Geisha Girl is a double flowered marigold variety with deep orange flowers and with a warm brown eye and very fragrant light-green foliage. This annual is very easy to grow and can also be grown in containers, pots and planters. Marigold is an edible plant. The petals of the flowers are used fresh or dried in soups and salads to add some colour. The finely chopped leaves can be used as a cheap subsitute for saffron. Marigold is used in herbal medicin for it's anti-inflammatory properties and to heal small wounds. Ointment with marigold can be used to heal small burns, abrasions and other skin problems. Non hardy annual. Height: 50 cm.
Outdoor sowing: end of March - end of May
Germination: 14 - 20 days
Germination temp. : 14 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ - 1 cm
Plant position: 20 - 35cm
Sowing distance in rows: 20 cm
Plant position: sunny
Flowering period: June - October
Sow outdoors on a very sunny plot with free draining soil from end of March on. Sow in rows or broadcast the seeds. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep moist and weedfree. Thin the seedlings to 20-35 cm apart, when they're about 10 cm tall.
Deadhead regurlarly to ensure a longer flowering period from Your marigolds. This plant reseeds itself easily. Marigolds can be used to remove nematodes from the soil, to repel ants and to attract aphids. Pick the leaves of the pot marigold. Let them dry and use them together with oil as a skin-softening balm. Good for dry patches.
