Marigold Colossus

Marigold Colossus.  Giant heads, larger than a golf-ball, in rich bicolour shades of red and orange make this French Marigold one of the largest, and a striking feature for beds and borders. A premier bedding plant, easily grown to give non-stop summer. 

Sow

March – May

Flowers

June – October

How to Sow

Sow March to May at 20-25C (68-77F) on the surface of a good free draining, damp seed compost. Cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 7-14 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into trays or 7.5cm (3 inch) pots. Grow on in cooler conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 30cm (12 inches) apart.

Culinary note

The citrus tasting flowers have many uses, try them in salads, sandwiches or seafood dishes too.