Reliable and long-blooming, marigolds are a smart choice for non-stop color in garden beds and containers. There are many types to choose from with a range of flower sizes, shapes, and colors. And not only are marigolds a snap to grow, but it’s also easy to save seeds from your plants for next season. In this article you’ll learn when and how to save marigold seeds, as well as get tips on drying and storing them. 

The benefits of learning how to save marigold seeds

I learned how to save marigold seeds from my grandmother when I was just a kid. I was amazed at how easily the seeds slipped from the seed heads at the end of the growing season. Collecting and saving the seeds meant my grandmother would have lots of marigolds to plant again the following spring. Many years later I continue the seed-saving tradition she taught me by gathering flower, vegetable, and herb seeds from my garden each season. Not only does this save me money, but it allows me to create varieties better adapted to my local climatic conditions. And I also get plenty of seeds to share with family and friends.

Hybrid and open-pollinated seeds

Marigolds can be open-pollinated or hybrid plants and it’s important to know what type you have when you collect and save seeds. This is because the seeds of hybrid varieties likely won’t come true to type. Hybridization crosses two different parent plants to create a new variety. The resulting seed from those marigolds may revert to one of the parents and look different than the current flowers growing in your garden. That doesn’t mean you can’t save them, however. You just may not get the flowers you expect. 

Open-pollinated and heirloom marigold seeds, on the other hand, do grow true to type. They’ll produce the same flowers the following year. Keep in mind that marigolds can cross pollinate so if you’re growing a mixture of marigold varieties you may end up with unexpected variations. If you want to make sure your seeds remain true to type, only grow one open-pollinated variety. 

Watch this video to learn more about saving marigold seeds:

Types of marigolds

There are three main types of marigolds: African, French, and Signet. I’ve also included pot marigold below, which isn’t a true marigold, but has marigold-like flowers and is a popular annual plant.

• African marigold (Tagetes erecta) – Depending on the variety, African marigold plants can grow tall, up to 40 inches, and typically have large blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and white. Their long stems, sturdy blooms, and excellent vase life make these varieties perfect for cut flower gardens. ‘Sunset Giants’ is a stunning mixture of massive yellow, orange, and gold blooms.
• French marigold (Tagetes patula) – French marigold plants are more compact and bushier than African varieties, producing blooms in single shades as well as eye-catching color combinations. ‘Court Jester’, an open-pollinated French marigold with gold and burgundy pin-wheel flowers, is a personal favorite as the unique flowers continue well into autumn. Perhaps the most unusual marigold huge is pink and ‘Strawberry Blonde’ is a summer stunner with pink-plum-gold blooms.
• Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) – I’m an absolute sucker for these vigorous marigolds, also called gem marigolds. The plants grow about 16 inches tall and wide and form dense mounds of fine-textured foliage. The leaves are topped with masses of single flowers in brilliant shades of gold, orange, or red. I plant them throughout my vegetable garden for season long color. 
• Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) – Not technically a marigold, pot marigold, better know as calendula, is a robust garden plant whose fiery blooms resemble true marigolds. It’s an excellent companion plant attracting pollinators and beneficial insects, and it’s easy to collect and save seeds from the spent flowers. 

When to harvest marigold seeds

To promote the most flowers on my marigold plants, I dead head faded flowers throughout the summer months with my garden shears. However by late summer I stop clipping the spent flowers. The fresh flower heads soon turn to those with dried petals and then mature into seed heads. These seed heads should be collected from late summer through mid-autumn. They’ll have turned brown and be dry and papery to the touch. This can happen a couple of weeks on either side of the first frost date. 

A pro tip for those learning how to save marigold seeds is to gather the mature seed pods when they’re fully dry, not wet from rain, dew, or irrigation water. This is best done on a sunny day between mid morning and late afternoon. Damp seeds take longer to dry, and if they clump together can be prone to mold.

How to save marigold seeds: 4 easy steps

As noted above, saving marigold seeds is very easy. Here are the 4 steps to success you need to know.

Step 1: Collect the seed pods

Using my garden shears or snips, I clip the brown seed heads from the plants, collecting them in a container or paper bag. Don’t collect green seed heads as the seeds inside aren’t mature enough to be viable. If I’m collecting different types of seeds at the same time, I use a sharpie to label each paper bag so I don’t mix up my seeds.

Step 2: Remove the seeds

Once you’re finished harvesting marigold seed heads, bring them indoors to extract the seeds. Hold the seed pod with one hand and pull the clump of slender seeds out of the pod with the other. Marigold seeds slip easily from the papery pods and it doesn’t take long to accumulate a good-sized pile of seeds.

The seeds of pot marigolds aren’t hiding in a seed pod, but are formed in a dome-shaped head. They’re ready to gather when the heads are tan brown and the exposed seeds are dark brown. Using your thumb or finger, rub the seed head to loosen the seeds, letting them fall into a container or paper bag.

Step 3: Dry the seeds

Once you’ve removed the seeds from the seed heads, spread them on a paper plate or piece of paper towel. Let them dry for a further 5 to 7 days. Keep the paper plate in a warm spot, out of direct sun and away from moisture. If there is any chaff like old petals or stems, feel free to pick it out. 

Step 4: Store marigold seeds

After about a week the seeds will be fully dry. Place them in a paper envelope labelled with the type of plant, variety name, and date. Don’t use a plastic baggie to store seeds. These trap moisture which can cause the seeds to rot and reduce their viability. The best site for storage in a cool dry place where the seeds are safe from moisture. I store my seed envelopes in plastic containers. When kept under optimal conditions marigold seeds remain viable for around two years.

What to do with marigold seeds

Next season I’ll sow my marigold seeds indoors or directly in the garden for new plants to add long-lasting color to the garden. If you have a lot of marigold seeds you may wish to share some as gifts with friends, family, or a local seed library.

I hope I’ve answered your questions about how to save marigold seeds. For more information about saving seeds, be sure to read these articles:

• Saving bean seeds from your garden
• How to collect and save milkweed pods
• Collecting and saving dill seeds
• How long do seeds last?