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.
Sangmesh et al. (2025) studied this question.