HOW TO GROW AFRICAN MARIGOLD, The Wonder Crop You Should Grow
African marigold is an upright growing, aromatic, annual plant, up to 1.25 m in height, with showy, fragrant flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. This plant is noted for repelling nematodes.
Tagetes erecta, or African marigolds, belong to the same genus as other marigolds, and they share many similar features and care requirements.
African marigolds can thrive in many types of soil, have a long blooming season, and are incredibly hardy. These marigolds have also been used for thousands of years by Spanish and pre-Spanish civilizations for food, medicine, dyes, and rituals.
On this post we’ll cover how to cultivate African marigolds in Kenya.
Cultivation and History Marigold
T. erecta is usually referred to commonly as the African marigold, but it is also known as the Mexican, Aztec, American, or big marigold.
Native to Mexico and Central America, these plants are best known for their massive flower heads and long flower stems.
They have a rich history in Mexico as the flower of choice for celebrating the Day of the Dead. In Mexico, these huge marigolds have been grown for hundreds of years to decorate the altars of loved ones that have passed on.
Propagation of African marigold
African marigolds can be propagated either from seed or from young nursery starts that will need to be transplanted into your garden.
From Seed
Seeds can be sown indoors in a seed tray starting about four to six weeks before your average last frost date.
Plant your seeds about a quarter of an inch deep in a seed tray filled with moist, sterile seed-staring mix. I like to plant three seeds per cell to improve the chances of germination.
After you’ve sown your seeds, grab a humidity dome and place it on top of the tray, or wrap it in plastic.
Germination happens very quickly for marigolds – you will see sprouts in as little as five to 10 days. Remove the humidity dome at the first sign of germination. Place the tray in a sunny window or under a good set of grow lights, and keep the soil moist.
If you are using a sunny window, turn your seed trays every two or three days to keep your seedlings growing straight – they tend to lean towards sunlight and may fall over if you’re not careful. Thin the seedlings if more than one has sprouted per cell.
Move your seedlings outdoors to harden them off about a week before you plan to plant them in your landscape or pot them up outdoors – they do require some time to acclimate to their surroundings.
Directly sowing your seeds.
Select a protected and sunny spot within your landscape to sow your seeds. If you’ve selected a cultivar that grows over 16 inches in height, you’ll want to plant in an area that’s sheltered from strong winds, or you will need to stake them.
Loosen the soil, amending the area with a high-quality soil mix. If you have compost manure available, add one or two handfuls to the soil mixture. Remember that marigolds thrive in moderately fertile, well-draining soil.
Space your seeds approximately 12 inches apart, planting about a quarter-inch deep, and water deeply.
Preventative staking for taller marigolds only requires the proper tools.
Place the grid over the planting area, and it will provide support as the plant grows and blooms.
African marigold can also grow in containers. Select one eight-inch container per plant, and pick a pot that has good drainage.
I like to cover the bottom with a thin layer of grit or gravel, or you could use a potting screen. This will ensure the hole won’t become obstructed, allowing excess water to flow through.
Plant three seeds in the center of each pot, thinning the weakest seedlings after germination. Water thoroughly until the excess flows from the base of your pot, and water again whenever the top two inches of soil are dry.
Soil Type For Growing African Marigold
It can be grown on wide range of soil. But it grows best on well drained fertile soil. Soil should be well drained as it cannot withstand in water logged soil. pH of soil should be in range of 6.5 to 7.5. Acidic and saline soil is not suitable for cultivation. French Marigold are grow best in light soil whereas soil with rich manure is best for African Marigold.
Spacing African Marigold
Prepared nursery bed of 3m x 1m size. Add well decomposed cow dung on it. Irrigated bed and keep it moist. Crushed well dried flowers and broadcast them on bed or sown in line. When seedlings attained height of 10-15cm, they are ready for transplantation. Transplant seedlings at 35 x 35cm for French marigold while 45 x 45cm for African marigold.
Seed Rate of African Marigold Per Acre
600-800gm seeds are required for one acre land. When crop is 30-45days old carry out pitching operation. It means removal of terminal portion of plant. It help to make plant bushy and compact, also more number of good quality flowers with uniform size are obtain.
Harvesting Marigold
Depending upon variety use, marigold will be ready to harvest in 2 to 2.5 months. French Marigold ready for harvesting in 1.5 month where as two months required for African Marigold. Plucked marigold plants when they attain full size. Harvesting should be done either in morning or evening hour. Field should be irrigated before plucking of flower, it will help to maintain quality for longer period.
Seed saving – Seed can be collected once the flower is dried and brown. Seeds are long, thin black spines, with brown chaff at the base. Pull the cluster of seeds out of the middle of the flower and spread out to dry and clean.
Pests and Diseases of African Marigold
Known pests – Major insect pests include japanese beetle (Popilla japonica), and two-spotted spidermite (Tetranychus urticae). Aphids, earwigs, caterpillars, leafminers, snails and slugs and whiteflies may also cause damage.
Marigolds are susceptible to aster yellows, a pathogen which causes flower parts to develop into malformed leafy structures. Also susceptible to gray mold (Botrytis spp.), tomato spotted wilt virus, and various fungal diseases.
