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Calendula, sometimes called pot marigold, is an annual herb grown for its edible leaves, stems and medicinal flowers. It thrives in full sun to partial shade on rich, well-drained soils.
Calendula blooms all season long; its yellow to orange blossoms open and close in response to the sun. Growing calendula from seed is simple. For optimal growth, plants need regular irrigation when they reach heights of 8 to 24 inches. When the plant fully blooms, gather the flower heads and utilise them fresh or dried.
The Calendula genus has 15 species, with C. officinalis being the most widely used. The majority of cultivars are decorative choices with single or double blooms that have centres that are a unique colour and range in colour from pale yellow to deep orange.
These are frequently used for decorative cooking and salad garnishing. Learn how to easily cultivate calendula to add beauty to your salads.
How To Grow Calendula?
Except for those who reside in hardiness zones 9 through 11, where it can be cultivated as a perennial, calendula is mainly an annual. Early spring, when the earth has warmed to 60°F, and the frost has passed, is the ideal time to plant calendula. Calendula plants should be planted 8 to 12 inches apart, with 18 inches separating rows to promote optimal airflow.
Because it draws helpful insects and pollinators like bumblebees and bees, calendula is a great companion plant for a vegetable garden. Butterflies adore the vibrant blossoms. Calendula goes well with carrots, potatoes, pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, and tomatoes as companion plants. Calendula goes well with flowering plants, including salvia, lavender, geranium, aster, roses, and mums.
Calendula Maintenance
Although calendula can withstand harsh conditions, it thrives in soil that drains well and is rich in nutrients. Although calendula is a plant that thrives in broad light, it is not a lover of extreme heat and will even begin to wilt in extreme heat. Calendula should receive regular watering until it becomes established. Once established, it requires little water or fertiliser (if planted in fertile soil, it needs no feeding).
Things To Keep In Mind While Calendula Planting
Light calendula usually likes full sun, but it can occasionally wither during the hottest months if it doesn't get any afternoon shade. The plant thrives in cooler weather and will flower more profusely in direct sunlight.
Soil
Calendula requires well-drained soil rich in organic matter, much like most daisy family members. Rotting roots can occur in dense, moist soils. Although it can withstand various soil pH values, this plant favours slightly acidic soil (6.0 to 7.0).
Water
Until the plants take root, water them often. Mature plants do well with sporadic irrigation only. When watering these plants, try not to use too much, but keep the soil damp.
Humidity And Temperature
In extremely hot locations, calendula may wither away by the end of summer since it likes mild summer temperatures. The plants will die in a strong cold. Mulch that is three to four inches thick helps shield plants from chilly weather.
Fertiliser
Calendula requires little nourishment. It doesn't need any extra feeding if planted in rich garden soil. A balanced, water-soluble fertiliser may be necessary for marginal soils, but overfeeding might cause the plants to become spindly and lanky. Every month, container plants need to be fertilised with a diluted, balanced fertiliser.
Harvesting Calendula
Calendula flowers and leaves can be used as edible flowers in salads and other cuisines, either fresh or dried. However, some people find the peppery taste to be a little bitter. Another application for the petals is to make a deep yellow dye.
Gather calendula blooms in the late morning, following dew drying. When flowers are completely open, harvest them. Arrange the chopped flower heads on a screen in a dry, shaded area to dry the flowers. When they are almost dry, turn them occasionally and store them in canning jars until needed.
Growing Calendula From Seed: A Guide
Direct seeding in the garden or in containers results in easily germinating and sprouting calendula plants, which are very simple to grow. The plants will easily self-seed in the garden, and you may preserve the seeds you harvest from the blossoms and put them elsewhere.
Leave the faded calendula flowers on the plant until the petals have wilted and fallen off and the remaining flower heads with the seeds have turned tan and become dry, rather than deadheading them in the late summer or early autumn. Gathering these seeds will let you start calendula plants from seed the next season.
Six to eight weeks before the latest day of frost, start calendula seeds indoors in a seed starter mix. Alternatively, you can plant them straight in the garden right before the final spring frost date.
Sow calendula seeds about 1/2 inch below the surface. After two months following seeding, the majority of plants blossom. These plants frequently self-seed; the seedlings should not be confused with weeds.
Till the seeds sprout, lightly water the seeds. Keep the soil moist once the plant has taken root.
Calendula: Planting and Repotting
Calendula is usually planted in pots, where it grows well, even though the word "pot" in the common name "pot marigold" relates to this plant's traditional use in cooking. Most cultivars, especially the shorter ones, grow nicely in containers.
Use any organic potting soil that drains well, or create your own using a ratio of half garden soil to half compost. This plant dislikes being moist, so ensure the pot has many drainage holes. Potted specimens require consistent fertiliser application and regular feeding.
