeds indoors about a month to 6 weeks before the last spring-frost date.

The seeds germinate easily, but watch out for damping off if you start them inside.
Separate seedlings when they are about 2 inches tall. Plant them in flats of loose soil, or transplant them into the garden.




Space tall marigolds 2 to 3 feet apart; lower-growing ones about a foot apart.
If planting in containers, use a soil-based potting mix; during growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer weekly.

Light & Soil
Marigolds need lots of sunshine (at least six hours of direct sunlight) and do well with year round warm to hot weather.
Though they grow in almost any soil, marigolds thrive in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

Watering
Water marigolds the first 10 to 12 days after transplanting bedding plants into the garden. Thereafter, water the plants once every week without rainfall. Water deeply to saturate the roots and then allow the soil to dry before watering again. Marigolds are drought-tolerant plants that may develop rot, mildew or other diseases in soggy soil.


Fertilizing
Avoid fertilizing the plants. Marigolds thrive in poor soil and fertilizer often creates lush, rich foliage with few blooms.

Deadheading
Pinch off, or deadhead marigold blooms as soon as they fade to encourage continued blooming. Otherwise, the plants go to seed early and blooming rapidly decreases. To deadhead marigolds, remove the bloom, along with the stem down to the next branching stem, bud or leaf.



Hope you enjoy the beauty!!

Happy Gardening and Always Live your Passion!!

Shared with ABC Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Today's flower, Floral Flower Fotos, Ruby Tuesday Too and Outdoor Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Hollyhock, Alcea rosea

Hollyhock

Botanical Name: Alcea rosea 

The ultimate cottage garden choice, hollyhock sends up tall spires that cover themselves in flowers in beautiful colors. They're easy to grow from seed -- in fact, that's usually the only way they are found in garden centers.
Hollyhocks are natives of Asia. They have heart shaped leaves and bloom from February to April.Tall Hollyhock flowers make great backgrounds, borders and even fences. 

Interestingly, the flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike throughout the spring. These tall (up to 8 feet) beauties are ideal against fences or buildings where they can get natural support. Red forms are especially attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

Growing Hollyhocks
Light:                           Sun
Type:                           Annual
Height:                         1 to 10 feet
Width:                          1 - 3 feet wide
Flower Color:              Pink, Red, Maroon, Deep Red, White
Seasonal Features:     Winter Bloom, Spring Bloom
Problem Solvers:        Drought Tolerant, Groundcover
Propagation:                Seed
Special Features:        Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance  
A group of well grown Hollyhocks in bloom is worth going to see. It is really the color that we look for, because the leaves are large, coarse and grow mostly in clumps at the base of the plant. The long spikes of flowers grow from. 5 feet to 8 feet high and there are usually from five to nine blossoms in bloom on each well grown stalk. The average size is about 2 inches or 3 inches across, but 5-inch blooms can be had if good attention is given.
Hope you enjoy the beauty!! 

Happy Gardening and Always Live your Passion!!


Shared with ABC Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Today's flower, Floral Flower Fotos, Ruby Tuesday Too, and Outdoor Wednesday.