Plant of the Month – Marigold
In honor of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, or Day
of the Dead, we bring you the Aztec marigold
(Tagetes erecta) as our plant of the
month! Mesoamerican culture, dating to pre-Columbian time, has always revered
the marigold or the Cempasuchil for its use in celebrating the Aztec goddess of
death along with the Day of the Dead holiday. Due to its strong scent, this
flower was thought to have the power to awaken the souls of the deceased. Not
only was this flower used in ceremonies, it was also used as traditional
medicine for its now known ability to kill gram positive and gram negative
bacteria. If you’re interested in growing and harvesting this wonderful flower,
you have come to the right place!
The Aztec or Mexican marigold can grow to be 3 – 5ft tall.
The plant thrives in warm, moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It is best to
space the marigold 2-3 feet apart. If you are interested in the blooms, do not
fertilize. Fertilizing will encourage the growth of foliage, not the actual
flowers!
Marigolds are perfect as a companion plant because its
strong scent repels most pests, particularly nematodes. If you are looking for natural pesticides, having marigold in you garden can help you get started.
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