An field experiment was conducted to study the effect of planting dates and pinching levels on growth, flowering in African marigold cv. Arkaagni under open condition. The experiment was laid out with twelve treatment combinations at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2017 - 2018, with four planting dates and three levels of pinching. 2nd fortnight of October planting resulted in more plant spread, primary and secondary branches per plant and also increased several floral characters like flower diameter, number and weight of flowers per plant and yield per hectare. Shoot pinching at 32 days after planting improved plant spread, number of leaves, as well as weight of flowers per plant, diameter, number of flowers per plant and yield of flowers per hectare. Interaction effect of 2nd fortnight of October planting with double pinching was found beneficial in improving flower yield per hectare. | Studies on the effect of planting dates and levels of pinching on growth flowering and yield in marigold Tagetes erecta cv. Arka Agni
