Calendula (Marigolds)
Calendula
Calendula is a part of the daisy family and is commonly known as marigold. Recent breeding successes have resulted in a greater variety of colors and longer stems, allowing for the flowers to become more fashionable and usable as cut flowers. Requiring only 60 days to mature and due to their cut-and-come again prolific nature, these flowers make an excellent choice for cut flower gardens. Calendula the word derives from the Latin form of calendar and means “little clock.” Some strains of the plant have medicinal and culinary uses.
Zone: Annual in all zones. Perennial in zones 9 and above.
Type: Annual
Site: Full Sun
DaystoMaturity: 60
Height: 18-20”
PlantSpacing:
Startindoors: 4-6 weeks before last frost, start seeds in trays indoors. Transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed. Succession plant at 2-3 week intervals to stagger harvest.
Directsow: Can direct sow after all danger of frost has passed. Succession plant at 2-3 week intervals to stagger harvest.
Pinch: when 8” tall
Harvest: Pick flowers during the coolest part of the day and when they are half way opened. Keep in water with flower food for an expected vase life of 6-7 days.
Where to buy:
For trendy and newer color choices including mauve, bronze and traditional cream, orange and yellow. Seeds from this site tend to sell out quickly:
https://shop.floretflowers.com/search?q=calendula&post_type=product
For super high-quality, brighter and more traditional color strains. The only drawback of purchasing seeds from this site is the $10 per order shipping fee:
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/search/?q=calendula&lang=en_US