designing with marigolds
Marigolds are some of the most versatile annuals you can grow. They will blend with almost any color in your garden and have a variety of heights. Since marigolds are heat- and drought-tolerant, they’re excellent subjects for containers, where the soil sometimes dries out between waterings. Unless you are planting a big container (more than 3 ft. in diameter), the French, triploid or signet marigolds will work best. They’re shorter and have smaller flowers that are in proportion with the container size.
Be bold — plant marigolds in between your vegetable plants. They’ll dress up the garden. Anywhere you put marigolds, plant them in large groups. Later in the season, they will grow into a tight mass. When you’re massing annuals like this, plant the seedlings a couple of inches closer than the packet tells you. You’ll get a fuller effect earlier than if you set them farther apart.
Combine vivid and pale-yellow marigolds with shades of blue or lavender. Orange and coppery selections look dramatic with dark burgundy or purple-bronze.
