The marigold (Calendula officinalis) has been a faithful and easy-care flowering and medicinal plant in many gardens in Central Europe for several centuries. Since the plant often enriches the garden with splashes of yellow and orange in the same location for years without the gardener's intervention, there is sometimes a lack of clarity about its winter hardiness.
Is marigold hardy?
The marigold (Calendula officinalis) is not hardy in Central Europe, it can only survive light frosts. Their winter hardiness comes from self-sowing the hardy seeds, which will bloom again the next year.
The origin of marigold
The marigold probably originally comes from the Mediterranean region, but also grows wild in Central Europe in rubble and gravel heaps as a result of forced cultivation in monasteries and private gardens for centuries. Since the positive he alth effects of calendula were discovered early on, it has long been grown as an attractive garden plant for consumption. However, the marigold has not been able to survive in the wild in Central Europe to this day because, contrary to often contradictory claims, it is a plant that is not hardy in Central Europe. The impression of a winter-hardy summer bloomer is due to the annual return of the plants to the same location, which results from the self-sowing of the winter-hardy seeds.
The marigold in the garden and on the balcony
Since the marigold can only survive very light frosts, it should only be grown outdoors when severe late and night frosts are no longer expected. However, the plants can be grown in the mini greenhouse (€239.00 at Amazon) on the balcony or on the windowsill and planted outdoors in May. So that the calendula can thrive on the balcony, it should be watered regularly in a sunny spot and planted with its taproots in a sufficiently deep planter. These robust plants bloom particularly magnificently and persistently if you regularly remove wilted flower heads or harvest freshly blossomed flower heads weekly during the summer season for use in the kitchen.
Propagate marigolds yourself
Marigolds are very easy to propagate yourself. To do this, ensure the following steps:
- let some flowers ripen with seeds after the flowering period
- Do not remove the seeds until they can be easily removed
- dry the seeds gently at room temperature and store away from moisture
You can then sow the seeds directly outdoors or grow them indoors; they usually germinate quickly and easily. Seeds that have fallen to the ground often sprout on their own in the pot or bed because they are hardy.
Tip
You can also take advantage of the natural healing properties of calendula during the winter months by drying the petals during flowering and brewing them as tea for internal use or preparing them as external oils and ointments.
