It is not without reason that the common or garden marigold (Calendula officinalis) is considered one of the most traditional flowering plants in farm and monastery gardens. After all, this plant not only blooms very persistently, it can also be used as a medicinal plant and as an edible food decoration.
What is the best way to grow marigolds?
To plant marigolds (Calendula officinalis) successfully, sow the seeds directly outdoors from May or grow them under glass from March. The plant prefers full sun to partially shaded locations with loamy, humus-rich soil.
Is it better to buy marigolds as seeds or as young plants?
Marigolds purchased from specialist retailers can be planted in the garden in spring without any problems. You can also grow the fast-growing marigolds directly outdoors after the last frosts or from seeds under glass from March onwards.
Which location does marigold prefer?
The marigold thrives particularly well in full sun to partially shaded locations, whereby the soil should be loamy to humus.
When can the marigold be sown or planted outdoors?
So that your marigolds are not damaged by night frosts, you should plant them in the garden or sow them directly in the bed in May at the earliest.
Is it worth preferring marigold?
Prowning marigolds indoors allows for a particularly early sea of flowers in the respective shades of yellow and orange in spring and early summer.
Can you transplant marigold?
Unless you plan to transplant in the driest of midsummer, marigolds generally tolerate transplanting quite well. But make sure that:
- do not dry out the roots
- the soil at the destination has been well loosened
- the plants are watered sufficiently while growing in the new location
How is marigold propagated?
The marigold is propagated exclusively by sowing, although this plant quickly and often recurs through self-sowing.
Which parts of marigold can be harvested?
The marigold can be used as a whole as a versatile medicinal plant:
- Petals (for tea and extracts)
- the sickle-shaped seeds
- fertilizing manure from the herb of the calendula
Which substrate is particularly suitable for the calendula?
Basically, marigolds are not very demanding when it comes to the composition of the soil. However, soil that is somewhat loamy but not permanently moist can have a positive effect on the growth of plants and the number of flowers.
At what distance should the marigold be sown?
Although a single specimen of marigold can grow bushy over the course of a summer, it doesn't necessarily hurt to sow relatively densely. If you want the marigold to serve as a barrier against slugs and nematodes in your vegetable garden, you can easily make a furrow around the bed and sow the calendula in it.
Tip
The summer flowering period of marigolds in the garden is particularly attractive if you mix species with different colored flowers in the bed.
