Marigolds and cross pollination

 

I grew three colors of small Marigold this year (Yellow, Orange and
Orange/Red bi-color). The seed heads from the three different colors
have been saved separately; all yellow seed heads in one bag, orange in
another etc. Next year when I plant the new seed can I expect the sead
heads from the orange flowers to produce orange flowers, and the yellow
to only produce yellow etc., or will the colors be all mixed up? The
different color flowers were planted about thirty feet apart.

TIA,
EJ in NJ

 

On 8/17/2009 5:36 AM, EJ Willson wrote:

Since many marigolds are already hybrids, you are unlikely to get the
same flowers that you got this year.

--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

 



    I grow the so-called "French" dwarf marigold hybirds (most often,
the "Firecracker" variety) every year. So far, 100% of daughter seeds
revert to some big-ass ancestral type. For that reason, I quit saving
marigold seeds years ago and buy new ones every year. I grow marigolds
for the color and as a butterfly attractant. I've demonstrated to my own
satisfaction that marigolds are essentially, maybe absolutely, useless
for nematode control (I am in Florida, nematode Nirvana). Sadly, the
nematodes don't read the organic pest control magazine articles....
--
Running on single malt in U.S.A.
Peninsular Florida,
USDA zone 9b