Producing an abundance of deep golden-yellow flowers with a central red blotch, 'Naughty Marietta' is a compact, showy annual, that can be used as a companion plant in the rose garden and vegetable patch to help repel aphids. The petals are edible and can be scattered over salads. Ideal for children as it is easy to grow (in as little as a few weeks from seed). Choose a sunny, well-drained site and deadhead regularly to promote further flowering.
Growing instructions:
Sow shallowly into moist but not overly wet seed compost and germinate at 68-77°F (20-25°C). When large enough to handle to handle transplant into small pots, and grow on in cooler conditions. Seedlings should emerge within 1-3 weeks. Transplant, pot up and acclimatise before planting out at 30cm intervals after all risk of frost has passed. Later sowings after April can be made direct into a well-prepared bed.
Eventual height:
0.5m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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Humans/Pets: Skin irritant