Marigold : Types and how to grow it

In our country, gardening/floriculture is an interest taken up by numerous however refined by not many because of different reasons. Here this blog will attempt to help in this pastime which takes you closer towards nature and nurture. 

This blog will share business level information on different plants including cultivating, care, nourishment and different viewpoints, yet this can also be reproduced at a single plant level.

Floriculture - Marigold

The best and most tasteful piece of gardening are blossoms(flowers), which fills everybody's spirit with satisfaction, and Marigold is one of them.

So lets start with the most widely recognized and accessible blossom in our nation and that is Marigold, Genda in hindi.

Marigold(Genda)

Marigold cultivation 

Marigold is cultivated for both its aesthetic value and business purpose of selling in the market. Its fresh flowers are used to bring color in food items, for cosmetics and for medicine.

* Fun fact - The name Marigold is derived from golden color of the flower and its extensive use in prayers of Virgin Mary in central America.

Why we should cultivate marigold ?

Marigold is the most important flower farming in India, as it can be sold easily anywhere.

The flower can be used for decorations, as offerings at  shrines. Its pigment is necessary to increase the taste of food and is used as coloring agent.

Additionally, Marigold is an antibiotic and prevents certain bacteria and fungus.

It's farming is a good source of income. It takes less cost, less manpower. Diseases and pests are also less in it. It is in high demand in the market. Therefore, the profit is also on higher side.

*Fun fact - Marigold is native to America and was used  by a Aztec civilization in their rituals, earlier then 15th century.

When to grow ?

Marigold can be cultivated well even in hot dry and humid climates.  It doesn't fill well in chilly climate and subsequently couldn't be developed in winter. 

The most extreme temperature range for its improvement is 18–20 ° C. Temperature over 35 degrees decreases the size and number of blossoms. In the severe cold, there is a decline in the development of plants and blossoms.   

It can be cultivated in a wide range of soil like light to medium and heavy soils, however a well drained, medium fertile soil is most appropriate for the development of marigold. 

The cultivation could be done easily in following state, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Varieties to consider 

Apart from our omnipresent Indian varieties following are the varieties which can be considered : 

Tagetes erecta (African marigold):

The African marigold plant is hardy, annual and grows about 90 cm tall, erect and branched. Leaves are pinnately divided and leaflets are lanceolate and serrated. Flowers are single to fully double with large globular heads. The florets are either 2-lipped or quilled. Flower colour varies from lemon yellow to yellow, golden yellow or orange.

Tagetes patula (French marigold):

The French marigold is a hardy annual, grows to about 30 cm tall, forming a bushy plant. Foliage is dark green with reddish stem. Leaves are pinnately divided and leaflets are linear, lanceolate and serrated. Flowers are small, either single or double borne on proportionately long peduncles. The flower color varies from yellow to mahogany red.

Farm preparation

The best time for farm preparation for sowing is September to October. After 9 days of intense sunlight, plow 9 inches.

The ground can be prepared by first and second plowing with the following tools - tillers, rotavators, cultivators, plows and harrows.

Selection of planting material

The selection of varieties should be done according to the agro-climatic zone of the area and soil type. The selected varieties should be protected against various pests and diseases. The yields of selected varieties should also be taken in to consideration, prior to the selection of variety.

Sowing

The sowing of marigold is done by either line sowing method or by spreading/broadcasting by hand.

Requirement of seed for sowing is one and a half to two kg seeds per hectare.

The ideal distances to be taken in to consideration is 60 cm from one line to another  and 30 cm distance should be kept from one plant to another.

Irrigation and Crop Care

Irrigation can be done by pump (tractor driven, diesel or electric powered medium), canal, or through rain.

It is necessary to have sufficient moisture in the soil at the time of flowering.

The irrigation cycle should be twice a week during October to February and three times a week after February.

For irrigation, fill the field with 2 to 3 inches of water and take care that the water does not stay for long period.

Usually we should irrigate at a difference of 4-5 days according to soil and climate.

When the crop becomes mature, the trunk of the plant begins to break or dry, then the irrigation should be stopped.

Nutrition 

Include 25 tons of hemp manure during last plowing. 45/90/75 kg NP within hectare soil and 45 kg after 45 days of planting. Give N / H superficially. (NPK ie Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)

 Biofertilizer

At the time of planting, mix 2 kg per hectare of Azospirillium and Phospho bacteria in the soil. Apply biofertilizer mixed with 100 kg of cow dung.

Micronutrient - Micronutrient

Spray FESO 0.5% on 4 leaves after 30th and 45th day after transplanting.

Crop Care

Pests and diseases given below are commonly found in all types of varieties. Stopping them all for a good harvest

Pests

Red Spider - Red Spider Termite

              

                                                                                         

The mite looks like dust near the flower above the plant.

Control

Meta Cystox 25 EC or Rogor EC or Nuvacron can be sprayed to control it.

Hairy caterpillar, (Diacrizai obliqua)

                                                                  

This pest eats up leaves at both adult and larval stage, and causes huge damage in a very short time.

Control

Spraying with Nuvon 50 Icy or Theodan 35 Icy @ 1 ml / l water controls this. (Emulsifiable Concentrate)

Diseases

Damping Off (Rhizoctonia solani)

                                                                   

Symptoms 

Brown necrotic spots which rot later reach the upper part of the plant. These are due to the death of the plant even before it is planted. After the plant gets out of the ground, brown spots such as soaked with water cause the plant to die.

Proper drainage should be done in nursery beds.

Control 

Bresicol 0. 3% mixed with water and put in soil.

Leaf Spot and Blight (Alternaria, Cercospora and Septoria)

                                                                   

Symptoms 

Brown round patches on the lower leaves, which occur in later stages of infection due to first fall and then death of plants.

Control

Sprinkle 0.2% Dithane M-45 Fungicide at 15 days interval when symptoms of disease are observed for the first time.

Powdery Mildew (Oidium sp and Leveillula taurica)

                                                                   

Symptoms  

Small superficial white spots appear on the leaves, which later spread like white powder on all the top parts of the plant, that is, all the branches.

Control

Spraying of Carathain (40EC) @ 0.5% or Sulfur Powder (Emulsifiable Concentrate) at intervals of a fortnight.

*The dosage and use of chemicals are dependent on the severity of pest and disease, also the control measurement mentioned are subjective and are dependent on various factors including environmental factors, hence the author does not take any responsibility of outcome of any pesticide or chemical against any pest or disease.

*References, Images and Bibliography - 

 - http://www.housebythesideoftheroad.com/october-calendula-marigold

 - http://www.drysrhu.edu.in/crops/marigold.html

 - https://www.almanac.com/plant/marigolds

- http://garpielgroup.com/2019/05/being-selective-with-your-insecticide-is-key-in-controlling-spider-mites/

- https://agrilife.org/urban-ipm/2015/08/07/spider-mites/

- http://krishimala.com/catalogues?field_catalogue_type_target_id=7

- https://gardenchatter.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/how-to-prevent-damping-off-in-seedlings-now-that-garden-season-is-in-the-air/

- https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/annualperennial/marigold/leavesblotchesorspots.html

- https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5586180