African Marigold
Giant Orange Marigold is a vibrant F1 hybrid that commands attention with its tall, sturdy stems and brilliant orange blooms, a far cry from the sprawling dwarf varieties many gardeners assume when they think marigolds. Bred for cut flower production, this bushy plant reaches full bloom in 70 to 90 days and thrives in containers, window boxes, beds, and borders. Its strong stems and long vase life make it equally at home in a mixed planting scheme or a dedicated cutting garden.
12-18 inches apart
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Moderate
2-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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What sets Giant Orange Marigold apart is its architecture. Unlike typical marigolds that bloom close to the foliage, this variety develops tall, robust stems that hold flowers well above the canopy, ideal for cutting and arranging. The flowers themselves maintain tight centers even when fully open, extending their ornamental life both in the garden and indoors. Space plants 8 inches apart for a balanced, branching form, and pinch young plants to encourage even more stems and fuller blooms.
Giant Orange Marigold is primarily grown as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and bouquets, where its tall stems and long vase life make it a reliable choice. It's equally valued in ornamental garden schemes, mass plantings create bold color statements, while window boxes and containers showcase individual plants to dramatic effect. Border plantings benefit from its height and sustained blooming.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost using a 72-cell flat or similar seedling container. Lightly cover seeds and maintain warm conditions for germination. For flowering plants ready to bloom in packs, sow 8 weeks before your desired bloom time.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Harden off plants gradually over a week to acclimate them to outdoor conditions before planting them in their final locations.
Direct seed outdoors after frost danger passes, sowing 1/4 inch deep into prepared soil.
Cut flowers when they are fully open but still have tight centers for the longest vase life. Harvest in the morning when stems are well-hydrated, cutting at least 6 inches of stem to maximize vase arrangement potential. Cut flowers just above a leaf node to encourage new branching and additional blooms from below the cut.
Pinch the growing tips of young transplants to encourage branching and a fuller, bushier plant with more stems. Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the growing season to maintain continuous blooming and redirect energy into new flower production rather than seed formation.
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