Native to Mediterranean countries calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a genus of about 20 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae. Calendula bloom constantly throughout the growing season, and provides a spectacular display of light yellow to deep orange blooms from spring until frost. Calendula is one of the earliest cultivated flowers known. In European countries people have been cultivating this plant since the 12th century, and in ancient Greece the flower petals were mainly used for decoration purpose. This plant is also known to be used in ancient Indian and Arabic cultures. Around the Mediterranean, calendulas have been grown, eaten and used medicinally since prehistoric times. The word (Calendula) is extracted from the Latin word (calendae), which means (little calendar), mainly due to its promptness in blossoming on the beginning of the calendar month.
Calendula flower has been used in Mediterranean countries since at least the 12th century, and was first discovered growing in Mediterranean, although it now grows all over the world, this amazing flower is very adaptable and tolerates a variety of environments, and now it's cultivated worldwide as a popular plant in home gardens for its medicinal proprieties. In addition, the presence of calendula flower in the garden may help repel insect pests, and calendula roots benefit the soil by forming active relationships with soil fungi. Having calendula flowers in your garden can be a source of pleasure, as it attracts bees for pollination and keeps harmful insects away from other plants.
Calendula Varieties
There are approximately twenty different varieties of Calendula, and all of them ranging from light orange to yellow, and most Calendula flower varieties have an aromatic scent. You can buy calendula seeds as mixes so that you could have single, double, yellow, and orange flowers all together in the same row.
Calendula is a short, aromatic herbaceous perennial, typically grows 1-2’ tall.
The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, hairy on both sides, and with margins entire or occasionally waved.
The lower leaves are broad and spatula shaped, the upper leaves may be oblong, they are smooth at the edges and are arranged alternately along the stem.
The flowers and leaves are bitter tasting, they are edible and may be added fresh or dried to soups, salads for both flavor and color.
How to Grow Calendula
Calendula is fast-growing annual that is easy to grow and simple to care for. It is a satisfying choice for beginning gardeners that quickly rewards with fast and generous crops of showy flowers.
Growing Calendula From Seed:
Seeds Description:
The seeds vary quite a bit in shape and color. Some seeds are more tightly curved, while others are shaped more on the order of a crescent moon.
Calendula can be sown directly in the garden in spring after the last frost has passed.
Calendula does prefer fertile, organic, well-drained soil. If you want to have a lot of calendula flowers keep this in mind when you sow or plant them outdoors. They will grow in partial sun these Mediterranean plants love sun shine
Prepare a garden bed by adding some organic compost, and work well the soil.
Use your hand or a hand trowel to dig a small hole, and drop some seeds.
Cover the seeds with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil, tamp down gently, and water thoroughly.
Calendula seeds germinate best at between 15-25C (59-77F). Seeds should germinate within a week.
You can thin the seedlings when they have one or two sets of true leaves, and leave 2 or 3 seedlings.
Transplant the others in a sunny spot, in containers, or you can offer them to your friends.
When all danger of frost has passed, and calendula seedlings have at least two sets of true leaves, About 7 days before planting your plants outdoors, help acclimate them to temperatures, sunlight, and wind. This is the process of hardening off, or gradually acclimating your new plants to outdoor conditions. These plants have spent their short lives in a warm, sunny, protected place and won't fare well if you don't expose them slowly to the elements. Before you intend to plant, put your calendula transplants outdoors in an area where they'll be protected from the direct sunlight and wind. Leave them out for a few hours and bring them back inside. Repeat this each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they're outside and the degree of exposure to sun and wind. Gradual exposure helps your plants toughen up and reduces the possibility of injury. With proper hardening off, they’ll have an easier transition to the garden and begin flowering sooner. After hardening off, transplant the seedlings, five to ten inches apart, in a garden bed amended with organic compost.
Always keep seedlings moist and weed-free until well established. Your Calendula plants begin blooming about 50 days after germination.
Calendula flowers are typically "5-7" cm in diameter and held on thick, sturdy stems. Blossoms may be single or double and come in a range of colors from light yellow to orange and have a strong and distinctive scent. As the plants enlarge, pinch back leggy stems to encourage bushy growth, and deadhead spent blossoms to ensure a continuous display of color throughout the growing season.
You can feed every 3 weeks with Organic Flowers Liquid fertilizer to promote healthy leaf growth, strong root development and lots of flowers.
Calendula Caring Tips
Add a mulch of composted manure when the plants are an inch or two tall. Don’t cover the base of the plant but put the mulch up to within an inch of it. Mulch will keep the soil moist, spesialy in hot season, and stop weeds from growing around your calendula flowers.
Calendula requires very little care. I advise when growing these lovely flowers is to not mess with them too much, other than picking the flowers, and watering as they need. It’s always over-watering and over-feeding that will cause stunted growth and other issues.
Harvesting Calendula Flowers
Calendula flowers are edible and can be used fresh in many ways. Harvesting can begin with the first blooms of the season and continue throughout the warm season and into fall. You can harvest the flowers by simply plucking them easily off the stem. If you don’t want all the flower-less stems sticking up, just clip the stem back to the main stalk, your hands will be very sticky after picking Calendula flowers. They are very resinous, which is exactly what you want for good medicine making! Be sure to harvest the flowers on a dry, sunny day and preferably before the strong heat of the day.
How to Collect Calendula Seeds
Calendula are seed producers and will self-seed around the area they’re growing. The seeds are very easy to collect and once you’ve made the initial investment of seeds you shouldn’t need to buy them again. The seeds will fall off on their own, sometimes they stay on until they are brown and dried, and sometimes they fall while still green. The trick is to collect the seeds when the plant is ready to release them before wind, rain, or they fall off alone.
Calendula Insects and Disease
Insects and disease are not typically a problem for calendula. In fact, the flower may be helpful for deterring many insect pests, making it a good companion plant for vegetable gardens.
Watch Calendula The Amazing Flower Video
Now that you’ve learned how to grow calendula flowers, give it a try and grow your own and take advantage of their health benefits and long-lasting blooms!
Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends!
Happy Organic Gardening
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