Few flowers can brighten a home garden like marigolds. Their cheerful yellow and orange blooms bring colour to balconies, terraces, and window ledges. They are also a familiar sight during Indian festivals, when they find their way into garlands and decorations.

Growing them at home does not require a large garden, but it helps to understand what these flowers need to survive. From choosing the right variety to guaranteeing proper drainage, some useful lessons can be learnt from a farmer who has spent years cultivating marigolds.

October and November are good months to grow marigolds in many parts of India, as the cooler weather can support their growth and flowering. If you are planning to add these cheerful blooms to your home garden, this is a good time to get started.

Arup Kumar Ghosh, a farmer from Kolaghat in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district, began his journey in floriculture in 2011. After working at a flower shop in Hyderabad, he returned to his hometown and decided to cultivate marigolds himself.

His first attempt was not successful. The local saplings he bought produced small flowers that did not meet market standards, resulting in losses. Determined to improve their quality, he travelled to Thailand and spent six months training at the Bangkok Blossom Market.

There, he learnt about the Tennis Ball marigold variety, prized for its bright, round flowers. He brought back seeds of the yellow and orange varieties and began cultivating them on leased land.

Reflecting on his early experiments, he told The Better India, “In the early stages of farming, I had to experiment with different fertilisers and treatments to find what worked best. It was all trial and error.”

Over time, he developed his cultivation practices and expanded his farm. His experience offers several useful lessons for anyone looking to grow marigolds at home.

1. Give your marigolds plenty of sunlight

Sunlight is one of the first things to consider when deciding where to grow marigolds. A shaded corner may not be the best place for these flowering plants.

Arup explains,........

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