Durango Flame

Family: Asteraceae Flowering annual

Crisp, sunlit blooms blaze in a warm gradient—fiery orange to burnished red—ringed with a ruffled, velvety texture that catches the light like satin.

Durango Flame French Marigold forms compact, tidy mounds in about 45 days, producing abundant double flowers that hold their color with a confident, garden-ready presence. Ideal for edging, containers, and vivid bedding displays, this variety brings instant, high-impact color that looks as good as it feels to the eye all season long.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 9th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	50
Min Night Temp (°F)	45
Harden Off (days)	5

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Tagetes patula (French marigold), and how do I stop it?

Watch for powdery mildew and leaf spot during warm, humid spells; they show up as gray-white patches or dark spots on foliage. Remove the worst leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the base in the morning so leaves dry quickly. If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled fungicide for powdery mildew/leaf spot and repeat according to the label.

How often should I water Tagetes patula during peak growth to keep it flowering well?

Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry—this usually means deep watering about 2–3 times per week in summer, but less in cooler weather. Keep soil consistently lightly moist, not soggy, because Tagetes patula can suffer root stress if it stays wet. Mulch can help smooth out moisture, but don’t let mulch hold water against the stems.

How can I tell when Tagetes patula (French marigold) is ready to harvest (for flowers) around day 45?

Harvest when individual blooms are fully open and show their full color—don’t pick buds that haven’t opened yet. For continuous flowering, deadhead by removing spent flowers just below the bloom (above the next set of leaves). Expect peak harvest of fresh blooms around ~45 days from sowing under good conditions.

Durango Flame

Planting Schedule

Crop Dates

Crop Details

Frequently Asked Questions