How to grow Calendula

Where to plant

Calendula grows easily in any well drained soil in full sun, including sandy Florida ground. It flowers almost continuously until a heavy frost, but plants languish in long spells of hot summer weather and usually recover when it cools.

In Florida, the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California, sow from fall through late winter for flowers in the cool season. In the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, sow in late winter to spring and again in late summer. Across the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, sow directly just before the last frost, or start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks earlier, and sow again in midsummer for fall color.

Choosing a variety

Pacific Beauty is a tall, long stemmed mix for cutting, and Flashback Mix gives double and semi double flowers in pastel and bright shades. Bon Bon and Citrus Cocktail are compact types for pots and edging. Resina is a resin rich type grown by herbalists for salves.

How to plant

1. Use fresh seed, as calendula seed loses viability in storage.
2. Sow a quarter to half an inch (6 to 12 mm) deep. Unlike many flowers, calendula germinates best in darkness, so cover the seed.
3. Keep the soil moist. Seedlings appear in 5 to 15 days.
4. Thin to about 10 inches (25 cm) apart so air can move between plants.
5. When plants are several inches tall, pinch the tips to make them bushier.
6. Sow again every few weeks for a longer show.

Watering and feeding

Water moderately, when the top inch of soil dries out, and water at the base to keep the leaves dry, which helps prevent powdery mildew.

Go easy on fertilizer. The University of Wisconsin notes calendula flowers best when it is not heavily fed.

Pruning and care through the year

• Deadhead regularly to keep new flowers coming.
• If you leave some flowers to set seed, calendula reseeds, though not aggressively.
• Space plants well and avoid wetting the leaves to reduce mildew.
• Plants often languish in long hot spells and recover when it cools; in the South, sow fresh seed in fall instead of nursing summer plants.

Picking flowers and petals

Pick whole flowers or just the petals when the flowers are fully open, after any dew has dried. Use fresh petals in salads or as a garnish. Young leaves are edible too but bitter.

To dry, spread the petals or whole flower heads in a well ventilated place out of direct sun, then store them in sealed jars.

Growing in pots

Compact types such as Bon Bon suit pots at least 8 inches (20 cm) wide and window boxes. Use a free draining mix, keep the pot in full sun and deadhead often.