Are they in a greenhouse or in the open? The garden soil is exceptionally dry at the moment, so it could just be that. It is odd though, as usually they are prolific.

Hi Sheilabub, they're in my polytunnel and I'm watering the seed tray so it doesn't dry out. I really haven't a clue on where it's all going wrong!

How deep are you planting them? The seeds like to be close to the surface.

Some are on the surface, some are lightly covered with compost. I may have to give up for the second year running and hopefully be able to buy some (waiting for the nurseries to reopen).

It may be a temperature problem- Tagetes likes a soil temperature of 21-24 degC to germinate and grow. Whilst your polytunnel might get very warm during sunny days, it probably cools off too much at nights and on non sunny days. Further info below

https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/marigolds-tagetes

Thanks Bamboo - I'll see where I can place the trays in warmer areas in the hope that they will eventually germinate. Thanks for the link as well!

I've never got them to germinate for me either and I pop them in a propagator so they are at the supposedly right temperature.

I;ve only germinated Tagetes once, years and years ago, but I had a small electric propagator that supplied bottom heat.... never bothered again, they;re not my favourite annuals and it was too much faffing about!

Yes, I'm growing marigolds from seeds, from last year's plants and from a new seed packet. I start them in the house on the kitchen window sill and plant them out when they reach a few inches. Whenever I direct sow them, birds come along and gobble up all the seeds and I wonder what happened. Warm temperatures, damp, not soggy, bright light, sterile seed starter mix. I grow them as work plants. They get rid of nematodes and fumigate my vegetable bed.

You might want to find a southern exposure and sow the seeds in late June. Once up, they grow and bloom very quickly.

Thank you everyone! I've moved my trays indoors for now. Fingers crossed!