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Success Of Peter Mwange – A Kenyan farmer using African Marigold as a repellant on his farm
The green capsicum plants are beautifully arranged on the half-acre farm in Mbeere, Embu County.
They have produced big fruits, a sign that they have been tended to well and are free of pests and diseases.
Jutting above the crops, about half-a-metre high, are another green plants. The crops, which are weeds, unlike the capsicum, have tiny shiny leaves.
Peter Mwange, the owner of the farm, uses the Mexican marigold plants to keep his capsicum healthy.
The weeds, which keep pests that include aphids at bay, have seen him harvest up to two tonnes of hybrid capsicums after every 10 days.
Mwange went into farming after trying a hand in cereals’ business and working in Nairobi as a mechanic soon after graduating from Machakos Technical College with a Diploma in Automotive Engineering in 2002.
To start farming on the family land in 2010, the 32-year-old sold a goat at Sh3,500, which he had bought when his business was doing well. He used the money to buy melon seeds that he planted, ending up with 1,800 plants that fetched him over Sh70,000 after about five months.
But he did not plant melons again as he had seen how capsicum was profitable and made the switch in early 2012.
He bought capsicum seeds, prepared seedbeds and after 45 days, he transplanted his seedlings to the main field. Initially, the capsicums were doing well, but things started to fall apart after he had transplanted them.
REPEL INSECTS
“An extension officer told me my capsicum had been infested by root-knot nematodes.”
The nematode larvae infects plant roots, leading to the development of root-knot galls that drain the plant’s nutrients. The parasites, which thrive in warm climate like that in Embu, normally kill young plants but for mature plants, they lead to decreased yields.
He lost over 3,000 plants to nematodes because he had to uproot them to save the rest.
A fellow farmer advised him to plant Mexican marigold in the field where he was growing capsicum, in addition to practising crop rotation. “Mexican marigold reduces nematode population and repels some pests common in capsicums and a range of vegetables,” says Mwange.
He started by first planting the marigold on the piece of land and later the capsicum.
“I ended up with only a few stunted and wilted crops. Aphids attack also declined,” he says.
Dr Paul Nthakanio, a geneticist, and bio-technology lecturer at Embu University College, and chairman of Agricultural Resource Management, says Marigold roots releases a chemical known as alpha-terthienyl, one of the naturally occurring toxics used in the making of nematicides and other pesticides, to curb nematodes and repel pests such as aphids.
Mwange normally collects seeds of the naturally growing Mexican marigold from the neighbourhood and broadcasts them on the farm he intends to grow the capsicums.
When the marigold grows; it produces a smell that suppresses nematodes. “To effectively manage nematodes, I plant marigold at least two to three months before growing capsicums,” he says, adding that marigold’s smell wards off aphids.
The use of marigold has seen him save at least 30 per cent of his production costs.
Dr Nthakanio notes marigold as a bio-pesticide is preferred because it is easily bio-degradable and thus, has less effect on the environment compared to non-organic chemicals that pollute the environment. It is one of the safest ways to farm organically, he says.
Currently, Mwange grows a hybrid capsicum called Commandant F1, which is resistant to diseases and pests, and matures faster. “I start to harvest fruits from this variety after 70 days as opposed to 90 days with the others after transplanting.”
The move has seen him increase production from 1,400 to 2,000kg after 10 days.
HYBRID VARIETY
The red and green peppers are the same fruit of the capsicum plant; only that the green one is picked earlier. When the green matures, it turns red, explains Dr Nthakanio. Mwange sells the peppers to buyers from Nairobi for Sh40 per kilo when green. He has currently employed two people, paying them Sh350 per day and has built himself a decent house, money that has come from his venture.
Dr Nthakanio says after maturity, the level of ethylene, a hormone responsible for ripening in capsicum, increases and this makes green fruits to turn red.
Towards the end of production lifespan of his capsicums at four to five months, Mwange leaves few fruits to turn red to allow him earn more as a kilo of red pepper goes for Sh80.
Dr Nthakanio says the hybrid variety is better than the non-hybrid one because it arises from the cross-breeding of genetically different organism.
He says since they mature faster, the hybrid plants are less susceptible to pests and diseases.
“Although a kilo of red capsicums fetches almost twice the price of the green one, I prefer to harvest them green after 10 days than wait until after 20 days in the case of red.”
By ALEX NYAGA
African Marigold Cultivation Tips
Seasons of production – The marigold is a hardy annual. It prefers the warm season but will survive cool weather.
Length of production and harvest period – 85-90 days will bring marigolds to maturity.
Production methods – Generally planted from seed. This variety takes longer to flower from seed than French marigolds. Remove dry or dead flowers (deadhead) to prolong flowering.
Plant spacing – Establish seedlings 20-30cm (8-12”) apart, or sow densely and thin.
Pollination – Marigolds are insect pollinated, but cross-pollination is possible.
Known environmental conditions for production – Marigolds prefer full sun. They tolerate drought and should not be over-watered.
Known soil requirements – Marigolds require well-drained soil, but are tolerant of both acidic and alkaline soils.
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