What Do I Do With My Marigolds in the Fall?

Allow Seed Pod to Die

• While dead-heading a marigold throughout its growing season will assure a hardy and well-flowering plant, when it's time to save seeds, it is best to allow the flower to die on the plant. However, it is also important for you to get to the seeds before the birds do or before frost kills them off entirely, so pay close attention to your seed harvest opportunity.

Harvest the Flower Head

• Choose a sunny day to harvest your crop of marigold seeds. Select the pods that are the most mature on the plant. Use small garden shears to gently clip the heads off the plants. Be careful not to break the casings as you work. If you are collecting from a variety of marigold plants, be sure to keep them separate as you work.

Open the Seed Pod

• Break the pod open and lay the seeds in a single layer on a flat, dry surface. Allow them to remain undisturbed for about a week. It's important that they're fully dry before you place them in winter storage.

Store in Labeled Envelopes

• Once completely dry, place the seeds in paper envelopes, being sure to label different varieties. Do not use plastic, as moisture could form and kill the seeds with mold or bacteria. Store over the winter in a cool, dry location.

Uproot the Plant

• After frost has killed off the marigold, pull it from the soil and dispose of it with your other compost materials.

Plant Indoors

• Start your marigold plants from your saved seeds about two weeks before you will plant them in your garden, after the threat of frost has passed. Seeds take about three or four days to germinate.

Be Wary of Hybrids

• Because so many of today's plants are hybrids, producing an exact replica of the plant from which you harvested can be an iffy science. However, you will still likely get a hardy version of the marigold that is a great garden border and sunny garden accessory.