When you picture the perfect fall-styled front porch, it’s safe to assume there are a few staples: a few pumpkins, gourds, and some potted mums.
Mums seem to be everyone’s favorite fall flower—but recently, we’ve spotted a new trend on the rise.
Marigolds are replacing mums as the perfect fall flower, and we can totally see the vision. They have a similar shape to mums and often come in similar colors, but marigolds can also be fluffier and fuller looking, with bigger, rounder blooms.
However, mums are often chosen for their hardiness and straightforward care requirements. So, can marigolds stack up? We decided to consult an expert and find out.
Tammy Sons is a passionate plant expert and the owner of TN Nursery based in Altamont, Tennessee.
Marigolds are one of the most popular and versatile flowers for home gardens. With their bright, cheery colors and ability to bloom all season long, it’s no wonder marigolds have been a favorite for decades. But when do marigolds really shine? The answer is fall! Keep reading to learn why marigolds are ideal for fall planting and how to grow them for fabulous color right up until frost.
Why Marigolds are Perfect for Fall
While marigolds bloom beautifully from late spring through fall, they really hit their stride in autumn. Here are some key reasons these flowers are stars of fall gardens:
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Hardy nature Marigolds can tolerate cooler fall temperatures very well. Most varieties keep blooming happily even after light frosts.
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Heat tolerance. Hot summer weather doesn’t faze marigolds one bit. When many other flowers fade or struggle in heat marigolds soldier on beautifully.
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Drought resistance. These unfussy plants don’t require much watering or other pampering. Marigolds’ ability to withstand drought makes them ideal for fall’s drier weather.
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Pest and disease resistance. Deer, rabbits and most insects ignore them. Marigolds also have natural defenses against many common plant diseases. Reliable blooms into fall!
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No deadheading needed. You don’t have to deadhead spent blooms to keep marigolds flowering. They’ll bloom freely until frost without this maintenance.
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Fantastic cut flowers. With their long vase life, often 10-14 days, marigolds make fabulous fall bouquets.
With all these advantages, it’s easy to see why marigolds really stand out as a fall flower.
Popular Types of Marigolds
While there are over 50 different marigold species, most fall gardens contain one of three common marigold types:
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African or American marigolds – The largest marigolds, these big, bushy plants can grow up to 4 feet tall. They produce giant double blooms in bold orange, yellow or red hues.
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French marigolds – These dainty marigolds reach just 6-18 inches tall. Their flowers are smaller but plentiful, in yellow, orange, red or multi-colors.
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Signet marigolds – The smallest marigolds have lacy, ferny foliage and single daisy-like blooms. They grow just 6-12 inches tall in yellow and orange shades.
Larger American marigolds make high visual impact in beds and borders. French and signet marigolds work beautifully in containers, edging walkways and in mixed flower plantings.
Growing Tips for Gorgeous Fall Marigolds
Marigolds are recommended for beginning gardeners because they’re so easy to grow. Just follow these simple tips:
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Planting. Sow seeds or set out young marigold plants after your last spring frost date. This gives them time to become established before fall.
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Sun. Give marigolds full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is best. Morning sun avoids PM mildew.
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Soil. They thrive in average garden soil with decent drainage. Work compost in at planting time.
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Watering. Water marigolds when the top 1″ of soil dries out. Avoid wetting foliage to prevent diseases.
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Fertilizer. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly or mix granular fertilizer into soil at planting time.
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Deadheading. Remove spent blooms on French and signet marigolds for more flowers. It’s optional for larger American/African types.
Follow these simple tips and your marigolds will reward you with wave after wave of bright, beautiful fall blooms.
Fall Uses for Marigolds
Beyond providing vibrant floral color in autumn gardens, marigolds have many other great uses:
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Cut flowers – Marigolds’ long vase life, often 10-14 days, makes them fabulous for fall flower arrangements.
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Día de los Muertos altars – Marigolds’ scent and color are said to guide spirits back for this celebration.
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Cooking – Signet marigolds’ petals add color and a subtle citrus tang to salads, soups and more when pesticide-free.
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Companion planting – Interplanted marigolds can help deter pests like whiteflies, squash bugs and aphids from vegetables.
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Natural dye – Marigold flowers produce lovely yellow and orange fabric dyes.
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Medicinal properties – Marigolds have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing abilities when used topically.
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Pest control – Some gardeners find marigolds repel deer, rabbits, mosquitoes and nematodes when planted strategically.
