🌼 When to Plant Marigolds

🌸 Flower
Warm Season

Excellent companion plant; deters nematodes and many pests

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Apr 18 May 30 Jun 6
Zone 3B May 15 Apr 3 May 15 May 22
Zone 4A May 8 Mar 27 May 8 May 15
Zone 4B May 1 Mar 20 May 1 May 8
Zone 5A Apr 25 Mar 14 Apr 25 May 2
Zone 5B Apr 18 Mar 7 Apr 18 Apr 25
Zone 6A Apr 21 Mar 10 Apr 21 Apr 28
Zone 6B Apr 10 Feb 27 Apr 10 Apr 17
Zone 7A Apr 5 Feb 22 Apr 5 Apr 12
Zone 7B Mar 28 Feb 14 Mar 28 Apr 4
Zone 8A Mar 20 Feb 6 Mar 20 Mar 27
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 29 Mar 12 Mar 19
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 17 Feb 28 Mar 7
Zone 9B Feb 15 Jan 4 Feb 15 Feb 22
Zone 10A Feb 1 Dec 21 Feb 1 Feb 8
Zone 10B Jan 15 Dec 4 Jan 15 Jan 22
Zone 11A Jan 1 Nov 20 Jan 1 Jan 8

Marigolds are the gardener’s best friend — they repel pests, attract pollinators, and brighten any bed.

Top Growing Tips

  • French marigolds are best for pest control; African types are taller and showier
  • Plant around tomatoes, peppers, and squash to deter pests
  • Root secretions suppress nematodes — plant where you’ll grow tomatoes next year
  • Deadhead spent flowers for continuous blooming
  • Easy to direct sow or start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost

Companion Planting

Good companions: tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans — almost everything!

Avoid planting near: none — marigolds are universal companions

Harvest Timeline

Flowering begins 50-60 days from seed; save seeds from dried flower heads