Marigold: "The Most Popular Annual?"

The garden marigold that is commonly used (genus Tagetes) is native to Central and South America. Not to be confused with the pot marigold (genus Calendula), the first recorded use dates back to the mid 1500’s when Spanish explorers took seeds back with them to Spain after visiting the Aztec Empire. At that point, marigolds were widely cultivated in Spain, particularly in the monasteries. In Central and South America, marigolds were predominantly used to decorate altars and cemeteries.

There are over 40 different varieties of marigolds. The three most commonly cultivated are the African, French, and the Signet. The tallest variety is the African followed by the shorter French. The Signet is the smallest and the most widely used in the culinary world.

The flavor of the Signet variety is a spicy citrus flavor. The African and French have practically no good flavor and, in fact, can be offensive. They are still edible, but not worth the trouble. All three varieties can still be used as a garnish. Since the colors come in a wide range of yellow and orange, they easily "perk up" any type of food or table setting. The Signet variety, such as Lemon Gem and Tangerine Gem, go great in a wide range of salads such as a tossed salad or a potato salad. They are also a nice addition to omelets, breads, and muffin cakes.

Marigolds make a strong statement in the garden, either as a border hedge, potted, or in a window box. The main insect problems are spider mites, aphids, and slugs. Hot and dry weather is very inviting for spider mites, so be sure to keep them watered. Some people say that marigolds help attract whiteflies from other vegetables and plants, like tomatoes. Slugs are messy menaces that love marigolds. My best advice for slugs is to use a product called SLUGGO. It does not harm the environment and is good for the soil. As far as insect problems are concerned, I would recommend Insects Away which is composed of all natural ingredients. This can be found at I Must Garden. As with all vegetables and fruits, be sure to wash thoroughly before eating.