Extending Bloom Season Into Fall
With proper care, marigolds will keep the color coming right up until frost:
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Start seeds or buy marigold plants early – at least 8-10 weeks before your last expected spring frost date.
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For the largest American/African marigolds, pinch out the central shoot when plants are 6″ tall. This makes them bushier and floriferous.
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Fertilize monthly with a high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage prolific flowering.
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Remove spent blooms of French and signet marigolds to promote more flowers instead of seed production.
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Provide some afternoon shade to prevent wilting or fading in hot midsummer weather.
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Mulch plants to help retain soil moisture and prevent drought stress. Water deeply during dry spells.
Follow these techniques, and marigolds will brighten your fall garden with their lively colors right up until frost.
Enjoying Marigolds in Autumn
Marigolds are the quintessential flower for welcoming fall with vibrant color in the garden. Their range of sizes, colors, and uses gives gardeners so many options. Their rugged nature also makes them one of the easiest flowers to grow. For optimal marigold magic in autumn, give them full sun, plant them early and care for them consistently. Then sit back and enjoy their glowing floral fireworks all season long! With marigolds lighting up your yard, fall gardening is a joy.
Water Marigolds Correctly
If you do decide to switch to marigolds this season after years of growing mums, youll be pleased to learn their watering schedules are fairly similar.
Like most potted plants, mums require frequent watering—and the same goes for marigolds. In addition, as is often the case, marigolds respond best to being correctly watered. Sons says it’s key to water the base of your plants and not the tops.
“Water frequently during hot, sunny days,” she says, noting it’s also best to water early in the morning or after sunset to avoid heat damage.
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Getty s/Ravinder Kumar
Marigolds Thrive in Full-Sun
As a final consideration, Sons says your porch positioning is a definite factor in whether marigolds are a good choice this season. While mums need at least six hours of sunlight, marigolds call for even more. These bright beauties need adequate light, preferring full sun.
“Its vital that they receive at least four to six hours of sun per day to grow optimally,” Sons says.
On the other hand, if you find your bright and sunny porch means other flowers dont do well, then marigolds could just be the perfect pick the season.
Why YOU Should Plant Marigolds. EVERYWHERE.
FAQ
What is the season for marigolds?
Marigolds provide vibrant color throughout the growing season, blooming from late spring until the first frost. Their bright orange, yellow, red, and gold hues add life to any garden, whether used in borders, containers, or as bedding plants.
What month do marigolds stop blooming?
Most varieties bloom from early summer until hard frost in late fall. Marigolds require full sun and grow best in well-drained, loamy soil.
Do marigolds grow in October?
He had the forward-thinking idea of using marigolds as a fall crop. For years, this group of flowering plants has been associated with summer-flowering plants. Actually, it turns out it does very nicely with the fall cooler weather and really comes into its own with outstanding flower displays in October.
What kind of flowers bloom in the fall?
Autumn is a great season for annuals, low-maintenance perennials and evergreen shrubs. And, some of the most popular flowers, like mums, roses, dahlias, purple pansies and, yes, even bright yellow sunflowers, all bloom around September and October.
Are marigolds blooming in fall?
Follow these tips, and your marigolds will be covered in bright flowers right through fall! Marigolds offer more than just vibrant floral color in autumn gardens. Here are some of their many uses: Cut flowers. Fill fall floral arrangements with marigolds for their long vase life. The red and orange shades are perfect for fall.
Are marigolds good for fall?
But there’s still plenty of color to be had in autumn gardens with the right plants. One of the best fall-blooming flowers is the cheery marigold. With their bright golden orange and red flowers, marigolds can light up beds, borders, and containers well into fall. Why Are Marigolds Ideal for Fall?
Are marigolds hard to grow?
Marigolds are tough, sturdy plants that easily tolerate cooler fall temperatures and even light frosts. Many varieties will bloom right up until the first hard freeze. Heat tolerance Marigolds thrive in hot and humid summer weather When many other flowers fade or struggle, marigolds soldier on. Drought resistance.
Are Marigolds a companion flower?
Marigolds are the ultimate companion flower. This cheery annual attracts all manner of pollinating insects into the garden. They’ll bloom for months, too. Learn all about sowing and growing marigolds.
Do marigolds reseed themselves?
Marigolds are commonly known for their ability to reseed themselves, a trait that makes them perfect for gardeners seeking low-maintenance plants. After the marigold flowers bloom and last, the petals fall, leaving behind seed heads.
What does a Marigold look like?
Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flower heads produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most marigolds we see in the garden are one of the following: