you dont need advice.. your asking for a complete thesis ...

where are you ... and how long before your plants can go outside??? ..you want to have 2 to 3 inch plants.. ready to go outside.. to harden off and go in mother earth ...

we used to grow them in milk cartons back in elementary school 50 years ago ... about the simplest plant to learn with ...

sterilize some media ... sow seeds ... add light.. let near dry ... etc ...

the only question left.. is what kind of light system do you have ...

ken

ps: save some seed to direct sow directly in the garden ....

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peruse the link.. to get a basis of info.. from which you can narrow down your issues ..

https://www.google.com/search?q=growing+marigolds.+I+would+like+to+know+when+to+start+germanation+indoors&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=growing+marigolds+indoors&*

Try this one. How to Grow Marigolds - Gardening Tips and Advice, Annual Flowers at Burpee.com - CAN I GROW MARIGOLDS?

Ryan, do you have a true marigold (Tagetes) or a true Calendula? They are in the same genus.

Small point - same family, Asteraceae, but different genus.

start now! window boxes are good, you can use anything really - small yogurt containers are my go to. Throw in some potting soil. Plant the seed an inch deep then water well and place in a sunny location at room temperature. Water every few days until they germinate and then after.

Some crackerjack seedlings that sprouted in Feb. They can withstand cooler temps for sure.

Are you talking Marigolds or Calendula. They are 2 separate plants although somewhat similar in appearance.

Calendula is a cool season plant and can be planted early. It germinates when the soil temperature is 65 degrees so it can be planted outside in early spring. I often just spread the seed around in the fall and it comes up in the spring.

Marigolds are not as hardy but they will take a light frost.

Start both about 6 weeks before you want to set them outside. Be sure to harden them off if they are started indoors

Do you cover the seeds? I would like to try to grow them as well.

I wintersowed my calendula here in zone 5 and they are sprouting already. Very easy. I think they do better when wintersown than indoors anyway.

Yes, Calendula is a hardy annual that can be direct sown outdoors. Tagetes, in my climate at least, has to be started inside.

Then I am tempted to switch from marigolds to calendula... but can I get the billowing, cascading effect I love with the latter? Are calendula stiffer?

Look at some pictures. The two plants are entirely different in leaf, flower and habit. To my taste Tagetes looks stiff and artificial. I would not have described them as ' billowing.' They vary in height from a couple of inches to several feet. Calendula is more like a bright double daisy in effect on a lax plant.