French Marigolds in Barns of Claverhouse
Tagetes patula
French marigold is a half-hardy annual grown for its bright summer flowers and useful place in the vegetable plot. Start it indoors or under cover and plant out after frost risk has passed, in a sunny spot with free-draining soil.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing French Marigold
Planting Calendar
Sow Seeds Indoors
25 Feb – 21 Marevery 3 weeksSow seeds into modules around 25th February - 21st March in a fine seed compost, covering them with of compost. Keep them at and just moist, then prick out the seedlings once they are large enough to handle.
Pot On Seedlings
23 Mar – 6 AprMove seedlings on when roots fill the module, keeping them growing steadily before planting out. Handle them by the leaves, not the stems, and keep them in bright light so they do not get leggy.
Harden Off
11 Apr – 25 AprAcclimatise plants over 7 to 10 days before planting out, giving them short spells outdoors in a sheltered spot. Keep them protected from cold nights and hard rain until they are ready for the border or container.
Transplant as Companion Plants
25 Apr – 9 MayPlant them out around 25th April - 9th May into a sunny, free-draining position, spacing them apart. Water in thoroughly straight away, then grow them near tomatoes to help deter whitefly and add a useful flowering strip among crops.
Deadhead & Maintain
1 Jun – 12 OctFrom 1st June onwards, remove faded flowers regularly so the plant keeps producing new blooms instead of setting seed. Water during dry spells and keep checking through 12th October for the best display right up to the autumn frosts.
Companion Plants
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with French Marigold.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
Suggested Varieties
Popular varieties of French Marigold to consider
Bonanza Flame
Compact plants with rich red and gold flowers, good for edging and pots.
Durango Bee
A reliable, free-flowering series with a tidy habit and good weather tolerance.
Safari Mix
A mixed colour range with single and semi-double flowers for bedding and containers.
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Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is a tall annual plant grown for its sweet, juicy cobs. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and must be planted after the last frost. Plants are wind-pollinated, so for best results grow them in blocks rather than single rows, ensuring well-filled cobs. With good care and warm weather, sweetcorn will reward you with delicious fresh corn-on-the-cob in late summer.
Garlic
Garlic is a hardy, sun-loving bulbous vegetable from the onion family, grown for its pungent cloves used in cooking. It’s easy to grow in a warm, well-drained spot and needs minimal fuss – plant individual cloves and they will develop into full bulbs by the following summer. Most garlic varieties require a cold spell over winter to form good bulbs, so in the UK they are generally planted in autumn. There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck types produce flower stalks (scapes) which should be removed, and their bulbs have fewer but larger cloves (they store for around 4–6 months). Softneck types have more, smaller cloves and rarely bolt; they also store for longer, often up to a year.
Peas
A cool-season legume grown for its sweet pods or shelling peas. In the UK, peas thrive in early spring and autumn, needing support and protection from pests like mice and pigeons.