Growing Calendula is one of those easy and pleasurable gardening occupations. Unless of course the snails eat all your seedlings, but all is not lost even then, as we shall see later!
Firstly let us be sure we are talking about the same flowering plant, a popular bedding plant sold as marigold.
You may know that there are different types of marigolds, or you may not, so a quick clarification should be helpful. There is the Tagetes species, also known as French marigold (also other common names). And then there is the one we’re discussing here, Calendula officinalis, frequently called pot marigold and Scotch marigold in the United Kingdom. But it also has the following common names, one or more of which may make you say “Ah! That flower!”
- golds
- Jack-on-horseback
- marybuds
- Mary’s gold
- ruddles
- souvenir
The name marigold is obviously derived from Mary’s gold, and is said to relate to the Virgin Mary. Whereas the genus name Calendula comes from a Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning “little calendar” or “little clock” – referring to the flowers habit of opening at dawn and closing at dusk.
What is Calendula?
Whilst the genus Calendula may be annual, biennial or perennial, pot marigolds are hardy annuals across most of Britain. Native to warmer areas of Europe, growing Calendula in British gardens as a pot herb was happening as early as the eleventh century.
Pot herbs were basically plants grown or foraged ‘for the pot’, that is to be cooked and eaten. Flowers, leaves and roots were all used. Pot marigold derives from this early usage rather than from the modern use as a bedding plant for patio containers during the summer.
The leaves are strongly aromatic, although its not a scent for everyone. Orange is the species flower colour, but a range of cultivars have given us a choice of orange shades, yellows, peach tones and creams as well.
Growing Calendula officinalis
Calendula officinalis is easily grown from seed, sown either in the spring or in the autumn. Sowing in both seasons will increase the flowering period as the plants mature at different times during the spring and summer. Indeed I have known self sown seedlings from an early flower grow quickly enough to be flowering in early autumn the same year. If the weather is amenable, I have even had Calendula blooming in October from a late July / early August sowing.
The seeds can be sown in situ where you want them to grow, in seed trays or in pots.
They prefer a light soil, with a neutral to alkaline pH. If you have a heavy soil and a poor germination rate, try sowing in pots / trays / modules and transplanting the marigolds as small plants.
For those with a less nutritious soil, you’ll be pleased to know that marigolds aren’t fussy, and if anything are more floriferous in a poorer soil.
Pests and diseases
Growing Calendula is relatively painless.
Although slugs and snails will eat seedlings, they usually leave you some. If grown in groups its easy enough to use a barrier method such as used coffee grounds to restrict the snails’ access to young plants.
Other pests such as aphids are a bother for some gardeners. Spraying with soapy water can remove them, or encourage ladybirds (less effort and extra flowers!)
Organic gardening is about balancing pests and predators, and we shouldn’t mind some aphids and even gastropods if it means the predators stay in our garden and keep the numbers down to manageable levels.
Powdery mildew, a fungal infection, may be an issue in a wet summer. Remove dead leaves and send to the council waste (I always recommend getting infected plants off site, the council have access to higher temperatures when composting which kills off infections that we’re not able to in our home composting bins).
Where to grow pot marigold in your garden
A shorter list would be places where not to grow Calendula officinalis! Types or styles of garden it suits are predominantly but not exclusively –
- Wildlife gardens
- Cottage gardens
- Kitchen gardens
- Vegetable gardens
- Herb gardens
- Orchards
Informal garden styles generally Although orange Calendula officinalis can also look stunning in tall black pots within a formal setting
As marigolds are excellent summer bedding plants, you may like to grow them in –
- Courtyard gardens
- Patio pots and containers
- Window boxes
- Edging for flower borders
- Carpet bedding schemes
And of course wherever you grow Calendula officinalis, you’re providing food for pollinating insects such as wild bees and honey bees.
Growing Calendula officinalis for its usefulness
Not just a pretty flower! You can use marigolds as: –
- Companion planting
- As a medicinal herb
- In the cutting garden
- For an edible flower
- As a cosmetic herb
- For dying fabrics
Companion planting
In the kitchen garden (and I’m using the term widely to encompass however and wherever you’re growing your vegetables and salad crops) calendula will lure aphids away from peas, beans and tomatoes. Cucumbers, carrots and asparagus also benefit from calendula growing nearby.
Whether its in the vegetable patch or near your roses, marigolds attract beneficial insects, including ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies, which prey on aphids.
Medicinal herb
Flowers were used in ancient Greek, Roman, Middle Eastern, and Indian cultures as a medicinal herb, as well as They are also used to make oil that protects the skin.
Marigold leaves can also be made into a poultice that is believed to help scratches and shallow cuts to heal faster, and to help prevent infection. It has also been used in eye drops
Cut flower garden
Growing Calendula officinalis as a companion plant in the cutting garden does help to reduce aphids. But they also make delightful and colourful informal posies for country weddings and alfresco meals.
Edible flower
Pot marigold flowers and leaves are edible. The flowers are often used to add colour to salads and cakes, both with the dish or as a garnish.
The leaves are edible but are not particularly palatable raw. Young leaves chopped up small can be used in salads, but if I prefer to add them in small quantities to casseroles and pasta sauces where the taste is less noticeable but the health benefits are still available!
Calendula flowers are also used as a herbal tea.
Cosmetic herb
The freshly dried flower heads can be used in a shampoo for blonde hair, to make a soothing skin lotion, or added directly to your bath. They’re also used in pot pourri.
Plant dye
The flower petals can be turned in to a dye to colour fabrics, foods, and cosmetics yellow.
and finally
Once they decide they’re happy in your garden, Calendula will self seed. Always pick or at least deadhead the earlier blooms to though, to encourage more flowers. Let the later ones run to seed for you to collect and for the plant to self sow.
If you would like help with growing Calendula officinalis and other companion planting in your vegetable garden or growing edible flowers, why not get in touch? Plews is able to offer you Gardening Lessons, Garden Design, Planting Design, Garden Consultancy Visit, to suit your needs. Please check out relevant pages on the website for more details
And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below – You could come and find us on Instagram and Facebook too!
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