What are some good tips for growing marigolds from seeds?

Im planting them now and will be growing them indoors for the first few weeks, until after our last frost. Are their any tips I can use to ensure they grow healthy and strong. Also the package told me to freeze the seeds a week before planting, why?

What are some good tips for growing marigolds from seeds?
There are some good growing instructions at this web site: http://www.dirtgardener.com/TipSheets/St...


To address your second question:


In horticulture, stratification is the process of pretreating seeds to simulate natural conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species have what is called an embryonic dormancy and generally speaking will not sprout until this dormancy is broken.





For seeds of trees and shrubs from temperate climates, stratification involves soaking and chilling seeds prior to sowing. This simulates natural conditions where the seeds would remain through a winter on cold, wet ground. Seeds will usually germinate promptly and uniformly after stratification. Unstratified seeds may take up to two years to germinate, if they do so at all.





In the wild, seed dormancy is usually overcome by the seed spending time in the ground through a winter period and having their hard seed coat soften up by frost and weathering action. By doing so the seed is undergoing a natural form of "cold stratification" or pretreatment. This cold moist period triggers the seed's embryo, its growth and subsequent expansion eventually break through the softened seed coat in its search for sun and nutrients.
Reply:freezing them helps them to germinate. You can also put them in a wet paper towel and keep it moist for a week. It's really awesome. Your best bet is to give them as much sunlight as possible along with watering them daily. Don't overwater them though or you will end up with drowned flowers. Good luck!
Reply:no idea on why it said to freeze them, i planted seeds once seven years ago the marigold plants were so big when it rained they broke because of the weight the front of my house looked likea wall of fire, and all i did was planted them in cow poop fertilizer from walmart..i think its humus...i have never had to buy seeds again..they pop up everywhere

poison ivy