(Calendula officinalis) Annual. 50-55 days to maturity.

Calendula Resina flowers are simple, cheerful and so versatile like its companion Common Calendula. Flowers are similarly daisy-like in vibrant yellows and oranges.

Calendula historically serves as a dye plant; pale yellow.  Calendula’s petals are edible while adding colour and glamour to salads. Medicinally, Calendula Resina, has the highest concentration of active ingredients that provide it its amazing healing properties.

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Growth Habit: Upright, two feet high, self seeding

Sun Requirements: Sun, part shade

Soil Preference: Fertile, well drained

When to Plant: Direct seed after last frost date OR start indoors 4-5 weeks before last frost date.

How to Plant: 

Direct sow:  Sow seeds ¼“ deep. Keep the soil bed moist until germination. Thin young plants 6-18” apart. Sow Calendula seeds in succession every 2-3 weeks until early Summer for continuous blooms.

Transplant: Sow seeds indoors in flats or containers. Calendula seeds need darkness to germinate, and will sprout in 14-20 days in room temperature soil. Once they germinate, move plants to bright light until ready to transplant.

When to Harvest: Harvest Calendula flowers as they open through Summer and Fall. Calendula will survive light frost and bloom well into Fall.

How to Harvest:  For cut flowers, harvest with stems when flowers are half open. For edible or medicinal use, harvest flowers when they are fully open, and remove petals from the flower centre. Use Calendula fresh or dried.

Uses: Edible, dye, medicinal. Use flowers fresh or dried in tea or jellies, or as “sprinkles” on desserts and salads. Calendula is very talented as a dye flower and as well as an edible. Medicinally, Calendula is helpful for relieving inflamed, irritated tissue.