Calendula: growing from seed, when to plant? This is a question many gardeners ask. Incidentally, the more common name for this flower is "marigold." They can be found in many gardens, but for annual planting, it's helpful to know when to collect the seeds.
Brief information about marigolds
Although the plant's native land is Asia and Southern Europe, calendula has long been a natural choice in our region. These flowers are even grown in regions of the country where the climate is cool even in summer.
The flowers are small and somewhat daisy-like. They are brightly colored, with a center that always matches the petals. Calendula will look beautiful in a stand-alone flowerbed or as a complement to an alpine garden. Growing this plant from seed is easy, but it's important to know: calendula: growing from seed, when to plant seedlings. Useful information for gardeners Fertile zodiac signs for sowing in 2015.
We collect seeds ourselves
For your first planting, you can buy calendula seeds at a flower shop. However, if you're already successfully growing marigolds in your garden, there's no point in wasting money on seeds: you can collect them yourself. Seed collection is done in late summer or early fall.
The best time to harvest seeds is August-September because the marigolds have already completely finished blooming, leaving only the core. The seedling itself is no longer green, but brown. The cores are easy to remove, and then they need to be dried. A regular cardboard box is suitable for drying, and the dried seeds can be stored in a paper envelope in a dry place until spring.
How to plant calendula flowers
Calendula: growing from seeds and when to plant (photo) seem clear. This should be done in the spring. Moreover, marigolds are frost-resistant, so they can even withstand temperatures down to -5°C (-42°F) outdoors. You can choose one of the following methods for planting calendula:
- Planting in open ground. Planting can be done in October or as early as April. Spring is, of course, the best time to plant marigolds. Hold a lump of soil in your fist, throw it a meter high, and check: if the lump falls to the ground and disintegrates, the soil has thawed sufficiently and is ready to plant the seeds. First, dig the soil and add a good amount of humus (three kilograms per square meter). Then dig the soil, level it, and sow the calendula in rows. Plant the seeds no deeper than 2 cm; planting them deeper will simply reduce the germination rate of the marigolds in your garden. Leave a distance of 30 cm between rows. The first green shoots will be visible within a week, and after 11 days, you'll know exactly what the final germination rate of your current planting is.
- The seeds are planted for seedlingsThis method is more labor-intensive than planting calendula directly from seeds. However, planting prepared seedlings in the ground will result in earlier flowering. Seedlings are especially suitable for low-growing marigold varieties. Seeds should be sown as early as March (for some varieties, it's recommended to wait until April). They can be planted in boxes or separate mounds, maintained at a room temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. The seeds will germinate within a week. You can transplant indoor seedlings into open ground once they have about five fully developed leaves.
Now you have all the information you need about calendula: growing from seed, when to plant, and how. All that's left is to choose the best spot for your calendula and remember to provide proper care.
The best place for planting and proper care
Marigolds love light, but they don't tolerate heat well. If the lighting isn't right, the calendula will bloom with small buds and for a very short time. Therefore, the best location is partial shade with fertile soil. Marigolds love moisture, so the soil needs to be not only watered regularly but also loosened. If the summer is dry, the calendula will need to be watered up to three times a day, otherwise it will simply die.
Also, remember to promptly remove faded buds to ensure lush and long-lasting blooms. Don't throw away the blooms, as they are used in folk medicine as an effective remedy.
The most common diseases affecting outdoor calendula are powdery mildew, white spot, and black spot. Special treatments are used to combat these diseases, but only after the marigolds have finished blooming.
Calendula: growing from seedsEvery gardener should know when to plant marigolds. Marigolds thrive in moisture, partial shade, and nutritious soil. Remember that this plant is considered a medicinal plant. You can simply grow it near strawberries, onions, or garlic to repel insect pests and increase the yield of these crops.