This document provides information about marigold (Tagetes spp.), including its description, varieties, importance, climate and soil requirements, production technology, and post-harvest handling. It discusses how marigold is native to Mexico but cultivated in Bangladesh. It describes the African and French varieties and covers their growth, uses, nutritional benefits, ideal climate and soil conditions, production methods such as spacing, fertilizer needs, and pest and disease management. Harvesting and post-harvest handling like packing and storage as cut or dry flowers is also outlined.

1. WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION
Course Title: Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture
Course Code: Hort. 507
Prepared By
19Hort-JD19M (Reg: 50721)
Department of Horticulture
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

2. MARIGOLD
(Tagetes spp.)

3. Contents
• Introduction
• Description
• Varieties
• Importance
• Climate & Soil
• Production Technology
• Yield
• Post-harvest Handling

4. Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Scientific Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Clade : Tracheophytes
Clade : Angiosperms
Clade : Eudicots
Clade : Asterids
Order : Asterales
Family : Asteracea
genus : Tagetes
• Tagetes is a genus of annual or perennial,
mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower
family (Asteraceae). It was described as a
genus by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
• Marigold flower is known as Gada or Genda
ful in Bangladesh. Though marigold flower is
native to Mexico but for centuries this flower
has been cultivated in Bangladesh and has
become naturalized around the world. The
flowers are yellow, orange, red , light yellow
or have bi color sheds and have pungent
aroma.
• Gada/Genda ful or marigold flower is also
known as Tagetes (genus) and is a genus that
includes about 56 different species.

5. Description
• Tagetes species vary in size from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall.
Most species have pinnate green leaves. Blooms
naturally occur in golden, orange, yellow, and white
colors, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads
are typically (1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with
both ray florets and disc florets. In horticulture, they
tend to be planted as annuals, although the
perennial species are gaining popularity. They have
fibrous roots.
• Depending on the species, Tagetes species grow well
in almost any sort of soil. Most horticultural
selections grow best in soil with good drainage, even
though some cultivars are known to have good
tolerance to drought.

6. Commercially potential varieties
There are many varieties of marigold or Gada/Genda ful and
some of them are common and available in
Bangladesh. African-American marigold (Tagetes erecta) is
known as Boro Gada or Genda in Bangladesh.
• The flowers are globe-shaped and large. These flowers are
yellow, orange or light yellow in color. Plants can be 91-101
cm (36-40 inches) long in height.
Another type of marigold or Gada/Genda ful – French
marigold (Tagetes patula) is known as ‘’Kashmiri Gada or
Genda’’ in Bangladesh.
• Plants can grow 12,5-20,5 cm(5 to 8 inches) high. Flowers
colors are red, orange and yellow. Red and orange bi color
patterns are also found. Flowers are smaller in size.
Tagetes erecta
Tagetes patula

7. Importance of Marigold
Economic
• Price of 100 pieces of marigold flower is 80 Tk on
an average.
• Making garland, beautification and other
purposes like pigment and oil extraction.
• Used in poultry feed for intensification or yellow
colour of egg yolk.
• As inter crop reduces population of nematode.
• These flowers are used for many purposes like
religious/ spiritual, party/functions and most of
the festivals.
• The demand for marigold flowers at the time
Pohela Boishakh, Dipaboli, Pohela Falgun etc is
very high.
Health
• Lowers inflammation and
free radical damage
• Reduces eye conjunctivitis
and inflammation
• Has natural antiseptic
properties
• Heals skin wounds, burns
and rashes
• Helps reduce hemorrhoid
pain
• Eases cramps and spasms
• Naturally repels bugs

8. Climate
• Marigold requires mild climate for
luxuriant growth and flowering.
• The optimum temperature range for its
profuse growth is 18-20°C.
• Temperatures above 35°C restrict the
growth of the plants, which leads to
reduction in flower size and number.
• Rainfall around 100-150 cm.
• In severe winter, plants and flowers are
damaged by frost.
• This flower thrives best in hot and dry as
well as humid conditions.
• They grow under tropical and subtropical
conditions but required mild climatic
conditions for best growth and flowering.
Soil
• Marigold can be grown in a wide
range of soils, as it is adapted in
different soil types.
• French (Dwarf) marigolds are
best cultivated in light soil
whereas a rich well drained,
moist soils are best suited for
African (Tall) marigolds.
• Fertile Sandy loam soil with pH
6.5 to 7.5 is ideal for its
cultivation.
• Saline and acidic soils are not
suitable for cultivation.

