What are some good tips for growing marigolds from seeds?

Question

Im planting them now and will be growing them indoors for the first few weeks, until after our last frost. Are their any tips I can use to ensure they grow healthy and strong. Also the package told me to freeze the seeds a week before planting, why?

Answer 1

There are some good growing instructions at this web site: http://www.dirtgardener.com/TipSheets/StartingSeeds.html
To address your second question:
In horticulture, stratification is the process of pretreating seeds to simulate natural conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species have what is called an embryonic dormancy and generally speaking will not sprout until this dormancy is broken.

For seeds of trees and shrubs from temperate climates, stratification involves soaking and chilling seeds prior to sowing. This simulates natural conditions where the seeds would remain through a winter on cold, wet ground. Seeds will usually germinate promptly and uniformly after stratification. Unstratified seeds may take up to two years to germinate, if they do so at all.

In the wild, seed dormancy is usually overcome by the seed spending time in the ground through a winter period and having their hard seed coat soften up by frost and weathering action. By doing so the seed is undergoing a natural form of "cold stratification" or pretreatment. This cold moist period triggers the seed's embryo, its growth and subsequent expansion eventually break through the softened seed coat in its search for sun and nutrients.

Answer 2

I love Marigolds and i plant them every year. the best thing to do is take your finger and run a line about 1 1/2 " to 2" in depth the length of your planter ( a couple of rows for a long planter box, and a circle around the outside edge then inside that and so on) lay your seeds in the hole and cover. pat it down but not too firmly. Give a light water and wait for them to grow. i always have success doing it that way and it does not matter which end of the seed is up or down. Once you get flowers and the heads dry up, dead head them and take the seeds and find bare spots in the same planter and replant the seeds. you get a fuller looking planter and then the seeds are not going to waste. you can also use them to plant in another planter. once the season is over dead head the remaining Marigolds then remove the seeds and dry them on paper towel. once dried wrap them in paper towel and seal them in an envelope for next year. Happy planting.

Answer 3

no idea on why it said to freeze them, i planted seeds once seven years ago the marigold plants were so big when it rained they broke because of the weight the front of my house looked likea wall of fire, and all i did was planted them in cow poop fertilizer from walmart..i think its humus...i have never had to buy seeds again..they pop up everywhere

Answer 4

freezing them helps them to germinate. You can also put them in a wet paper towel and keep it moist for a week. It's really awesome. Your best bet is to give them as much sunlight as possible along with watering them daily. Don't overwater them though or you will end up with drowned flowers. Good luck!