The Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold is in the French Marigold series from David Lemon, and this year’s Nebraska 4-H Special Garden Project. Each year, 4‑H members have the opportunity to try growing a new and unusual vegetable or flower. The project allows experienced 4‑H gardeners to grow something fun and exciting while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in the horticulture project area through a guided experience.
The marigold created by Lemon is a large-flowered, strong-stemmed, utterly lovely flowered marigold that will all reach the same height and bloom at the same time in a garden or a container. Vanilla Cream is a showpiece, sporting a never-before-seen pale primrose-yellow hue in the central cluster of petals, surrounded by lighter cream petals. Spectacular.
The Vanilla Cream Marigold is very easy to grow in the sunny garden, vegetable patch, and containers. Vanilla Cream makes a terrific choice for a child’s first seed-starting experience, too. The marigold is a new look for the palest of yellows and the milkiest of creams. The form gives these blooms a two-tone look because the shorter petals in the center are clustered, creating a darker effect than the surrounding, wide-open petals. These flowers reach 2 to 2.5 inches wide and face straight up, giving maximum color.
It is also an absolutely indispensable companion to tomatoes, for its roots contain a chemical that kills root-knot nematodes, one of the most destructive soil-borne tomato plant pests. Sow seeds directly in the garden when the soil has warmed, or start seeds indoors. Don’t worry about setting the seeds in a certain way into the soil. They will make themselves at home and grow promptly, no matter how they are placed. The seeds germinate in 7 to 21 days. Transplant any time after they have 2 sets of true leaves. Be sure to grow in full direct sunshine for the best flowering.
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
