Optimizing Planting Time and Growing Environments for Enhanced Seed Yield and Quality in Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Under Mid-hill Region of Himachal Pradesh

The rising demand for marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) seeds in India, driven by large-scale
cultivation, necessitates the development of effective technologies to enhance seed yield and
quality. A study was conducted to optimize planting time and growing conditions for
marigold seed production. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with
five planting dates staggered at 15-day intervals, evaluated under open field and naturally
ventilated polyhouse conditions using two marigold cultivars, 'Pusa Narangi Gainda' and
'Pusa Basanti Gainda'. Significant effects of planting dates, growing environments, and
cultivars were observed on various seed parameters. The results revealed that planting on
10th July under open field conditions with the cultivar 'Pusa Basanti Gainda' produced
superior quality seeds, achieving the highest seed yield per plant (19.92 g) and per square
meter (171.92 g), making it the most suitable option for commercial seed production.
Additionally, both cultivars demonstrated satisfactory seed yield under open field conditions
up to August planting. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing planting time
and selecting appropriate growing environments to enhance the quality and quantity of
marigold seed production. Thus, regulating planting time under congenial growing
environment can significantly enhance the quality of seed production.