Reader's question

GILLIAN is new to gardening and has seen her father planting marigolds in his bedding scheme every summer.

She went to buy some from the local DIY store but was bewildered by the different types on offer. She would like to know more about the marigold, and if she would be able to grow them from seed, instead of buying the grown plant.

MARIGOLDS are robust plants that bring a lot of sunshine into your garden. The two most common types are the tall African marigold and the French marigold.

African and French cultivars are frequently hybrids to sustain longer bloom and soften their pungent aroma.

However, they will need staking to maintain their upright habit.

Throughout history marigolds have been used to alleviate medical problems including headache, jaundice, inflamed eyes, toothache, bee stings, sprains, wounds and fever.

In early times, the Anglo-Saxons called the marigold “Golds” as the flowers were boiled to extract their yellow colour for fabric and hair dyes. Today the marigold flower is still dried, ground and used as a substitute for the herb saffron (but called ‘calendula’). In the agriculture business marigold petals mixed with chicken feed add intensity to the yellow colour of egg yolks.

Marigolds can be grown easily from seed sown directly into the ground in half-sunny or sunny locations. As long as the soil is half decent, they will germinate and within a few weeks will cover the ground with healthy foliage topped with brilliant flowers which are attractive to bees. Marigolds have a pungent odour which keeps insects at bay, but they can be bothered by slugs.

If you have a serious slug problem, it might be better to set the seeds in compost in a tray or pot.

Jobs this week

CUT the dead heads off buddleias to improve the look and size of the next flowers being produced further back on the stems.

PROTECT dahlia flowers from earwig damage by filling upturned pots with straw and positioning them on top of canes between the plants. The earwigs will crawl inside and get trapped.

BEARDED iris may be divided and replanted when they have finished blooming. Discard all shriveled and diseased parts. Remove seed heads and cut down foliage so that the plant can concentrate on getting the roots established as opposed to feeding leaves.

■ Brigid co-presents the BBC Tees Green, Gardening and Great Outdoors show every Sunday from 11am to 2pm.

Questions can be answered on the day by emailing brigid.press@bbc.co.uk anytime during the week, or texting 07786-200995 and phoning 01642- 225511 during the show. Written queries can be addressed to Brigid at Lazy DayzPlant Centre, Farm Road, Houghall, Durham, DH1 3SG.