9. Production Technology of Marigold
Land preparation
• For the main-field, the land should be ploughed well followed by 2-3 harrowing
and mixing of FYM @ 20-25 t/ha should be incorporated to the soil. Make the
ridges and furrow properly.
Propagation
• There are two common methods of propagation of marigold i.e. by seeds and by
cuttings but there is also a method herbaceous cuttings.
• Plants raised from seeds are tall, vigorous and heavy yielder and hence, seed
propagation is preferred to cuttings.

10. Production Technology (continued)
Spacing and Planting
• Prepared nursery bed of 3m x 1m size. Add well decomposed cow dung on it.
Irrigated bed and keep it moist. Crushed well dried flowers and broadcast them
on bed or sown in line. When seedlings attained height of 10-15cm, they are
ready for transplantation. Transplant seedlings at 30 x 30cm for French marigold
while 40 x 40cm for African marigold.
Planting time
Flowering season Sowing time Transplanting time
Late rains Mid-June Mid-July
Winter Mid-September Mid-October
Summer Jan-February February-March

11. Seed rate
• 1.5 – 1.8 kg seeds are required for one hectare of land.
Seed treatment
• Treat seed with Azospirillum@200gm mixed it in 50ml of rice gruel before
sowing.
Production Technology (continued)
Fertilizer Requirement (kg/ha)
Urea Phosphates MOP
172.9 247 130.91
Nutrient Requirement (kg/ha)
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash
79.04 39.52 79.04
For accurate fertilizer dose, do soil testing and apply fertilizer according to it.

12. Intercultural operations
• In marigold control of weeds is an important operation. If the weeds are not
removed in time, a great loss would occur in terms of growth and productivity of
marigold particularly during rainy season. Hoeing and weeding should be done 3
to 4 times during the crop period to make the soil loose and weed free.
Irrigation
• At all stages of vegetative growth (55-60 days) and during flower production
sufficient amount of moisture in soil is essential.
Pinching
• Pinching is done at 40 DAP to enhance flower yield.
• It results in well shaped bushy plant bearing more number of uniform sized
flowers.
Production Technology (continued)

13. Weeding
• During the entire growth 3-4 manual weeding are required. Weeding should be
done as and when necessary.
Pest management
Production Technology (continued)
Pest Symptoms Management
Red spider mite
(Tetranychus sp.)
They suck the plant sap Spraying of Kelthane (2 ml/L)
Hairy caterpillar
(Diacrisia oblique)
Eat away the foliage Spray Carbaryl (2 ml/L)
Aphid Black or brown spot Spray Malathion or Dimethoate
(2 ml/L)
Leaf hopper
(Empoasca fabae)
Cupped leaves, rolled
leaves, wilting of leaves
Spraying of Dimethoate (2 ml/L)

14. Production Technology (continued)
Disease management
Diseases Symptoms Managements
Damping off Brown necrotic spots on
young seedlings
Proper drainage and ventilation,
Drenching with copper oxychloride @3g/l
Collar rot Black lesions on main stem.
Rotting at the collar region.
Crop rotation for 3-4 years.
Carbendazim @ 1g/l
Alternaria
leaf spot
Minute brown spot near the
lower leaves and then
progress upward.
Avoid overhead watering.
Spraying of Dithane M-45 2 0.2%
Fusarium
Wilt
Pale green leaves, wilting of
plant.
Crop rotation
Carbendazim (0.2%) is effective
Powdery
mildew
It appears as grey or white
powder.
Kerathane (40 E.C) @ 0.5% or dusting sulphar
powder at 15 days interval.

15. Harvesting of flower
• Marigold flowers are plucked when they attain full size. Harvesting should
be done either in the morning or evening hours. Field should be irrigated
before 22 harvesting of flowers so that the flowers keep well for longer
period after harvest. Productivity of plants increases considerably by regular
plucking of flowers and beheading the dried flowers .
• French marigold (T. patula) starts flowering in 45 days after transplanting seedlings.
African marigold (T. erecta) starts flowering in 60 days after transplanting
seedlings.
Production Technology (continued)
Flower (ton/ha) Seed (kg/ha)
African marigold (25) African marigold (300-350)
French marigold (10-15) French marigold (950-1200)
Yield

16. Post-harvest Handling of Marigold
Packing
• After harvest, flowers are kept in baskets.
• Better to keep in cool place before packing.
• Flowers are generally packed in gunny bags for local market.
• For larger distance, flowers are kept in medium sized basket or bamboos.
As cut flower
• An anti-ethylene agent, silver thiosulfate (STS), increased the vase life of cut
marigold stems 2.1 days longer than deionized water.
As dry flower
• Dry-stored stems had a longer vase life compared with stems stored in water;
vase life decreased significantly after 1 week storage.

17. Thanks For Your Patience
And Co-operation