Location & Sunlight: Thrive in full sun (6–8 hours daily) but tolerate partial shade. Ideal for garden borders and vegetable beds to deter pests.

Soil: Adaptable to most soils but prefer well-draining, moderately fertile soil. pH 6.0–7.0. Avoid overly rich soil, which can lead to more leaves and fewer flowers.

Watering: Provide ½–1 gallon per plant once or twice weekly, depending on weather. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings — marigolds are somewhat drought-tolerant.

Fertilizer: Light feeders. Mix a slow-release balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) into soil at planting. Avoid over-fertilizing, which reduces blooms.

Support & Maintenance: Compact plants usually don’t need staking. Deadhead (remove spent flowers) to encourage more blooms.

Harvest/Benefit: Blooms all season. Great for cut flowers and as a companion plant — roots release compounds that repel nematodes, and flowers attract pollinators.