Bonanza Yellow, also known as Tagetes patula or Dwarf Crested French Marigold, is an annual flowering plant native to Mexico and Guatemala. PanAmerican developed the Bonanza series for exceptional performance in packs, early flowering, and uniformity and versatility. This plant offers dark green foliage with an upright habit of 10-12" tall and 6-8" wide. Bright yellow double-crested flowers reach 2-3" in diameter, blooming from spring through late summer. Bonanza Yellow blooms early and uniformly across the series. It flourishes in full sun with average soil and water, attracting beneficial insects to the garden. Marigolds are heat- and drought-tolerant. This plant repels pests from vegetable and herb gardens, offering edible flowers for garnish with a floral aroma and flavor. Bring color to a border, landscape bed, mass planting, patio container, or window box with this classic French Marigold. Create striking contrast by growing Bonanza Yellow with Bonanza Bolero and Bonanza Harmony.
Bonanza Yellow Selling Tips
Sell Bonanza Yellow to customers looking for a long-blooming colorful annual. This plant is heat and drought-tolerant, performs well in full sun, offers uniform branching, strong stems, and prolific flowers, and attracts pollinators with its fragrant flowers and foliage. It requires little more than regular water to flourish in landscape borders, mass plantings, patio containers, window boxes, or combinations. Enjoy bright blooms from spring through late summer! Flowers are edible and make a fragrant garnish for summer baking. Create biodiverse vegetable and herb gardens with Marigolds as a natural pest deterrent. This plant also attracts beneficial insects. Tomatoes, Beans, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Broccoli, Basil, and Parsley particularly benefit from interplanting with Bonanza Yellow. Bring texture and color to ornamental landscapes by growing Marigolds alongside Petunia, Salvia, Ageratum, Purple Fountain Grass, Dahlias, and Coleus.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 6-10" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water regularly or more often in drought.
3. Deadhead flowers for a tidy appearance and to encourage continuous blooming.
4. Remove plants after frost.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Bonanza Yellow, grow one seedling plug per 1801 cell. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 6.2-6.5, EC of 1.0-1.5 mS/cm, and light feed (100-175 ppm N). Use a nitrate-based fertilizer with low phosphorus at a rate of 75-100 ppm N for constant feed programs. Begin feeding one week after transplanting. Provide temperatures at 65-68 daytime and 60-62 nighttime with short days. Watch for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, root rot, powdery mildew, and botrytis. Cell packs finish in 3-4 weeks.
Flowering
Yellow crested double flowers 2-3" across bloom from early spring until late summer.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. For 128-cell packs, space packs 6-8" apart, and for 72-cell packs, 8-10" apart.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs. Use proper cultural practices to prevent stretching, including adequate light and not too much fertilizer.
Pests
Scout for aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies as part of your greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management plan. Prevention is the best treatment for pest infestations.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that eat plant sap and cause yellowed leaves and stunted growth. Severe infestations can lead to plants dying. Prevent infestations by sanitizing surfaces and tools and removing debris. Introduce natural predators and use sticky traps to control populations. Insecticidal soaps and oils are also effective against this pest.
Disease
Marigold is fairly disease-resistant but watch for signs of root rot, powdery mildew, and botrytis which commonly occur in the commercial greenhouse. Take preventative measures, including watering at the base of each plant in the morning, allowing the soil to dry between waterings, providing good airflow, and spacing containers to allow sunlight and air to penetrate to the soil level.
Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.
Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that thrives in humid conditions, appearing as a white or gray coating on foliage and flowers. Provide good airflow in your greenhouse. We recommend horizontal airflow fans to help control humidity levels alongside a dehumidifier or manual venting. Remove and destroy infected plants and apply fungicides as needed or preventatively. Look for the active ingredients myclobutanil, trifloxystrobin, or potassium bicarbonate to combat Powdery Mildew threatening your seedling plugs.
Botrytis is a common fungal disease that causes brown spots on stems, leaves, and flowers. Remove and destroy affected plants, maintain appropriate humidity levels, and apply fungicides with boscalid, fenhexamid, or iprodione to control the spread. Water plants in the morning and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Planting Bonanza Yellow Liners
Plant one seedling plug per 1801 cell. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot centered in the cell. Begin a fertilizer program one week after transplanting. Don't pinch.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Marigold Bonanza Yellow Quick Reference Guide
| Bloom Period | Spring, Summer |
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| Color | Yellow |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 10-12 Inches |
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| Light | Full Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 60 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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