RADHA YELLOW Marigold (Sakata Seeds)

Season:

• Kharif Season: Planting Time: June-July , Flowering Time: September-November.
• Rabi Season: Planting Time: October-November, Flowering Time: January-March.
• Summer Season: Planting Time: February-March, Flowering Time: April-June.

Recommended areas for cultivation: 

• Northern India: PB, HR, UP, HP
• Southern India: TN, KA, AP, TA
• Easter India: WB, OD
• Western India: MH, GJ, RJ

Optimal Temperature: 18 °- 28 °C

Soil Requirement: Well-drained, fertile soil.

pH Level: Slightly acidic to neutral ( 6.0-7.0).

Watering: Regular watering is essential, especially during dry periods. Avoid waterlogging as it can lead to root rot.

🌱 Sowing & Climate

• Sowing Seasons: Marigolds can be sown year-round. Optimal sowing times in Indore are:

  • Kharif: June–July

  • Rabi: September–October

  • Summer: January–February

• Seed Rate: Approximately 100 grams per acre.

• Nursery Preparation: Sow seeds in a nursery bed and transplant seedlings after 20–30 days.

• Spacing: Maintain a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 35 cm between plants.

• Optimal Temperature: Marigolds thrive in temperatures between 18°C and 30°C.

🌾 Soil & Fertilization

• Soil Type: Well-drained loamy soil with a pH of 7.0 to 7.5 is ideal. Avoid saline or acidic soils.

• Basal Fertilizer Application (per acre):

  • Urea: 70 kg

  • Single Super Phosphate (SSP): 100 kg

  • Muriate of Potash (MOP): 53 kg

• Micronutrient Foliar Spray: Apply 0.5% FeSO₄ + 0.5% ZnSO₄ on the 30th and 45th days after transplanting.

• Biofertilizers: Incorporate 2 kg each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria per hectare at planting time.

💧 Irrigation

• Initial Watering: Irrigate immediately after transplanting.

• Irrigation Frequency:

  • Summer (April–June): Every 4–5 days

  • Winter (October–February): Every 10–15 days

• Note: Avoid water stagnation to prevent root diseases.

🌿 Weed Management & Pinching

• Weeding: Conduct manual weeding 3–4 times during the crop cycle.

• Chemical Control: If weed infestation is severe, appropriate herbicides can be used.

• Pinching: Pinch the terminal portion of the plant 30–45 days after transplanting to promote branching and increase flower yield.

🐛 Pest Management

• Mealybugs:

  • Symptoms: White cottony masses on leaves and stems.

  • Control: Spray Dimethoate @ 2 ml/litre or fish oil rosin soap @ 25 g/litre.

• Thrips:

  • Symptoms: Silvering of leaves and distorted growth.

  • Control: Use yellow sticky traps (20 per acre) and spray Fipronil @ 1.5 ml/litre.

• Aphids:

  • Symptoms: Curling and yellowing of leaves.

  • Control: Spray Monocrotophos 0.05% or Phosphamidon 0.02% at 10–15 day intervals.

• Red Spider Mites:

  • Symptoms: Yellowing leaves with webbing.

  • Control: Spray Abamectin 1.9 EC @ 0.5 ml/litre or Fenazaquin 10 EC @ 2 ml/litre.

• Hairy Caterpillars:

  • Symptoms: Defoliation.

  • Control: Spray Carbaryl @ 2 ml/litre.

• Leaf Miners:

  • Symptoms: Tunnels in leaves.

  • Control: Remove affected leaves and spray appropriate insecticides.

🍄 Disease Management

• Damping Off:

  • Symptoms: Seedling collapse.

  • Control: Drench soil with Copper Oxychloride @ 25 g/10 litres or Carbendazim @ 20 g/10 litres.

• Powdery Mildew:

  • Symptoms: White powdery growth on leaves.

  • Control: Spray water-soluble sulphur @ 20 g/10 litres, twice at 10-day intervals.

• Leaf Spot:

  • Symptoms: Brown spots on leaves.

  • Control: Spray Mancozeb @ 2 g/litre.

• Botrytis Blight:

  • Symptoms: Grey mold on flowers.

  • Control: Ensure proper spacing and spray Mancozeb @ 0.2%.

• Fusarium Wilt:

  • Symptoms: Wilting and yellowing of plants.

  • Control: Practice crop rotation and apply Carbendazim @ 0.2%.

🌸 Yield & Harvest

• Flowering: Begins approximately 60 days after transplanting.

• Harvesting: Regular harvesting encourages more blooms.

• Yield: Approximately 30–35 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions.