If you are looking for a unique annual flower with gorgeous long-lasting blooms, then you need to try your hand at growing calendula. What makes calendula unique is that it is also edible. Both leaves and flowers can be used for cooking, and many people like them in fresh salads.
We will tell you how to grow calendula flower, about planting and care in the open ground, sowing seeds for seedlings, how to collect and dry flowers.
Actually, calendula is classified as an herbaceous perennial plant. But in most climates it is grown as a flowering annual. And her blooms can be strong and long!
In this day and age, when many gardeners are tired of using the same annual flowers every year, calendula is a fresh update. Also known as potted marigolds, it is great for growing in flowerbeds as well as in containers and baskets.
Calendula: plant description
Calendula's thick green foliage and its daisy-like flowers bring a touch of style and color to any space.
Although calendula prefers a sunny location, it can tolerate partial shade. This is just one of the qualities that make them fit perfectly into any site.
There are varieties of calendula with yellow, orange, pink and cream flowers, which undoubtedly gives them an amazing color. The plant combines well with other annuals and perennials.
When planted directly in the bed, most varieties grow to 30-60 cm in height. Potted plants grow a little smaller, but still fill the entire foliage with a blanket of flowers.
Planting calendula
Calendula grows quickly from seed. In fact, the plant can emerge from seed and bloom in as little as 8 weeks.
Seeds can be grown through seedlings and planted once the threat of frost has passed. But it's unlikely you'll want to mess around with seedlings of annuals.
Because of the quick period from sowing to flowering, calendula is easier to sow directly into the bed.
Let the soil warm up a little and sow the seeds as soon as the night temperature does not fall below +10°C, around May.
Although calendula can grow in poor soils, it prefers loose, fertile soil for maximum flowering and growth.
When planting calendula in flowerbeds, a generous amount of compost should be added to the planting hole to provide nutrients for the plant.
How to sow calendula:
- For sowing, shallow furrows are prepared on a pre-digged and cleaned of weeds.
- Seeds are distributed evenly in the furrows, leaving a distance of 5 - 6 cm between them. The distance between the rows should be 30 - 40 cm.
- Sprinkle the crops with a layer of soil 3 - 4 cm high and water them with warm water from a watering can with a shower nozzle.
- As they grow (usually 15 - 30 days after the appearance of the first seedlings), such crops are thinned, leaving only the strongest bushes. After such a procedure, the flowers should be located at a distance of about 15 cm from each other. You can transplant the remaining weak shoots after thinning to another plot.
Care and maintenance of calendula
Care for calendula in the open ground is completely undemanding.
Watering calendula
Keep the soil evenly moist, but not waterlogged, for the first 2 to 3 weeks after sprouting.
Once the plants are established in the bed, they rarely need watering unless in very dry or arid conditions.
Containerized marigold plants require more frequent watering, but make sure the soil dries out completely between waterings.
Pruning calendula
At a young age, pinching back the top shoots by a few centimeters will promote the formation of thick and sturdy foliage.
This will also help the calendula to fill the entire canopy with flowers, as it will make it more compact.
Mulching calendula
Mulching calendula will help to contain the growth of competing weeds, but mulch should be placed a few centimeters away from the main stem to avoid rotting. Straw or grass clippings can be used as mulch.
Fertilizing calendula
Calendula does not require large doses of additional nutrients to ensure continuous flowering.
Moreover, in sufficiently rich and well-drained soils, the plant does very well without any additional fertilization.
A light monthly dose of an all-purpose fertilizer is more than enough for a full bloom.
A simple top dressing with fresh compost can also be used to provide the plant with slow-release nutrients.
Removing wilting marigold flower heads
If anything can prevent calendula from blooming all summer long, it's leaving old flower heads on the plant. In order to maintain new blooms, fading flower heads must be removed regularly.
By staying put, the old flowers take valuable nutrients away from the plant. Nutrients that the plant needs to form new stems and bloom.
To maximize blooming, pinch or cut off old flowers and their peduncles every few days. Remove as many stems behind the flower as possible, right down to the leaf cover.
Saving calendula seeds
With simple fertilization and minimal care, calendula will bloom right up to the first frost.
Although technically calendula is a perennial, in most areas it may simply not survive the winter. So at the end of the season, the plants can be pulled and composted.
Calendula seeds can be easily saved to sow next season.
To save the seeds, simply leave a few late season blooms on the plant until they dry out.
When the flower heads are dry, simply cut off the inflorescence and remove the seeds by rubbing the head with your fingers.
Store the seeds in a cool, dark and dry place indoors and plant again the following spring.
Grow calendula in your garden and enjoy the incredible beauty of this unique and versatile herbaceous plant. It really is a great alternative for giving your flowerbeds or pots a new look!
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