(above) In India, garlands of marigold flowers are used to decorate temples, shrines, vehicles, houses and even
cows and pets during celebrations.
HISTORY OF MARIGOLDS & KEEPING YOUR ANNUALS BLOOMING
Marigolds are a very popular annual flower native to the New World, Mexico and Central America. They were sacred to the Aztec people who attributed magical, religious and medicinal properties to marigolds. The Aztecs also bred the marigold for increasingly larger blooms.
In the 1500’s, conquistadors brought marigold seeds from Mexico to Spain. The marigolds were cultivated in Spain and grown in monastery gardens. In Mexico and Latin America, marigold flowers are still used to decorate household altars to celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day. The flower heads are scattered on relatives’ graves which can account for the profusion of marigolds growing in cemeteries.
From Spain, marigold seeds were transported to France and northern Africa. The taller marigolds, now called African-American, became naturalized in North Africa.
In India marigolds are used during Hindu religious ceremonies. The marigold flowers are strung together to make garlands to decorate village god statues during festivals. Garlands of marigold flowers are used to decorate temples, doorways and vehicles, cows and beloved pets.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, three hundred years after leaving Mexico, marigolds were finally introduced to American gardeners. Marigolds were just one of many plants shipped to the young country from Europe.
In 1915 the time was right for a new flower to make its debut to the nation. Horticulturist David Burpee, who had inherited his father’s company felt that marigolds held promise and decided to feature them in his catalog and funded research.
Since the 1920’s marigold breeding has developed hundreds of new varieties. The odorless marigolds, white marigolds, hybrids and triploids have all been advancements in breeding.
Marigolds are easy to grow from seed. Plant them in well drained soil with compost and plenty of sunlight. Watch out for slugs, especially on young plants.
KEEPING YOUR ANNUALS BLOOMING
Annuals are plants that grow to maturity, flower, set seed, and die within one year. Once the flowers are pollinated most of the energy of the plant is focused on producing seeds which will ensure its survival the following year.
In order to “fool” the plant into creating more flowers gardeners use the simple trick of pinching off the old flowers. This technique is known as ‘dead-heading’. It forces the plant to start over, produce even more flowers and finally seeds.
This proven practice works on all annuals from early spring pansies to summer blooming zinnia and marigolds. Some plants like pansies will even form two new flowers for every one pinched.
With many flowers you can simply remove the old bloom with your finger tips. With plants with thicker stems it is wiser to use snips to prevent damaging the plants and new flowers.
The hardest part of this task is finding the time to do it. If it’s late in the season and your marigolds have more dead flowers than you want to deal with, take a chair and a beverage to where they are and make the task more enjoyable. This will keep your marigolds blooming into autumn.
Dead-heading is also beneficial to many other plants as well. Although most ‘perennials’ will only bloom for a few weeks during their season, removing the dead flowers encourages the plants to produce new flowers and stronger roots systems. Since many perennials are best propagated by division (dividing the root system) this practice is very beneficial.
Summer flowering shrubs such as butterfly bushes or roses will also produce more flowers when dead-headed.
Happy Gardening,
James
