Durango Red Marigold is a compact, vigorous cultivar of Tagetes patula that brings vibrant color to gardens across zones 2-11. This open-pollinated variety flowers in just 50 days from seed, making it one of the faster marigolds to reach peak bloom. Its bushy, tight growth habit and prolific flowering make it exceptional for edging borders, filling containers, and creating bold mass plantings. Native to the Americas, marigolds have been beloved by gardeners for centuries, and this modern cultivar proves why: reliable, easy to grow, and abundantly floriferous from summer through frost.
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2-11
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Dense, compact plants pack impressive vigor into a small footprint, producing flowers continuously if deadheaded regularly. The tight, symmetrical form and rapid 50-day bloom time make it a favorite for gardeners who want quick color impact without sprawling growth. Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before planting, or direct seed after frost danger passes, and you'll have flowering plants that thrive in full sun and bloom reliably until the first freeze.
Durango Red Marigold shines as a cut flower and border plant, excelling in window boxes, garden beds, and container displays. Its compact growth and abundant blooms make it especially valuable for mass plantings and edging, where consistent color is needed throughout the season. The flowers are traditionally harvested in the morning when petals are just opening, with tight centers still intact, making them long-lasting for fresh arrangements.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors into a 72-cell flat or preferred seedling container 4-6 weeks before your planned transplant date. Lightly cover seeds and maintain soil temperature at 70-80°F; germination occurs within 6-15 days. For flowering plants in packs, sow 8 weeks before your desired bloom time. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant out only after all danger of frost has passed, spacing plants 8 inches apart. Choose a location in full sun for best flowering and vigor.
Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in soil after frost danger has completely passed. Keep soil evenly moist until seedlings establish.
Harvest flowers in the morning when they are at their freshest and petals are just opening, with centers still tight. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution to cut stems. A few drops of bleach in the vase water will prolong the beauty and longevity of cut flowers.
Pinching the growing tips encourages bushier branching and fuller plant development. Regular deadheading of spent flowers throughout the season keeps plants blooming prolifically until frost; remove flowers when their centers are still tight for longest vase life.
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