How to Grow Calendula

Let’s dive into this incredible companion plant and explore how to grow Calendula and what to make with it! Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a hardy edible flower that has many beneficial uses both in the garden and in the home. Calendula is easy to grow and if left to go to seed, will pop up each year in your garden with bright pops of colour.

Calendula has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties great for making healing teas, balms and lotions.

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What parts of the Calendula are edible?

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Quick Tips on How to Grow Calendula

PLANT

Autumn – Spring. Mild summers can grow all year round.

SOIL

Grows well in most soil types.

LOCATION

Full sun – part shade position

CARE

Consistent watering.

FERTILISE

Doesn’t require feeding.

PESTS

Slaters, slugs, aphids, snails, green caterpillars.

HARVEST

Harvest young leaves fresh and flowers once fully open.

REPRODUCE

Seeds can be saved once the petals have fallen and the flower has dried off.

Why Grow Calendula?

Calendula is an edible that provides flowers for the bees they look beautiful and ornamental in the garden.

Here are some of the many reasons to grow Calendula:

Easy to grow
Flowers for the bees
Natural pest management
Low maintenance
Edible flowers
Can be used raw or cooked
Edible leaves
Healing and medicinal qualities
Protects soil
Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal
Natural food colouring or dye
High in vitamin A&C
Cut flowers
Chicken coop health

Popular Calendula Varieties

‘Pink Surprise’ – Large double-layer petals with a peachy colour.

‘Double Red’ – Large double-layered petals with a deep orange colour.

‘Golden Emperor‘ – Large single-petal flowers. Daisy-like flower with bright yellow colour.

‘Balls improved orange‘ – Large double orange flowers.

‘Pacific Apricot’ – Large double-petal light yellow-peach flowers.

When to Plant Calendula

Calendula can be sown at the end of summer or autumn. It can grow all year round in some locations that have mild summers.

How to Grow Calendula

Choose a sunny location.
Plant seeds directly in the soil or in seed trays.
Plant seeds or seedlings 1 hand width apart
Protect young seedlings from slugs and snails but adding a ring of crushed eggshells
Add mulch to retain moisture

Care/ Maintenance

Calendula is a hardy, easy-to-grow plant. Harvest flowers regularly once petals are open to encourage more blooms.

Pests / Disease

Slugs and snails may eat young seedlings. Use natural pest management. Caterpillars can eat the leaves and flowers. Calendula can become a “trap” for pests and this will keep them away from your other plants.

How/ When to Harvest Calendula

The best time to harvest flowers and most vegetables is early in the morning, while the plants are hydrated. Wait until the flowers have opened usually once the sun is out. For medicinal uses, dry the flower with the green central structure attached, as that is where a lot of the healing properties are.

Reproducing

Wait until the flowers start to die off, their petals will fall and the seeds will start to form at the centre of the flower. Once they start to go brown and dry you can pick the flower and allow it to dry inside. Calendula self-seeds easily. If you would like to have flowers pop up in your garden next year, allow the seeds to dry on the plant and fall onto the soil. Once you know what calendula leaves look like you will be able to identify volunteer plants next year and dig up seedlings to spread around your garden.

Cooking and Using Calendula

Calendula flowers and leaves can be eaten raw or used in baking and home products.

Calendula ideas:

Fresh in salad
Cake decoration
Fresh in Ricepaper rolls
Calendula oil
Calendula salve
Baking
Jams
Eco dye
First aid
Garnish
Calendula Salt
Calendula Sugar
Teas
Infused Honey
Lip balm
Infused cheese or butter

NOTE: Calendula is not suitable for those who are pregnant or trying to conceive, as it may affect menstruation. Or those who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family.

Preserving the Harvest

Calendula can be easily preserved to use throughout the year.

Dried
Infused oils and balms
Salts and sugars

Other uses

Calendula petals can be sprinkled in chicken bedding to help reduce ticks and bacteria. They can also be incorporated into their food which can make the egg yolks a deeper yellow colour.