Marigold Mayhem: Fighting Deer, Learning French (Marigolds), and Hoping for a Blooming Miracle

You know that moment when you’re standing at the edge of your field, holding an absurdly large bag of hopefully someday to be bright orange & yellow marigolds and thinking…This is either going to be beautiful or completely useless? Yeah. That was me a few weeks ago. Thousands of French marigolds now form a sunny little army around the perimeter of about 1/2 of my flower field. They’re my bold, fragrant, no-nonsense line of defense against the deer who’ve decided to treat Flowers on 29 like their personal buffet.

Will it work? No idea. But in my imagination, it looks great and gives me something to hyperfocus on as I pull one blade of grass at a time to give these baby marigolds space to grow while I also spray the perimeter with Deer-Off like I’m seasoning a salad. Don’t eat the deer-off, but it doesn’t smell like it would taste bad. Am I luring more deer with this stuff? Amazon, don’t fail me now.

Let’s learn together, shall we? I have not gone all in on marigolds like this before. In fact, I only know we’ve grown them here before because I have photo evidence of a very sweet little boy of mine standing next to some. I had brain surgery. (This is my go-to excuse when I cannot remember things. The truth will set you free!)

Meet the French Marigold: Small But Spicy

First off, the French marigold (scientific, fancy name: Tagetes patula) isn’t actually French. Ugh! We colonized nature. Shocking. (That was sarcasm.) It’s native to Central and South America, but Europeans slapped a fancy name on it, and now it sounds like it should come with a croissant and espresso. These little guys are compact, bushy, and enthusiastic bloomers. They stay low (6 to 18 inches tall), making them perfect for edging, borders, and passive-aggressively repelling wildlife. I’m thinking of making some squat signage for them too. Very “get off my lawn!”

They’re known for their bold colors—oranges, yellows, reds, and fiery bi-colors that look like they’ve just emerged from a campfire. I bought some strawberry blonde variations too. I don’t remember where I planted them so….if they work, they will be a true surprise. The great part of ADHD is that I set myself up for a seek & find situation every day.

And the scent? Pungent. Strong. Controversial. Beloved by some, avoided by others (especially deer, supposedly). I was picking weeds and definitely got up close & personal for a big sniff. I smell nothing. I also blame the brain surgery for my lack of sense of smell. Some of us know the real reason and you can just zip it. Sooooo….Marigolds are great for pest control, less great if you’re trying to impress someone on a first date with a bouquet of them. (More on that later. I am not going on a first date. Refer to previous blog posts about chaos & dirty fingernails.)

When Do They Bloom? Can You Still Plant Them? (Yes, You Can.)

Marigolds are the overachievers of the flower world. Well well well! I can relate. (My dad’s reaction to finding out I was having twins was to roll his eyes, look at me and say “overachiever”. He may have also considered buying me a t-shirt.) They sprout within 5–7 days if the soil is warm enough (70°F+), and they bloom within 45–60 days of planting. So even if you’re late to the garden party (hi, I’m always late to everything), planting in late May or early June means you’ll still be rewarded with blooms by mid-to-late July—just in time for peak stand season. I planted mine quite early this year (timing may not be my best gift) as the frost threat ended early and I couldn’t help myself. They germinated quite well and I am very excited to see them bloom. It is the end of May now and my highest plant is likely 6-8 inches. No signs of blooms yet.

You can start them from seed (direct sow or in trays) or grab a flat of starts from your favorite greenhouse and plug them in like the impatient but hopeful flower farmer you are. I have a double dash of Great Depression survival genes running through these veins so I go for seeds over plugs. The seeds are really cool. They look like fly fishing lure feathers (no hooks). I just sprinkled down a loosened row. You do you. I am crooked rows and uneven spacing. I won’t stop you from having everything just right.

