Marigold, Red Metamorph (Organic)
Tagetes patula. 75-85 days.
Aptly named, the flowers of Red Metamorph marigold are a deep red in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall but shift towards orange and yellow in hotter weather! Small blooms are 1.5” – 2” across with uniquely scalloped petals. The sturdy plants grow 2-3’ tall and bloom continuously from June until frost. A great choice to attract small beneficial pollinators. Planting marigolds like these at the ends of garden beds has been a long-time organic gardening practice to help repel pests and increase the likelihood of a successful harvest from the whole garden. One of the many great marigolds bred by the late, great Dr. Alan Kapuler, and named for the alien shapeshifters in Robert Silverberg’s Majipoor novels.
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Sow shallowly in flats indoors in spring, 4-6 weeks before planting out. Transplant this tender annual to 12-18” centers when danger of frost has passed. May also be direct sown when soil is warm. Prefers full sun & well-drained soil.
Seed Saving
Collect seeds from seedheads that are fully dry. Thresh by hand or by shaking branches into a bucket, screen out large debris and fan winnow to remove light seeds. Dry seeds completely before sealing in airtight container. Cross-pollination may occur; if saving seed, isolate from other varieties of the same species by 1/4 mile.
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