CALENDULA
Calendula Officinalis
The Calendula (also called Marigold) is spectacular from spring to autumn thanks to its generous flowering which is constantly renewed. This variety offers beautiful inflorescences in yellow, cream and orange colors. Calendula is also a plant that has many medicinal properties both anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous, antioxidant, analgesic and moisturizing. Finally, we will remember that the marigold is one of the easiest flowers to grow but also among the most floriferous from spring to autumn.
PERIOD
Calendula is one of the easiest flowers to grow. Sowing takes place directly in place. No need to pot it and plant it later. However, beware if the location contains a lot of weeds, this may prevent growth. You can sow them from April to May without any problem.
LOCATION
Plant it in sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. Regular garden soil mixed with potting soil is ideal. Avoid soils that are too heavy and too compact, which retain humidity to the detriment of the plant.
SOW
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Choose a sunny but not hot spot.
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Sow on the fly with a light hand.
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Cover the seedlings by crumbling a thin layer of potting soil.
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Water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist.
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Once the seedlings are well formed, thin out to keep only the most vigorous ones every 25-30 cm
The marigold has the particularity of hunting many insects which are parasites in the garden and vegetable patch such as aphids. We like to sow a few marigold seeds in the heart of the vegetable garden to protect the vegetables against parasites.
MAINTAIN
Very easy to grow, Calendula requires very little maintenance. Once well established, it is not very greedy in water and can be content with a copious watering per week in the ground if the heat is not overwhelming. In pots, evaporation being faster, it will be necessary to water the marigold more often and to add some fertilizer to see it bloom longer and more abundantly. We can if we wish to remove faded flowers in order to stimulate the appearance of new flowers but this gesture is not essential. Calendula fears frost and does not grow back from one year to another. However, you can shake the faded plants in order to spread the seeds which will certainly be able to gratify you with a new flowering the following year.
A LITTLE LEXICON OF THE GARDENER
A sowing (to sow) | A seedling (to plant)
When you sow seeds you get seedlings. Sowing is done in small pots indoors (or in a greenhouse outdoors). Once the plant has grown enough, several weeks later, we are talking about a plant that can be planted in the ground to complete its growth.
When and how to sow?
Most of the seeding takes place between February and April, when nature wakes up. Sowing is usually done at this time. Sow your seeds in small containers placed indoors (or in a greenhouse outdoors), in the light, with soil always slightly moist. You will then see your plants appear. When the outside temperatures are above 10 degrees at night, you can place your plants directly in the ground.
NOTE: When the temperature allows it, you can also sow directly in the ground (without sowing indoors), however this will delay flowering, since you cannot do this step before May-June, depending on the regions and the vagaries of the weather.
Sowing in a pocket: Place several seeds in a hole.
Sowing on the fly: Spread the seeds as evenly as possible over the entire area to be sown.