If you have a window sill you could grow their until it's warm enough to plant out.

Was speaking to a proper nurseryman today and he was up in arms about garden centres and supermarkets selling these packs of marigolds. He reckons they will definately die if planted out now as chances are they will get a touch of frost then the early morning sun ''defrosts'' them too quickly and they cant cope with it. He was up in arms about it because these places are killing his trade as amatuer gardeners then think they are no good at gardening and then don't visit places such as his. He only sells when his plants are good and ready and properly hardened off to ensure his customers return due to the good quality of his plants. Take heed - we are all too impatient ( me included - but he wouldn't sell me anything yet )

I support our local garden centre and will not buy any at this time of year.

Well said Gateshead

Crikey, i haven't even thought about sowing my marigold seed yet. Going to be at least another 2 wseeks !!!!!!

Hi, it's because the supermarkets, and such place, want you to buy now, even though they know that it's too early, because they want you to go back and buy some more in mid april, when you've lost the first lot, and back again when you lose the second lot, the time to buy bedding plants, if you haven't got a greenhouse to grow them on in, is middle to the end of may, when you can plant them straight out into the garden without any problem, Derek.

So very true Derek.

But there are many folks who see bit of sunshine they want to plant the plants in their garden then when theŷ die wonder why.

That's very true Kath, Derek.

My old mum used to work in a shop that sold plants early in the year and then the same variety again a bit later. The owner used to say "them firsts are for the fools and them laters are for the gardeners."

O.K. thanks for all the replies. I will hold off buying the early plants.