It's mid-August, hotter than a two-dollar pistol and both you and your landscape plants have the late-summer doldrums. This means it is much too early to plant pansies because they will scorch badly in the heat. But, Old Man Summer has hammered most of the earlier planted annuals to a frazzle. Is there a shining knight that can rescue you from these doldrums? You bet there is and it's called a Mari-mum.

The name Mari-mum is derived from a combination of the terms marigold and chrysanthemum and denotes large-flowered American marigolds which possess a similar flower form and are used as a fall crop like chrysanthemums. The marigolds which best fit this concept are hybrids characterized by earlier blooming, larger flowers and high levels of uniformity.

Their Attributes Abound
Several years of testing by Texas Agricultural Extension Service horticulturists in both south and north-central Texas have revealed many desirable attributes exhibited by Mari-mums. For example, they are very low maintenance for a flowering annual. They are extremely easy to grow, almost foolproof when planted in a well-drained soil in full sun. They produce more blossoms and retain better blossom color as a fall crop and they possess tremendous visual impact, even at a distance.

When compared to fall-planted chrysanthemums, Mari-mums will bloom 2-3 times longer. Their open blossoms are more resistant to wind and rain and are less expensive to produce which gives you more bang for your gardening buck.

Spider Mites Not A Problem
At this point many of you are thinking how beautiful Mari-mums will be as a fall crop but you're worried that spider mites, the arch enemy of marigolds, will make their ugly presence known. Spider mites love hot weather but their rate of reproduction is greatly reduced by cool fall temperatures. By first removing any mite-infested plants from the flower bed and then planting fresh marigold transplants in mid-August or early September, you can avoid significant mite injury, all without use of pesticides.

Mari-Mum At A Glance
Transplant in mid-August to early September for the longest period of spectacular bloom. Purchase transplants with foliage only or in bud, but not in full bloom. Plant in full sun with good drainage. Water thoroughly at planting. For the first week after planting, new transplants may need to be watered almost daily. Thereafter, water only when the top inch of soil is dry.

Recommended Cultivars include ‘Discovery Yellow' and ‘Discovery Orange,' dwarf plants 8-10 inches in height, and ‘Voyager Yellow,' a somewhat larger cultivar at 24-26 inches in height.