Marigolds are popular flowering plants because they look amazing, are low-maintenance and adapt to many environments. Full sun is best, and marigolds thrive in all but the hottest summer heat; excessive shade will noticeably reduce their flowering. Use well-draining, neutral soil and water new plants regularly for a few weeks. After the root system is established, watering once a week is usually sufficient, with a little more during dry spells.

These flowers have a well-earned reputation for deterring pests that attack common vegetables and herbs. Still, there are a few possible problems to watch for. Slugs, snails and aphids may eat the leaves, and powdery mildew is a known disease. A combination of insecticidal soaps, ground-watering and air circulation will combat these issues.

Although they germinate fast outdoors, you can start marigold seeds inside for earlier blooms. Prepare a seeding tray or small pots with a dampened seed-starting mix. Sow the seeds on top and cover with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Place the container in a warm location, keep the soil moist and use a humidity dome or cover to maintain moisture until the seeds germinate. When seedlings sprout — which should take 4-5 days — remove the cover and provide 4-6 hours a day of sunlight or grow lights. Seedlings can be transplanted outdoors when they are quickly growing new leaves.

Wait to plant or transplant marigolds in the ground until there is no longer a threat of frost. (This means in warmer climates, you can plant year-round.) Plant seeds about an inch deep and apart. After a couple of weeks, thin or transplant the seedlings so they are 8-12 inches apart. For taller marigold varieties, plant them against a wall, fence or another location that shields against heavy rain and winds.

Container growing is an excellent way to grow and display marigolds. Clay pots are preferred, but any material will do. All-purpose potting mix and well-draining containers work best.

Marigolds don’t require rich soil for success, and some varieties prefer lean or even poor soil. Too many nutrients will emphasize foliage instead of flower growth. If your soil is very poor, add a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to the soil when you plant or transplant. Test the soil to see whether fertilization is justified.

Marigolds are typically an annual plant, but certain shrub varieties grow perennially in warm regions, such as Mexican and mountain marigolds. Some mulching can assist these marigolds if winter temperatures are unseasonably cold. If left in the ground, annual marigolds will self-seed at the end of the growing season and return the following year.

Two pruning techniques improve marigold growth and shaping. When the plants have 3-4 sets of true leaves, pinch or cut the top leaf pair to spur side branching. Also, deadheading spent blooms will help your marigold plants keep blooming into the fall.

You can pick marigolds for cut flower bouquets when the blooms are fully open. Snip the flowers at the ground or above a leaf using sterile scissors. If you want to harvest the seeds, wait until the flower petals dry and the pod begins drooping.