African Marigold 'Lemon Drop'

Tagetes erecta

How to grow African Marigold 'Lemon Drop'

  • Full Sun

  • Medium

Likes moderately fertile, well-drained soil and lots of sunshine 1. If the spent blossoms are deadheaded, the plants will continue to bloom profusely. Do not fertilize marigolds. Too rich a diet stimulates lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Marigolds bloom better and more profusely in poor soil 1.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Lemon Drop is thought of as half hardy, so remember to protect this plant from frosts and low temperatures.

Growing Lemon Drop from seed

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 1.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.23 inches (0.6 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Lemon Drop about 49 days before your last frost date.

Transplanting Lemon Drop

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Lemon Drop is a half hardy plant.

Harvesting Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop folklore & trivia

In the late 1960s, Burpee president David Burpee launched an energetic campaign to have marigolds named the national flower, but in the end, roses won out 1.

Footnotes