Cultivation of Marigold flowers

 

​Marigold, Photo : The Spruce

Cultivation of marigold flowers in winter :

Marigold is one of the winter flowers. There is no alternative to marigolds for all occasions including weddings, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, house decorations, Victory Day, Independence Day and Martyr's Day. The juice of marigold leaves is very useful in stopping bleeding of cut skin, drying cuts and as antiseptic.

Variety :

Chinese, royal marigold, African and French varieties of marigold are cultivated more in our country. Varieties of marigolds are yellow, red, orange, dark kheri, red-yellow mixture etc. African species trees are straight and tall, 30-100 cm tall. The flowers are speckled with orange, yellow and dark brown. French marigolds are short and bushy, 15-30 cm tall. Flowers are small in size, abundant and red in color. Kamala Sundari tree is very hardy. Flowers dark orange. Flowers last longer due to more branching. Flower size is 4.5 to 5 cm. Flowers last for a long time. 55-60 flowers are available per plant. Disease tolerant.

 

Seedling preparation :

Marigold seedlings can be propagated by cuttings and seeds. Seedlings are to be produced by sowing seeds in the seed bed in November. Although it can be cultivated throughout the year, the yield is best in winter. For grafting, marigold branches should be cut 8-10 cm long. In the seedbed, the pieces of branch dal should be planted in two phases. The appropriate time is the month of March. Keep the seed bed wet with regular irrigation. Leaves grow in 20-25 days.

 

Land selection and preparation :

Elevated, well-drained loam and fertile soil are suitable for marigold cultivation. The land should be prepared by plowing and harrowing four or five times. If you are cultivating in tubs or pots, mix three parts clay or clay soil with one part dung to make a compost soil mixture. This fertilizer should be filled in tubs or containers or polybags.

 

Fertilizer application :

Rotten cow dung, 40 kg of urea 2 kg, TSP 3 kg and MOP 2 kg of fertilizer are required for every century of land. These fertilizers should be mixed with the soil.

 

Seedling planting :

One month old seedlings made from seeds or cuttings should be transplanted. Seedlings should be planted in December. Row to row distance should be 40-50 cm and plant to plant distance should be 30-40 cm. Marigolds can also be grown directly from seed without producing seedlings. In this case, 5-6 grams of seeds should be sown in the field every century.

 

Care :

Irrigation should be done before the soil dries up. Drainage should be provided at the base of the tree. Weeds should be cleaned with a hoe as soon as the weeds grow. Marigold flowers do not cause diseases. However, if the jab insect attacks, mix 2 ml of malathion in 1 liter of water and spray. When the tree is big, if it is tied to the stake, the tree stays straight. It improves the quality of flowers. To increase the number of flowers on the tree, the tip of the tree should be broken a month before the flowering. If many flowers or buds are caught on a branch, the top one or two should be kept and the rest should be broken so that the flowers grow. After 15 days of transplanting 50 g per cent urea can be top applied. Seedlings should be replanted when seedlings die. Seedlings should be thinned even if they are thick.

 

Flower collection and yield :

Flowers should be cut with scissors or blade and collected. Flowers should be picked early in the morning. Flowers can be harvested within 35-40 days after planting. On average, a tree holds 15-40 flowers depending on the variety.