1. Test soil pH by soil pH tester or sent to soil laboratory. Most marigold grow well with a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
2. Test soil fertilizer by soil NPK test kit or sent to soil laboratory.
3. Sent to soil laboratory for check soil born disease or check plant disease from last crop.

Soil pH tester

Test soil fertilizer by soil NPK test kit

Check soil born disease

Plowing soil at roughly with tractor at 40-45 cm depth. A week later, till the soil  with 7 discs tiller. Till tine by rotary tiller for finer soil that facilitate better gas exchange and water drainage.  Then set up bed by walking tractor

Soil pH tester

Test soil fertilizer by soil NPK test kit

Check soil born disease

1. Apply dolomite, rice husk and fertilizer over entire flower bed for soil fertility and pH balance.
2. Recommended size of marigold bed:
Depth : 25-30 cm depend on soil texture and irrigation system. For furrow system should be deeper
Width : 70-80 cm surface and 90-100 cm at basal.
Walking path between 30-40 cm width for convenience in harvesting stage.
3. Cover the bed with plastic mulch to prevent and reduce weed growth.
4. Piece the hole on plastic mulch. The holes diameter is about 5 inch. the spacing is depend on variety type .
    Recommended spacing

    Tall variety:             45 x 45 cm  (or 55 x 55 cm for rainy season)
    Semi-Tall variety:   45 x 45 cm (or 35 x 35 cm for winter)
    Dwarf variety :        35 x 35 cm

Cover the bed with mulching plastic

Piece the hole on mulching plastic for dwarf type