Ball's Orange is a double-flowered marigold with deep orange flowers and wonderfully fragrant light green leaves. This easy-to-grow plant can also be grown in containers and flower pots.
Marigold is an edible plant. The flower petals can be used fresh or dried to add colour to salads and soups. Also, the shredded leaves are used as a cheap substitute for saffron. In natural medicine, marigold is used as an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing medicine. Marigold ointment can be used against small burns, abrasions and other minor skin problems. Non-hardy annual. Height: 60 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 in the garden in a sunny place with good drainage from the end of March. Sow in rows or scatter the seeds. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep well moist and weed free. Thin out the seedlings at 20 - 35 cm, as soon as they are about 10 cm tall.
Place your marigolds in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Remove spent flowers regularly to prolong the enjoyment of your marigolds. This plant will self-sow quite easily. Marigolds can also be used to remove nematodes from soil, to repel ants and to attract aphids. Pick the leaves of the marigold. Let them dry and use them together with oil as a skin-softening balm. Good for dry spots.
