The Old Farmer's Almanac Crackerjack Mix Marigold Seeds - Premium Non-GMO, Open Pollinated, Flower Seeds

Marigolds are durable and easy to grow if given warmth and moisture. They're happy indoors or out in a wide variety of settings. Sow outdoors after the last frost, or begin indoors 6-8 weeks prior. Plant 2-3 seeds together in moist, well-drained soil. Marigolds prefer full sun and can tolerate gardens prone to heat, drought and clay soils. Water well at the base of the plant, not from overhead, and allow soil to dry somewhat between waterings. Water more in high heat. 

Blooming huge! Crackerjack plants may require early stake support if blooming heads grow too heavy and cause stress to the plant.

Extend the season! Marigolds don't require deadheading; but pinching off dying blossoms will encourage new flowers. 

Wit & Wisdom: For years, farmers have included the open-pollinated African marigold ‘Crackerjack’ in chicken feed to make egg yolks a darker yellow. Read The Old Farmer's Almanac Marigold Growing Guide!

Companion Planting: Marigolds make great companion plants for all vegetable gardens because they repel aphids & beetles.

Help Your Plants Thrive with Weed Control: Weeds compete with vegetables, flowers and other plants for water, space and nutrients. Give your plants their best life by keeping weeds under control with Organic Weed Barrier Paper, mulch or careful weeding.

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A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO HARVESTING MARIGOLD SEEDS

One of the best things about Marigolds is how easy it is to harvest their seeds for future use.

STEP 1: PRIOR TO HARVESTING, MARIGOLD BLOOMS MUST BE DRY
It’s very important to harvest Marigold seeds at the right time. Waiting too long – when the blooms are completely brown - can cause the seeds to starting rotting or producing mold; but seeds harvested too early might not be fertile. Plan on harvesting seeds when the Marigold blooms are dry at the base and are just starting to turn brown at the tip. If the base of the bloom still has a little bit of green, that’s OK.

If your blooms look ready; simply remove each one from its stem. 

STEP 2: GENTLY OPEN EACH MARIGOLD SEED POD
Working on a flat surface; hold the base of each bloom and remove the leaves and petals. These can be thrown away; we will not be harvesting this part. Once these have been removed, open up the pod and you will see all of the little seeds inside attached to the base. Transfer all of the open pods to a plate or a paper towel and set aside. 

STEP 3: REMOVE THE SEEDS
Marigold seeds are long and thin; are dark on one side and lighter on the other. 

Take each pod, and remove the seeds from the base by gently pulling. Once all of the seeds are removed from the pods, spread them out on a paper towel and discard the pods. 

STEP 4: DRY DRY DRY
In order to store Marigold seeds and to ensure they won’t go bad, they need to be completely dried out. Place seeds on an uncovered paper towel on a counter and allow to air dry. They should be ready to be stored away in about 7 days. 

STEP 5: STORAGE
Once your Marigold seeds are dried out place them in a paper envelope. Paper is ideal for storage as using plastic bags can allow the seeds to retain moisture which will ultimately make the seeds go bad. Don’t forget to label each envelope if you had multiple varieties of Marigolds so you know what to expect next season. These envelopes should be stored in a cool dry place until ready to be planted. 

TIP: If you had an abundance of marigold seeds; decorate the envelopes and give some seeds away as gifts!

Are Your Seeds Non-GMO? What Does Non-GMO Mean?
Non-GMO means seeds (or other products) that were produced without genetic engineering and were not derived from GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). All of our seeds are non-GMO.

Where do Your Seeds Come From?
Most of the seeds offered on our site are USA Origin seeds sourced from certified US based suppliers. We do also source a small number of seeds from other countries. To view the specific origin of any of our current seed offerings, check the seed packet or look in the specifications for "Country of Origin" on any product page.

Are Your Seeds Packed for the Current Growing Season?
All of our seed packets are packed for the current growing season. If stored properly they will provide high germination rates for 1-2 additional years as well.

How Can I Store My Seeds Safely for Use in the Future?
Our seeds will generally retain their high germination rates for several years from the date of purchase. If you're planning on saving your seeds for us in the future, the most important thing to remember that seeds like to be stored where it is cool, dry and dark. The easiest way to ensure this for long term storage at home is to double-seal your seeds inside two zipper style bags and then place them in the freezer. (Make sure you label your seeds for future reference if they're not in original packaging.) When you're ready to plant your seeds, take just the ones you want to use out of the freezer and let them sit on a counter, in a covered container, for a few days to thaw and stabilize before being planted. To preserve germination rates, minimize temperature, light and humidity fluctuations by storing your seeds at the back of the freezer and only taking them out when you're ready to use them.

The Package with my Seeds in was Left Outside in Freezing and/or Rainy Weather. Will the Seeds Still Work?
As long as your seeds have not gotten wet they should work fine. Freezing temperatures will not hurt the seeds.

Are Your Seeds Treated?
No. The USDA Certified Organic Program prohibits the use of treated seeds. All of our seeds -- whether certified organic or not -- are untreated.

The Old Farmer's Almanac Premium Marigold Seeds (Crackerjack Mix)