French Marigold
Tagetes patula — the small bushy marigold that guards the tomato pots.
Origin
Section titled “Origin”Mexican despite the name — Tagetes patula comes from Mexico and Guatemala. The small, bushy half of the marigold pair, blooming all season, and a traditional pest-deterring neighbor for the tomato pots.
Location
Section titled “Location”Full sun, 59–86 °F; dies at frost. Shrugs off heat and a missed watering.
Watering
Section titled “Watering”Every 2 days, when the surface begins to dry; it tolerates a brief dry spell. Half-strength feed every 4 weeks, May to September — overfeeding buys leaves instead of flowers.
Pruning
Section titled “Pruning”Deadheading is the pruning: pinch spent blooms before they set seed, every 2 weeks from May to October, and the mound flowers until frost. Leggy midsummer plants take a light shear-over and bounce back within two weeks.
Repotting
Section titled “Repotting”None — an annual, sown or planted fresh each spring. Seeds from spent heads keep next year’s supply free; the season ends in the compost.