Do Zinnias and Marigolds Grow Well Together?

Marigolds

• Dwarf "French" marigolds grow to 6 inches tall with 2-inch flowers and are planted in front rows of a flower bed. Larger marigolds, such as "Disco," "Queen Sophia" and "Boy" grow to 18 inches while "African," "Inca" and "Perfection" grow to 4 feet tall. Flower colors include varying hues of bright lemon yellow, dark yellow, red and orange. Smaller marigolds also have mixed colors of yellow with orange in the same flower.

Zinnias

• Zinnias grow from 12 inches tall for the short versions to 24 to 30 inches tall for the large versions. The "Narrowleaf" short zinnias work well in front of the flowerbeds and come in colors of gold, orange and white. The taller "Profusion" series can grow in the back row and comes in shades of white, orange, apricot and red. Use wooden or plastic covered wire stakes for the taller plants to keep these upright as they grow to 20 inches or more.

Bed Location

• Prepare a bed for your flowers where they will receive plenty of sun for the early part of the day. Especially in hotter Southern climates, both zinnias and marigolds should have afternoon shade. If you are in a cooler climate in the North, plant your bed where the flowers will receive full sun all day long, as this will be crucial when the cold weather sets in.

Soil Preparation

• Test your soil with a pH meter, available at any garden center. You can also order one from your state's agricultural center. The soil should be neutral to slightly alkaline, between 6.0 and 7.5, and drain easily. If your soil is too compact, sift in sphagnum peat moss to break up the soil and help retain moisture near the roots. Dig down 18 inches in your flowerbed. Add in a small amount of compost to add nutrients to the soil to kick start the plants' growth. Plant your seeds about 2 inches apart in each of your rows.

Seeds

• Keep your plants healthy by pruning off any dead flower heads and leaves. Alternatively, you can save your flower heads, let them dry for a week or so, and then gather the heads with their seeds into plastic bags and save for next season. Write on each bag what the plant is so you don't plant your short plants in the back and the tall ones in the front by accident.