TAGETE PASSION AB
Tagetes lemonii
Perennial shrubby plant, weakly hardy, reaching 1 to 1.5 m in height, appreciating the heat and tolerating dry and poor soils. Its important golden yellow flowering beginning in late summer will last all autumn and even winter if well sheltered. Its edible flowers and serrated foliage have a smell and a flavor reminiscent of passion fruit, mango, citrus fruits. Fresh, it is used in salads, desserts, infusions but also why not with fish, seafood... Avoid over-pruning this tagetes it will be even more productive. Hardy to -5 ° C it is preferable to reserve a well-exposed location, protected from the wind and sheltered from strong frosts. In regions with cold winters, you can overwinter it like a geranium.
Sow in February/April, in a tray on moist seed compost. Cover with a few mm of compost. Keep moist at 20/25°C, in the light, germination in 7 to 21 days.
Transplant into a pot and place in a cool place before planting outdoors after the frost.
Plant after frost, keeping 40-50 cm between plants in drained soil in a sunny location.
Remove faded flowers to prolong flowering.
Flowering extends from August to December.