How to Plant (or Panic-Plant) French Marigolds in Late May

If you’re doing this last-minute, welcome. You’re among friends. Just do it. I planted pumpkins way too late last year and still learned a whole bunch and got some pumpkins too. You don’t know unless you try. Don’t let the know-it-alls get you down.

• Soil: Well-drained and sunny. These are not shade lovers.

• Spacing: 8–10 inches apart, or just kind of eyeball it and then hope. (This is the recommendation. I did not follow it. I just cannot trust that they germinate and then there could be huge gaps?! Again. You do you.)

• Watering: Regular until they’re established, then only during droughts or existential crises. (I love them so much already and I haven’t seen a bloom yet. You had me at only water in droughts.)

• Deadheading: Yes, please. Keeps them blooming instead of going to seed too soon. I will cut for bunches and bouquets. This will keep them producing too!

• Talking to them: Optional, but I highly recommend whispering threats about deer and promising them glory if they succeed. I have already told them I love them. It’s fine. We’re fine.

Bouquet Potential: Do They Play Nice with Others?

I will serve you up all of the fun facts like you enjoy them as much as I do. Despite their reputation as border flowers, French marigolds can totally hold their own in bouquets. Their bright colors and spicy scent bring personality to the table—and they’re sturdy enough to stand up in a vase without flopping over in 36 hours like some other drama queens I grow (I’m looking at you, larkspur. You’re doing great though. Don’t stop).

Here’s what they pair well with:

• Zinnias – cheerful, saturated, and ready to party. I don’t know how many seeds are down already for zinnias, but it is close to a 1/2 lb. (Hysterical laughter threatens to begin.)

• Sunflowers – the ultimate late-summer duo. A few thousand are waiting for you, marigolds.

• Celosia, cosmos, and amaranth – for a textural, rustic, market-style vibe. Well…Amaranth and I have not met yet. Celosia & I are having a time of it so far. It hasn’t been warm enough for me to put those out yet. And….watering seedlings while also planting out and doing all kinds of other adulting and lazying hasn’t been a great combo. I WILL succeed with some celosia. I have quite a few trays and hopes out of the wazoo. Cosmos. Hundreds. We will have cosmos!

A few cautions:

• The scent is… intense. Not for everyone. (But then again, neither is flower farming.) I won’t know. I cannot smell most smells. Some marigolds release a sticky sap when cut—so always test them before you go all in. I am always down for something to wipe on my clothing and get in my hair.

• They’re not for high-end, blush-and-beige wedding work. But in a $10 roadside bouquet? They SHINE. I keep falling further in love with these marigolds. They are ME!

So… Will the Deer Behave?

Listen. I have no illusions. Delusions? The deer might still cross the road, stomp in my dirt, flip me off (they cannot do that. Deer don’t have a mean finger.), and devour my snapdragons under the light of a full moon. But the marigolds give me hope. Hope and color and the illusion of control—three things every flower farmer needs to survive spring planting season. I will throw everything possible at these deer to keep them from breaking my heart and chomping rows and rows of young sunflowers. I have a strong will, but seeing sunflowers mowed down in the morning after a deer feast hurts my soul.

And even if the deer win, I’ll have a glorious orange-and-gold moat around my field and a few hundred extras for market bouquets, CSA shares, or “I gave up on the fancy bouquet and here’s what’s blooming” jar arrangements.

Come See for Yourself

If you’re local, swing by Flowers on 29 later this summer and see how the great marigold experiment is going. Are they keeping the deer out? Are they working in bouquets? Am I still speaking in full sentences by July? Stay tuned. You can see the marigolds from the safety and secrecy of the Perkiomen Trail. We are at the 10 1/2 mile marker just North of Plank Road.

And if you’ve got your own deer-repelling tricks, send them my way. I’m open to anything short of adopting a wolf. And maybe the wolf. I’m also stingy and not rolling in money so…sure…a fence would be cool. But have you seen the price on those?!

Until then, may your fields be bright, your marigolds be brave, and your deer be elsewhere.

Follow along on Instagram: @msecurtis