Planting time and spacing effects on marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) NK1 orange: a comprehensive study in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Marigolds are widely valued for their ornamental beauty and versatility in landscaping, yet optimal horticultural practices for their cultivation under specific local agro-climatic conditions still need to be determined. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of cultivation time and spacing on growth, flower yield, and flowering duration of Marigolds. A field experiment was conducted on the marigold NK1 orange variety based on a factorial randomized block design. The planting times were February 4th (P1), February 21st (P2), and March 8th (P3), while the spacings were 30 cm × 30 cm (S1), 30 cm × 45 cm (S2), 45 cm × 45 cm (S3), and 45 cm × 60 cm (S4). The P2 treatment significantly (p