Orange Inca II, Marigold Seeds

Orange Inca II (F1) Marigold Seed

Early orange doubles reach three-and-half inches
Award-winning hybrid grows compactly in beds or pots
Strong stems hold abundant carnation-like blooms
Twelve-inch plants create concentrated summer color

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Tagetes erecta

Days to maturity

45 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

20 Seeds

About Orange Inca II, (F1) Marigold Seed, Marigold Seed

The Orange Inca II Marigold is an hybrid that has early, fully double blooms that performs well in either the garden or patio containers. This variety is produced from a reliable seed and will grow up to 12" tall and 10" wide. The Orange Inca II blooms early with 3.5" flowers and strong stems.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

5–10 days

Germination Type

A - No Pretreatment

In-row plant spacing

6-24"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

36 inches

Growth Habits

Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

8,500

Color

Orange

Seed Type

Hybrid

Before Planting

For marigolds, prepare a sunny bed that drains after rain and allows air to move between plants. Clear weeds, loosen the upper soil, and mix in a small amount of finished compost if needed. No routine seed pretreatment is required.

Planting

Start marigolds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost, or direct sow after frost once the soil has warmed. Keep the medium warm and evenly moist until emergence, then provide strong light. Thin indoor seedlings to one per cell and harden before transplanting. Space dwarf marigolds 6–9 inches apart and taller types 12–18 inches apart.

Watering

Water marigold regularly until established, then irrigate deeply only when the soil becomes dry. Avoid frequent shallow watering and saturated conditions, which encourage weak growth or root disease.

Fertilizer

A light application of balanced flower fertilizer can support marigold after establishment and during a weak flowering period. Follow the label rate and do not try to force blooms with extra nitrogen.

Harvesting

Cut marigold flowers when blooms are well colored and at the opening stage best suited to display. Harvest during the cool morning with clean shears, leaving healthy foliage for continued flowering.

Tips

Pinch young marigold plants to encourage branching when appropriate, then deadhead regularly to extend flowering. Succession plantings can maintain color after the earliest plants decline.

Pests & Diseases

Alternaria blight, Botrytis, Fusarium stem rot, damping-off, and aster yellows occur on marigolds. Green, distorted flowers indicate aster yellows and require whole-plant removal. Use clean seedling mix, rotate flower beds, deadhead blighted blooms, and avoid treating marigolds as disease-proof companions for nearby vegetables.

During active growth, inspect marigold for aphids, thrips, spider mites, Japanese beetles, slugs, and caterpillars. Keep the planting uncrowded, examine buds often, and address isolated colonies before they spread through the bed.