Tagetes lemon gem

[Peanut]

I have tried growing these from seed for years. I think in my best year I got about 3 to germinate. I love them and really love the lemony scent they give out, especially when they're planted in the greenhouse. This year I sowed some on 18th April, indoors in pots as I do all my seeds, and not one has appeared... yet

I have tried covering with a sprinkling of compost or a sprinkling of vermiculite. They are sat in a heated prop, currently with the lid off. These are seeds bought last year from PSD who I use a fair bit without a problem.

What's the secret to getting them to germinate? Please share it with me

[Containergardener]

No idea. Never had any success with tagetes

[Peanut]

Glad it's not just me!

[Mark Rand]

Most of the time when I grow tagetes, they last one night in the flower bed and only stumps remain in the morning...

[Peanut]

Oh no! I'd be gutted. Though the rate mine are going I may never get the chance to be gutted!

[smallblueplanet]

We like them too, and ages back we've grown some from seed, just in a heated prop, but can't remember really. I've seen them for sale in garden centres and even Morrisons I'm sure - I'm gonna look out now cos you've made me want some!

Jekka says:
"Grown from seed:
• Indoor Sowing: In early spring, into prepared plug trays or pots, cover with perlite. Bottom heat, 18°C, aids germination.
• Outdoor Sowing: In early summer, when all threat of frost has passed, into a well-drained soil, full sun. Thin to 23cm apart."

I think there's orange gem too?

[Peanut]

Yes, there is an orange gem, that's lovely too.

I shall keep hoping they appear and I'll sow more anyway and some I'll do some direct. Tricky little things!

[mothhawk]

I don't know about lemon gem, but I grow tagetes patula (French marigold) and they seem to come up quite cheerfully. This year I've grown them from seed I saved last year and I think almost every seed came up. Sown on 25th March, the first seed was showing on 28th, and I pricked them out on 8th April. But maybe tagetes tenuifolia are more temperamental?

I sow on seed compost, lightly press them down, and cover with vermiculite, water with luke warm water from the bottom, then on the heated tray on a south facing windowsill with a plastic bag over them till they showed. They were actually sown in a seed snail this year, but TBH I found snails a bit messy to unravel and do. Good for big seeds like peas though.

[JoaoLeaftide]

Mine have been hit and miss too, some years almost nothing, other years fine. I think they just want it warmer than you'd expect, even with bottom heat. The ones I've had most luck with were sown a bit later than I normally would, mid-May direct into the border once the soil had actually warmed up.

[Peanut]

I have sown more lemon gem and some legion of honour and this time I've put them in a prop on top of the boiler. I'm not giving up yet!

[Peanut]

Still no germination for either of the above seeds.

PSD sent me more and told me they chit theirs, as we do, between moist kitchen towel and they got 100% germination . I'm currently giving a go, 6 days and still nothing.

[Vince G]

Yep I've struggled this year. Sowed the remains of last year's packet and got 4 or 5 to germinate. So bought a new pack from the local garden centre and they've not done much better.

I use lots of tagetes in amongst my brassicas as they seem to deter whitefly, so having just planted out a load of brassicas this weekend I desperately need some more!

[Peanut]

I use them in the same way Vince G amongst my brassicas and in my greenhouses. In fact I usually just pop them everywhere as I love the scent and the bees love them.
I doubt I'll be able to buy any lemon gem plants but hopefully I'll be able to find some French marigolds from somewhere.

[Andraste]

Not Lemon Gem but my Fr. Marigolds (Cherry something-or-other) have all failed this year - although mine were from an open & out of date pack of seed so to be expected really.

I'm sure OH said he spotted some quite cheaply when he was shopping - would have been Home Bargains/Poundland/The Range, possibly Asda/Lidl - so that's where mine will be coming from as I'm not particular about the variety on the plot.

Another Brucey Bonus with Tagetes - they're allelopathic & I'm convinced they really do make a difference in deterring couch grass from encroaching when we plant them on the boundaries of our plot.

[Peanut]

Chitting the replacement tagetes lemon gems from PSD. Please send all your positive germination thoughts my way. I need these flowers!