Calendula

Planting calendula

Sow directly in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or start indoors 4 to 6 weeks early. Calendula tolerates light frost and slows down in summer heat.

Planting details

• Sow again in late summer where autumns are mild
• Spacing: 8 to 12 inches
• Seed depth: about 1/2 inch

Growing requirements

Calendula blooms best in cool weather with full sun and ordinary, well-drained soil. It is one of the few annuals that shrugs off light frost, which makes it useful at both ends of the season.

Harvesting and care

Deadhead often and plants keep flowering until a hard freeze. Let a few heads dry on the plant at season end for free seed.

Common mistakes

• Rich soil and heavy feeding, which favor leaves over flowers
• Expecting nonstop bloom through summer heat in warm climates
• Letting aphids settle in unchecked, since calendula attracts them

Companion plants

Calendula tucks along vegetable bed edges and between greens, where its blooms draw pollinators and the petals can go straight into salads.